I grew up in a small, charismatic church where long, eloquent, and unique prayers were the norm. Besides the Lord’s prayer, I had never participated in a recited, group prayer. Having my child with an intellectual disability and limited verbal speech made me understand the need to make recited prayers more commonplace.

There is great value for preplanned, written-out prayers for those like my daughter. My background as a pediatric speech-language pathologist and a teacher in a special-needs ministry has taught me supports, like recited prayers, are necessary for some to give an opportunity for participation.

Here are three benefits I see for using recited prayers:

1) For individuals with little speech, it may be beneficial for them to have repetition and practice in order to participate. Having the same prayer with the same words provides an opportunity for them to learn the words. Repetition gives the individual the opportunity to say, sign, or use pictures to recite all or some of the prayer over time. Conversely, if the prayer is constantly changing, it will be harder for them to know what is expected and participate, especially if there is a limited spoken vocabulary.

2) Recited prayers provide an opportunity to add visual supports. A prayer written out and projected onto a screen or printed on paper gives one layer of support for those reciting along. Pictures may be added to give added meaning to the words being said. Additionally, signs or gestures may be incorporated to help a variety of communication users participate or remember the words for next time.

3) For those with severe language delays or an intellectual disability, a recited prayer provides a clear framework for what types of things we say to God. As a speech-language pathologist, I often teach children scripts for different situations or practice having conversations with others. In other words, I teach children in speech therapy what is expected so that they can participate and understand what they need to say. Recited prayers remind me of this technique in speech therapy. They provide the words to say for those who may not understand what they should say.

Prayer is such a fundamental part of our faith. Therefore, it is important to encourage development of it for those of all abilities. The ultimate goal of a recited prayer is participation. For some, prayer may come naturally, and they do not necessarily need to participate in a group, recited prayer. For others, this may be extremely helpful for their spiritual growth and inclusion during prayer at church and home.

Here is one group prayer that we use in our church’s special-needs ministry:

Evana is a wife and mother of two children. She enjoys leading 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.