Hidden Disabilities and Church...Cause of Irregular Attendance?

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Hidden Disabilities and Church: Cause of Irregular Attendance? Stephen Grcevich, MD, Rhonda Martin, LPCC Key Ministry Foundation Presented at Northland Church Longwood, Florida October 3, 2009 Key Ministry Foundation, 8401 Chagrin Road, Suite 14B, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Rebecca Hamilton, Executive Director (440) 708-4488, [email protected] Stephen Grcevich, MD, President (440) 543-3400,

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Training at Northland Church, Orlando FL, October 3, 2009

Transcript of Hidden Disabilities and Church...Cause of Irregular Attendance?

Page 1: Hidden Disabilities and Church...Cause of Irregular Attendance?

Hidden Disabilities and Church: Cause of Irregular Attendance?

Stephen Grcevich, MD, Rhonda Martin, LPCC

Key Ministry FoundationPresented at Northland Church

Longwood, FloridaOctober 3, 2009

Key Ministry Foundation, 8401 Chagrin Road, Suite 14B, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023Rebecca Hamilton, Executive Director (440) 708-4488, [email protected] Grcevich, MD, President (440) 543-3400, [email protected]: www.keyministry.org

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Our hypothesis:

Families in which one or more children experience HD are at least 50% less likely to regularly attend church compared to similar families in a given community

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What “barriers” to church participation exist for families with HD?

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Indications of hidden disabilities: Difficulties with self-regulation Developmentally inappropriate inattention Lack of ability to accurately perceive social cues Abnormal responses to sensory input, stimulation Restricted pattern of interests or behavior Misperception of threat level in environment Difficulty with learning or communication in one

or more modalities Disproportionate fear, physiologic response to

stress Difficulty with transition, change Inappropriate affect

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How do HDs pose barriers to church participation?: Difficulties with self-regulation (sitting through an

adult worship service, getting to church on time, difficulty practicing spiritual disciplines, church attendance becomes a negative experience)

Developmentally inappropriate inattention (more difficulty participating in didactic teaching, get distracted while trying to pray, read the Bible)

Lack of ability to accurately perceive social cues (doesn’t “fit in” with middle school or high school groups, may feel rejected by peers and view Christians as hypocrites)

Abnormal responses to sensory input, stimulation (volume of music at worship, brightness of lights, boldness of color, physical contact)

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How do HDs pose barriers to church participation?: Restricted pattern of interests or behavior (lack

of interest in group participation, rigid, inflexible to new experiences)

Misperception of threat level in environment (visiting church for first time is intimidating, avoid youth groups for fear of embarrassment, apprehensive about new experiences… mission trips, retreats, self-disclosure in small groups)

Difficulty with learning or communication in one or more modalities (child or adult with dyslexia asked to read from the Bible, expressive language disorder)

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How do HDs pose barriers to church participation?: Disproportionate fear, physiologic response

to stress (crowded lobby or worship auditorium, separation from a parent)

Difficulty with transition, change (the child’s buddy doesn’t show up, new children’s/youth pastor, grade school to middle school)

Inappropriate affect (the child who laughs or expresses indifference at a sad story, irritated when greeted by others)

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What about the parents?(The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!) 50% of kids with ADHD have persistent

impairment as adults…77% of ADHD cases attributed to genetics

Heritability of anxiety disorders: 80% They’re more likely to be divorced or

never married If untreated, they’re more likely to have

experienced a substance use disorder

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Barriers for Parents

Parents fear being judged within the Christian community

Parents become tired of having to manage their child’s behavior—and explain it to others in new settings

Social isolation is often the norm; families affected by hidden disabilities are less likely to be invited to church

Stress, economic strain and fatigue common; more likely to stay home on Sunday

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What can we do to help families with HD participate more regularly?

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Environmental interventions: Designated entrance for families of

children with sensory/anxiety issues Greeters/signage…can families easily

figure out where to go on your campus? Transition times between services Use of lighting, color Availability of quieter environments

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Examining transition points in your children’s, youth programs: Youth leaders, pastors need to be aware

of sensitivities of anxious kids Are kids with peers appropriate for their

stage of social development? Is there continuity in the “handoffs” from

children’s to middle school ministry? Middle school to high school?

Do your established “church kids” demonstrate sensitivity to HD kids in their midst?

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What if the parent has issues, too? Could group leaders match less

consistent parents with other parents for accountability?

E-mail reminders…to discuss questions at home distributed in class, “we missed your child”

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Key Ministry: How Can We Serve You? Key Ministry Foundation

www.keyministry.org provides resources to churches free of charge:

Best Practices Resource Kit on CD-ROMWeb-based resources (now on Facebook)Opportunities to network with other

churchesPhone consultationOn-site consultation, trainingCelebrating your successes Local and National conferencesPraying for you

Key Ministry Foundation

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Please Stay in Touch!

Key Ministry FoundationRebecca Hamilton, Executive Director

8401 Chagrin Road, Suite 14BChagrin Falls OH 44023Phone: 440/708-4488

[email protected]