Special Education in Sunday School

Written by Athalene McNay

Visit LifeWay.com's dedicated Special Needs Ministry area for more information on Special Education in Sunday School.

As a Sunday School leader, you realize that many types of people require special education interventions, or particular learning environments and methods. Such individuals may have mental retardation, visual or physical impairments, one of several disorders that interfere with learning, impaired hearing, an emotional disability, or a superior intellect. You now know that emphasis is placed on personhood rather than the disability, as expressed in the phrase "person with a disability." Reviewing a few current trends in special education can be significant to your role as a church or Sunday School leader.

Societal Trends
General estimates indicate that one person in 5 in this country has some type of disability; one in 10, a disability that greatly affects or limits his/her ability at school or work. Between three and 10 percent of the working population benefits from work activity and affirmative work situations. At least 20 percent of the school-age population is identified as needing special education services. Within our communities we find:

Early intervention services. Actually, this tried-and-proven trend has been around many years.
Public awareness. People with disabilities no longer hide from view. They and their advocates effectively educate the public-through TV commercials, magazine ads, and movies about their needs and abilities.
Appropriate intervention for all ages. Special education has expanded beyond public schools. Adults with disabilities such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), learning disabilities and physical and sensory disabilities receive recognition and services.
Nontraditional families. Single mothers, step-parents, and adoptive parents continue to have the higher percentage of children with special education needs.
Self-determination. This is the buzzword in school and work-activity situations. Simply put, it means consumers receive services in response to their wishes. As a result, more people with disabilities live in small-group or independent settings and work in community-based employment.
Assistive technology. Persons with physical and sensory disabilities are becoming more independent with the help of devices and tools. We see extensive technological developments each year, not only for those with disabilities, but also for all of us.

Church Trends
Of course, the big push for special education in churches once focused mainly on Sunday School classes for adults with mental disabilities. Certainly these classes meet a need.

Programs and resources continually grow and develop in response to changes in characteristics of the 21st-century learner with mental retardation. Churches already see these adults coming from smaller residential situations and apartment settings. They face pressures comparable to their nondisabled contemporaries and need solid spiritual guidance and encouragement.

Churches also hear much from parents and families of persons with other disabilities. These families are quite proficient in working as advocates for their members, and they ask the church to:

Provide for children in mainstream classes. Parents of children with attention deficits (ADD or ADHD), autism, hearing and visual impairments, and physical disabilities expect their children will be included in all children's programs. Remember, many children receive intervention services from an early age. They come to church more enabled to fit into the mainstream class.

Support teachers and other children's workers. For churches to meet parental expectations, they must provide teacher resources, training, and up-to-date information.

Provide spiritual support as the youth with disabilities transitions to adulthood.

Support older parents. Many parents still wonder what will happen to their adult child with disabilities after the parents die or get too old to care for them. Marci Campbell, Special Education Consultant for LifeWay Church Resources, explains: "Parents are expecting more from churches. They want the mainstream [of church programs] adapted for their children with special needs. Parents and family members are being saved because churches make it possible for the disabled member to attend [Bible study and worship]. Churches seem more aware of special education needs, and are preparing and reaching out in the community instead of waiting for them 'to show up.' Parental and family challenges go beyond the individual church. Local associations of churches are being asked to:

Encourage ministry to all persons in all churches. Associational and state leaders can help churches discover the large number of unsaved/unchurched persons with disabilities and their family members in each community.
Make special education an associational budget line item. Special projects and teacher training can be accomplished at associational and state levels."

Current trends in special education are advancements that will remain with us for a long time. People with disabilities have questions and needs only God's good news can satisfy. For effective outreach, we must acknowledge their presence and worth in our Bible study or worship and develop fresh sensitivity and respect for their desire to be a part of our churches.