pictures of my crew
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| Fri, 06-17-2005 - 3:22pm |
these are from VBS so each of us is in a different picture, thanks for looking!
http://unionunitedmethodist.org/VBS%20photos/2005/dsc08963.jpg Weston (8) is on the right in the Green Bay shirt, it's his youth helper on the left
http://unionunitedmethodist.org/VBS%20photos/2005/dsc08946.jpg Amelia (11) is on the far left in the lime green shortalls, they're doing a water balloon obstacle course.
http://unionunitedmethodist.org/VBS%20photos/2005/dsc08377.jpg Owen(3)is in the front in his Cubs cap and holding his name tag
http://unionunitedmethodist.org/VBS%20photos/2005/dsc08398.jpg Warren(13) was my youth helper
http://unionunitedmethodist.org/VBS%20photos/2005/dsc08714.jpg Martha (5, 6 in 2 wks) is in the middle showing her teacher her Bitty Baby
http://unionunitedmethodist.org/VBS%20photos/2005/DSC08320.JPG me, making a foam box for a prop during the setup day.
DH wasn't involved at all so no pics of him!
Betsy
Edited 6/17/2005 3:25 pm ET ET by betz67

Betsy,
That is great! What alot of fun and such cute kids. Our VBS is in a few weeks and I can't wait. I get to be a crew leader too (because that is the only way Mike will go). They are doing serenghti trek this year. Should be fun we had a great time last year.
Renee
Thanks for sharing those, Betsy. It looks like you and the kids are having a great time at VBS. What does your church do for kids with ASD's? Do they have Christian IEP's? Is a youth helper assigned to a kid who needs an aide? Our church is new and working out a program for kids with disabilities, so I'm curious about what other churches are doing right now.
Suzi
Suzi, I can tell you what our church does. We have lots of kids with disabilities and ASD's in particular in our church. Really, alot depends on the individual child and thier parents. Typically, I just call the director and talk to her about what the kids need for what ever event and we work out a plan together that works. They were considering opening a special class for kids with special needs but rather have decided to mainstream them in with the typical kids. Often they will find a teen aide to help or the parents can come in and be the aide for the child. In Mike's case even, they have allowed him to be homeschooled and have modified requirements (for first communion)
For Cait, I usually just called her religous education teacher and informed them in advance of her differences. I know most of the catechists since I was one for years, so often I don't even have to do that. they already know her. I just make a point to tell them if they have any questions to feel free to call. In the past I have provided them with info and also work out with them modified homework and such.
For Mike, the last 2 years I home school him for religous ed. I tried being his aide, but the environment is just too noisey and he can't handle it. Our VBS involved 'crews' of about 5 kids, a crew leader and sometimes a junior crew leader. I am ALWAYS Mike's crew leader and I am given a really strong junior crew leader in case I need to leave with mike for a minute the jr. leader can take over.
I know the diocese has a program for special needs children too. But that is more learning about the sacrements on thier own level so they can make them and have some understanding of them. It is for more delayed children. For the most part in our church we mainstream as much as possible with extra support. I know kids in our program with classic autism, AS, LD's, and mental health issues.
Suzi--
We have a class for children w/ profound special needs. They have a similar schedule to the rest of the groups but have more helpers and people who are aware of the special things these kids need. If you'd like to see all the pictures from VBS you can look on the website and you'll see some of the kids in wheelchairs etc http://www.unionunitedmethodist.org and click on VBS pictures. (they have this for sunday school as well). For kids that are normally mainstreamed you just let the director know when you register (on the forms they have a place for special needs both medical and other wise) and they will set you up w/ someone they know is able to handle those needs or as a parent you can request that you are their helper/crew leader if you're able to volunteer. Some groups had several youth helpers and they could be assigned to just one child if necessary. Weston's teacher knew what his needs were and she treated him like a normal kid but did make sure he knew when they would be getting wet during recreation and when they might be doing certain things that would be messy during crafts. The only time he had any problems was during the opening and closing where all the kids were gathered it was loud and he sat w/ his ears covered sometimes. One of my friends had a little boy (age4) w/ some kind of special needs and he kept running away. She finally just held his hand whenever they would walk from place to place and held him in her lap when they sat. He stroked her hair and was fine.
Weston is going to attend the "Arts Alive" camp that they're doing for 1st-5th graders in July. They'll do singing, drama, painting, movement etc. It's run by the Children's minister, the Children's programing director (she was a teacher and has experience w/ children w/ special needs) and the Music director. They will also have a bunch of youth volunteers to help. I will send them a list of things that Weston needs or ideas for them for him, but mostly they've handled situations w/ him very well! We are able to give him some experiences through our church that are more normal than through the park district or regular camps because I know they will try to do everything possible for him to have a good experience and will call me if necessary.
Betsy