As we all make plans to welcome back the students we serve in our special-needs ministries, it’s a great time to take a look at how we can better serve them! Because each child at our church is unique, we have developed ISPs for each one—individualized spiritual plans! Similar to what the students have at school under their IEPs, our ISPs take into consideration their likes, dislikes, strengths, goals, and behaviors. We decide on the goals after we get to know the student and by talking to the parents about what goals they have while their child is with us at church.
Here are some examples from three of my students at different levels of mobility and expressive language:
James will hear that Jesus loves him, repeat a Bible memory verse each week, pray with prompting, identify by name friends and helpers at church, and learn the words and motions to the songs we sing
Bree will hear that Jesus loves her, participate in music time, look at books and pictures that go along with the Bible story and identify people in the stories by pointing (with assistance), put together puzzles that go along with the Bible story (with assistance)
Addie will hear that Jesus loves her, repeat a Bible memory verse each week, pray with prompting, complete the weekly activity sheet , learn the words and motions to the songs we sing
Photo credit: iStockphoto.com.
The ISP goals are listed on the bio sheets I create for each child. They include the student’s name, parents’ names and a phone number, any allergies, likes and dislikes, their ISP, any additional info, and the child’s schedule (some are in our sensory rooms full time, some join our big children’s ministry group for part of the time).
Here’s an example of the full bio sheet for my son James:
James Peoples (with his picture so new volunteers can get to know him quickly)
Parents: Lee & Sandra
Contact info:
Allergies/medical issues: None
Likes: tickles, puzzles, swinging, trains, music, snack time
Dislikes: waiting, loud noises (except for the ones he makes), coloring/writing
Spiritual Goals: for James to hear that Jesus loves him, repeat a Bible memory verse each week, pray with prompting, identify by name friends and helpers at church, and learn the words and motions to the songs we sing
Additional Info: goes to the bathroom frequently but does so independently
James’s Schedule: in the sensory classrooms both hours
Our students’ ISPs and their bio sheets have been a huge help for our volunteers and teachers to get to know the kids and help them meet spiritual goals! I can’t wait to welcome our kids back and see their spiritual development!
Sandra Peoples is a special-needs mom and sibling. She and her family live outside of Houston, TX. Sandra is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special-needs families. She is the disability ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and an adjunct professor for Liberty University, teaching classes in disability ministry. Sandra the author of Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family. You can connect with her at sandrapeoples.com.
