Adult Advocates

Equipped by God: A Missionary with Autism and Bipolar Disorder - Part 1

Equipped by God: A Missionary with Autism and Bipolar Disorder - Part 1

Guest blogger Linda Bunk lives with both high functioning autism and bipolar disorder. Linda is a gifted photographer, and now serves with SALT as a missionary to Ukraine. This is the first of three posts showing how God has uniquely equipped Linda for ministry in Ukraine and beyond.

Blessings and Laughter within Special Needs Ministry

Blessings and Laughter within Special Needs Ministry

Guest blogger Tony D’Orazio shares more stories about the challenges, laughter and joys of having a fitness ministry for people with special needs. Read his recent post about his son Jake here.

Seven Ways to Help People with Traumatic Brain Injuries Thrive in Your Church

 Seven Ways to Help People with Traumatic Brain Injuries Thrive in Your Church

I have the most amazing baby sister. She is goofy, loud, opinionated, and hard-headed. She makes me laugh and she drives me completely insane. My sister has a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She needs accommodations to be successful, especially in the church. These accommodations can help almost anyone with a TBI.

Why We’re Creating A Documentary about Caregiver Mental Health

 Why We’re Creating A Documentary about Caregiver Mental Health

Approximately five years ago, my husband Ryan and I began experiencing a mental health crisis. We lived in rural Tennessee with our 8 children, including our son Lucas who has special needs and profound autism. Our experiences in rural America, however, were not in vain. One of the ideas that emerged was that perhaps a documentary was needed to dive deeply into the unspoken mental health crisis that many caregivers silently suffer through.

Teaching So Children Can Learn

Teaching So Children Can Learn

We often know what we want to teach children, but real learning only comes from understanding what is being taught. Cognitive constructivist theory of learning states that new learning needs to be built on existing skills and knowledge. Jesus knew his audience. He started with what they already knew, and then built his teaching on that knowledge. This approach is particularly vital when working with children with a learning disability.

55 Years of Pioneering Successful Special Needs Ministry

55 Years of Pioneering Successful Special Needs Ministry

College Church in Wheaton, Illinois has been “around the block“ in disability ministry for 45 years! The ministry team keeps learning and is more invested than ever. Their story is rich with inspiration for those who are still dreaming about disability ministry or just getting started.

Disability Doesn’t Stop Me From Giving God My Best. Neither Should The Church.

Disability Doesn’t Stop Me From Giving God My Best. Neither Should The Church.

If you want to involve disabled people in ministry and leadership, re-imagine how your current structures, schedules, and systems work. It may be the church itself that is stopping people with disabilities from giving God their best.

Pastors, Here’s how to be a shepherd to special needs families in your church.

Pastors, Here’s how to be a shepherd to special needs families in your church.

David’s words about how God shepherded him have become my model for pastoral ministry to the special-needs community. Pastors, here are four things to consider when pastoring special-needs families through moments in the valley.