How should we handle “Special Needs” in Junior High Ministry (3)

As we continue our look at working with students with special needs in ministry I know we are getting crazy busy with Fall Kick-Off plans.  We are starting our Wednesday night programming in 2 weeks and I am really looking forward to it.  If you are looking for an easy fun event for your program then check out “This Lesson!”  It may be just what you are looking for.

Over the past couple posts we have talked about “How students with special needs effect us!”  We have also talked about “Why families with special needs aren’t attending your church!”  These bring us to today’s post on special needs.

I would like to attempt to answer a few questions about working with students with special needs.

1.  How do I handle a new student with special needs?

When a new student walks in sometimes we know immediately that this student may have a special need.  Some students will introduce themselves by telling you their name and their special need.  This isn’t always the case, but from experience I can tell you it does happen.  However it happens we need to be able to evaluate the needs of any new student rather quickly to see if they are going to need anything extra as they enter our group.

For example, if a blind student enters your class you need to make a decision on how they are going to be able to participate in your groups lesson and activities for the day.  Many times we don’t think about these things in our planning, but the possibility is  always there that a blind student could show up.  How would this change your plans, or would it at all.  My challenge to you is to think of these things in advance.

Maybe it isn’t a blind person.  Maybe in your ministry you know of some students from your local school that may be dealing with autism, turrets syndrome, or downs syndrome.  (This list could obviously keep going)  You could also know of students that have more physical needs.  You could know of students in your community confined to a wheel chair, a student who has lost an arm or leg, or maybe a student who has some type of tumor or visible deformity.

Whatever student enters your room just be prepared.  Have adult leaders who will clear a path for a wheel chair.  Have students who will show love to that student who looks different.  You need to be prepared to give a word picture of the pictures you use on power point if you have a blind student.  I am not saying your focus has to be on this in your planning.  You just need to be flexible enough to meet needs as they come.

2.  How do I teach a student who isn’t at the same grade level mentally?

This is a very important piece to this puzzle because we feel like we have to reach every student with our message all the time.  Many of our students don’t “Get It!” every week.  We teach a lesson and every student doesn’t totally latch on to what we are teaching.  The interesting thing is they still come back.  We need to remember that first and foremost we are to show love to our students.  We can’t always teach every student exactly how they need to be taught on their level every week, but we can make sure that student is shown love every week.  We can make sure that each student knows that God loves them each week, and this is what will bring them and their families back.

We try to make things to difficult sometimes when we worry about the teaching side too much.  God will use us if we allow Him.  Trust in Him and He provides His Holy Spirit to guide us.

3.  How do we work with parents with special needs?

Whoa!  I bet you didn’t see this one coming!  Yes I believe you all know what I am talking about though.  Sometimes we work with parents who may have a special need of their own.  Their are times that a student can be functioning at a higher level than their parents or a parent.   This makes it difficult to communicate about events and activities.  I know from my experience that some parents can’t understand why their child can’t get special treatment.  These parents don’t think of it as special treatment.  These parents with special needs just think we should be taking care of these extra things for them.

In some of these cases their is extra we can do for these parents.  Maybe their is another family that we can introduce them too that is willing to do extra for them. Maybe you have to wait a little longer for this student to get picked up.

Whatever the situation we need to remember that students don’t control their parents, and our number one job is to share the love of Jesus.  If we remember these things it will make our job a little easier to understand.

I would love to hear from you on more of your experiences with “Special Needs!”