great reads on the web - april 6, 2011
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While I have a list of 15-20 blog posts that I'm excited to be writing in the near future, I first want to pause to point out some phenomenal ones written by some incredibly talented people. Many of them are related to autism because this is Autism Awareness Month, and I think each one is 100% worth reading. (That's why I changed my usual title for this sort of post from "good reads" to "great reads." Because these are fantastic posts by some folks I truly respect.)
First, Amy Fenton Lee at The Inclusive Church has written an insightful series titled "5 Things to Know about the Mother of a Child with Autism." I am sometimes hesitant about recommending a resource about parents of children with a disability that isn't written by a parent of a child with a disability, but Amy has spent countless hours interviewing mothers, and the response to this series has been outstanding (deservedly so!). Of course, every mother - just like every child - is different, so these might not apply universally, so please pay attention to Amy's note about that on the first post in the series. Without further ado,
And this post from Katie provides great pointers for preparing your church to be a welcoming place for children with autism. (And might I add that Katie is one of the kindest online friends I've met? 'Cause she is.)
And this post from John Knight isn't autism-specific but it is a good reminder that God equips those He calls to special needs ministry rather than simply calling those who are already equipped. (And while I am incredibly humbled that he shared some writing from this blog there, that's not why I'm recommending it!)
So click through and read these great posts! You won't be disappointed. And, assuming the pesky head cold I've been fighting calms down by tomorrow, you can be expecting daily posts here for the next couple of weeks.
First, Amy Fenton Lee at The Inclusive Church has written an insightful series titled "5 Things to Know about the Mother of a Child with Autism." I am sometimes hesitant about recommending a resource about parents of children with a disability that isn't written by a parent of a child with a disability, but Amy has spent countless hours interviewing mothers, and the response to this series has been outstanding (deservedly so!). Of course, every mother - just like every child - is different, so these might not apply universally, so please pay attention to Amy's note about that on the first post in the series. Without further ado,
- Part 1: She may feel relief upon the receipt of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis for her child.
- Part 2: She may experience the conflicting emotions of grief and hope.
- Part 3: She fears exclusion.
- Part 4: She needs your respect, not your opinion or advice.
- Part 5: She values action over empathy.
And this post from Katie provides great pointers for preparing your church to be a welcoming place for children with autism. (And might I add that Katie is one of the kindest online friends I've met? 'Cause she is.)
And this post from John Knight isn't autism-specific but it is a good reminder that God equips those He calls to special needs ministry rather than simply calling those who are already equipped. (And while I am incredibly humbled that he shared some writing from this blog there, that's not why I'm recommending it!)
So click through and read these great posts! You won't be disappointed. And, assuming the pesky head cold I've been fighting calms down by tomorrow, you can be expecting daily posts here for the next couple of weeks.