Including Kids With Special Needs in Your Youth Ministry: Nick Palermo...Inclusion Fusion 2012

What is the culture of kids with disabilities? What are their unique needs? The family's unique needs? Why has the church been so hesitant to respond? And specifically when 20 % of the teen population has some form of a disability why don't we see them represented in our youth ministries? How could they fit in to our communities? What it would like? What would be the outcome for typical kids in our youth ministries? We will discuss the concept of a "withness" ministry where typical kids and kids with special needs encounter Christ mutually. We will look at the long range benefits for the church at large as we include young people with special needs into our faith communities.