Hello Everyone, This step by step video shows how you can join the award-winning Autism Awareness Month Faith Based Initiative! Activity ideas, resources and assistance are provided to faith based communities that participate in this initiative for FREE! Our goal is for these activities to increase autism awareness, promote early intervention and reduce stigmas. As a result, we believe that this will lead to acceptance and inclusion in faith-based communities for persons with autism and...
I'm excited to announce that the 2018 Autism Awareness Month Faith Based Initiative is underway! We are recruiting churches to join our award-winning autism awareness ministry and we would love for you to join us! Since 2016, the initiative has served 23 churches and over 5500 people! Our goal is for every person with autism and their family to have a welcoming church in their local area. We seek to do this by encouraging churches...
I am excited to announce that the Autism Awareness Month Faith Based Initiative won Honorable Mention at the Patients' View Impact Awards! This award recognizes a patient's story and the potential it has for a positive impact on healthcare delivery. The award submission required an essay, a short video and links to any supporting information about your work. An excerpt from my submission is included on the Patients' View Institute's blog. I started this initiative in 2016...
Today marks the beginning of National Health Education Week! It occurs each year on the third week of October and is sponsored by the Society for Public Health Education. The goal of this event is to highlight the importance of health education and to recognize the work that health educators do on a daily basis to protect the nation's health. Each day has a designated theme and today's focus is on health disparities, which describes preventable differences...
Autism awareness is very important for our faith based communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that autism affects 1 out of every 68 children. With a rate that high, many churches are sure to encounter a family affected by autism and churches must be prepared. I didn't understand how difficult church could be for persons with autism until my son was diagnosed. I watched him struggle with social interactions and with abrupt changes in...
Did you know that April is National Autism Awareness Month? This annual observance was sponsored by the Autism Society almost 25 years ago to promote awareness, acceptance and inclusion for persons with autism. Since 2013, I've been sharing my family's story about autism and trying to make a difference within my own areas of influence. This year is no different. I'm looking for places of worship to partner with me for a very special autism awareness faith based initiative!...
Is flying an issue for your child with autism? Are you concerned about navigating through the airport and not having the help needed for a successful trip? If so, I have some wonderful information to share with you that may change the way that you and your family travel! My boys recently had the opportunity to participate in a program at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport called, "Navigating through the Airport." It was started by Delta Airlines employees,...
I recently had the privilege of attending the Coastal Disability Ministry Summit in Charleston, SC on September 23rd - 24th. It was sponsored by Joni and Friends Charlotte and the Lowcountry Special Needs Network. The event was held on the beautiful campus of Charleston Southern University. I was invited to attend this summit as a guest presenter with Mrs. Gale Dollar. Our break-out session, "Inclusive Disability Ministry," explained how the special needs ministry got started at...
Are you the parent of a special needs child? Do you have a friend or family member that is new on the journey of raising a child with special needs? If so, I strongly recommend the book, Refresh: Spiritual Nourishment for Parents of Children with Special Needs by Kimberly M. Drew and Jocelyn Green. Here's how the book is set up. There are eight chapters, with each title cleverly alluding to the growth process of a tree....
Hello Everyone! I have some results that I would like to share with you from the 2016 Autism Awareness Month Faith Based Initiative. This was our first year for the initiative and I enjoyed every moment of it! Over 3000 persons from 16 churches received information about autism as a result of the initiative. A special thank you goes out to the following churches that completed the program: Antioch Freewill Baptist Church in Linden, NC Bethesda Church...
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