disability ministry weekly round-up {2-27-12}

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Hi, y'all! This week the blog will be picking back up, as all our adoption paperwork will be out of our hands and on its way to Atlanta and then Taiwan. Thanks for hanging in there with the quietness over here while we've ironed out those details!

Your Reactions to Autism: What Helps and What Doesn't: "...yes, sometimes an offer of help or of understanding or of just getting it makes all the difference in the world."

Love, marriage, and special needs: The clearest article I've read explaining the stresses on marriage when parents have a child with special needs. And I appreciate the acknowledgment that "new research is debunking the myth that relationships for parents of children with disabilities are statistically doomed."

It turns out 'we're all a bit broken': "Basically, the ‘average’ person has something wrong in their genetic makeup."

Unqualified: "The reality is potential volunteers don’t need the right qualifications; they need God’s calling! Where is God calling you to serve?"

Let's Play... Inclusive Friendship: "As more and more children with disabilities are included in our schools, communities and churches, there are even greater opportunities to celebrate one another’s differences. For a child, friendships can be one of the most rewarding aspects of their lives."

Someone who's been there: Moms of special-needs children find help from a sympathetic source - other moms: "Though she was devastated when her 3-year-old son was diagnosed with autism, what followed was almost worse — she felt abandoned by family members and her church."

Wheelchairs making a difference: "Before working with her, I was like a lot of people and almost scared of people with disabilities, because I didn't know what to say and do," George said. "She opened up my eyes to people with disabilities."

In Case of the Blurts: "Children learn to blurt out what's on their minds. Sometimes they learn to do so because we teach it, and sometimes they learn it because we fail to teach them how not to blurt. If you know why it happens, you can better decide how to respond."

Your Mother Would Be Ashamed If...: "I know there are some parents who act like the world revolves around their children. They totally ignore the distraction their baby makes in the middle of church, a restaurant or a professional setting. But most parents are doing their best to manage the situation."

And finally, if you're interested, some links to my personal blog with adoption updates: