Hidden Disabilities and Church...Cause of Irregular Attendance?
-
Upload
stephen-grcevich-md -
Category
Spiritual
-
view
1.262 -
download
0
description
Transcript of 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
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
What “barriers” to church participation exist for families with HD?
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
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)
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)
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)
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
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
What can we do to help families with HD participate more regularly?
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
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?
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”
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
Please Stay in Touch!
Key Ministry FoundationRebecca Hamilton, Executive Director
8401 Chagrin Road, Suite 14BChagrin Falls OH 44023Phone: 440/708-4488