Sometimes things go great in your special needs ministry or class. Everything you planned goes as it should. The lesson you prepared is being well-received, understood, and enjoyed. All the volunteers showed up to assist in the room, and all of the children are having wonderful days.
Then there are other days when things do not go as planned. Maybe there are less volunteers for things to run smoothly. Perhaps, some aspect of the lesson, craft, or activity flopped. It could be that everything is going great on your end, but one or more of the children are having a tough time.
What do you do when things go wrong? When do you push through? When do you pull back? Those are the million-dollar questions.
I have worked with children with special needs for 18 years as a pediatric speech-language pathologist. During my career, I have experienced the gamut of behaviors and reactions during therapy sessions. Most of the time, things go as expected. But that’s not always the case. After all, I’m working with children and a variety of special needs. Sometimes, an activity may trigger a negative response or sensory overload. It could be that the child does not want to do a puzzle, touch play-doh, or sit for a book.
Sometimes, I am the trigger, so to speak. I may put away a toy when the child is not ready. I may present a not preferred but necessary item. There may be dozens of actions I take that creates discomfort for the child.
Whenever an issue arises in a therapy session, I have some quick decisions to make. With the goals and objectives of the child’s plan in mind, I have to choose how to proceed during a problem. Sometimes, I have to push through and deal with whatever behavior arises, for the bigger picture. Other times, I have to pull back and calm the situation.
When the session is over, I am able to reflect on what happened. What caused or preceded the behavior? Did I respond appropriately? Is there anything I can do differently in the next session?
Photo credit: CDC on Unsplash.com.
I am an experienced professional, but I do not always do everything perfectly. Decisions have to be made in an instant, and I must deal with what comes next—good or bad. When it becomes clear the best decision was not made, I learn from it, and plan better for the next time.
I have had to make similar judgments while serving as a lead teacher in our special needs ministry. I would say most of the time, things go as expected. There are times, though, when I have to make split second decisions about how to proceed through an issue. Pushing through may mean ignoring a behavior and continue teaching a lesson. Pulling back may mean to allow a struggling child to sit away from the group during the lesson.
Unlike my therapy sessions, the great thing about serving in our special needs ministry is that I am not alone. There is always at least one other adult present for our class. We lean on each other and consult quickly to determine how to make adjustments. After class, we have reflective conversations about what worked and what didn’t, so we can better serve our kids in the future.
Ultimately in our special needs ministry, we have some principles that guide whether we push through or pull back. What is best for the group as a whole? What will give the child who is struggling a more positive experience at church? How will our decisions affect the family now, or at pick up time? What behaviors are we willing to accept? What behaviors do we need to manage or curb, in small steps?
There is not a magical formula that will lead you to the right solution every time. It is important to reflect on situations that occur to help shape your ministry in the future. Having volunteers in the ministry who are willing to work together, share ideas, and be flexible to try new things is a vital component of the whole process. Whether your team decides to push through an issue or pull back, I pray God will guide you into the best solution.
Evana is a wife and mother of two children. She enjoys serving in her church’s special-needs ministry. Evana is also a pediatric speech-language pathologist and serves children with autism, feeding disorders, and other developmental delays. You can connect with Evana on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog, A Special Purposed Life. You can also read more about her family’s story in her book, Badges of Motherhood: One Mother’s Story about Family, Down syndrome, Hospitals, and Faith.
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