by jphilo | Feb 7, 2014 | Current Events
What to say about Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death? I couldn’t answer that question yesterday while writing the week’s Three Thoughts for Thursday. I didn’t know how to put into words my sadness over the loss of this brilliant actor and my anger about heroin and the destruction it causes. So I wrote about other, lighter things.
Thankfully, my friend and co-author Katie Wetherbee penned a post that beautifully articulates what so many are feeling in the wake of Hoffman’s death. Not only that, she shifts the focus from condemnation to compassion and from blame to blessing by revealing the truth of the matter as only she can.
Once you read her post, you’ll see how blessed I am to be writing a book about making every child welcome at church with her. You’ll see why I am certain that even when my focus sometimes shifts from tots to teaching tips and from students to strategies, Katie’s compassion and clear-eyed gaze will correct my course. Therefore, you’re invited to hop on over to Katie’s post, What Philip Seymour Hoffman Taught Me, and read her wise words. You’ll be glad you did.
Photo Source
by jphilo | Dec 16, 2013 | Different Dream, Holidays, Special Needs Parenting
Gift Ideas for Kids and Teens with Special Needs
Okay, everybody stand up. Now, sit down if you’re done Christmas shopping. Remain standing if you’re still looking for presents for you teens with special needs or are shopping with a limited budget. If you’re still on your feet, this post is for you! If you’re sitting down, scroll down to the end to leave your gift recommendations in the comment box.
Devotional Books for Teens with Special Needs
Last month my friend Katie Wetherbee, who blogs about special needs education and special needs ministry at Diving for Pearls, uploaded a piece about devotionals for teens with special needs. Katie brainstormed with her colleague Kelly Norville, and together they created this fantastic list:
- Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton, written by a real life surfer when she wasn’t much beyond her teen years. There’s a movie, too, if your teen is into that.
- 10 Minute Parables from Group Publishing. Katie says, “This series is designed specifically for teens, so those who have difficulty with comprehension, or who are functioning on a more concrete level.”
- 10 Minute Moments: The Basics, also from Group. This book makes the foundational truths from the book of John attainable for kids who are concrete thinkers.
- What’s In the Bible Series from Jelly Fish Labs. This series was created for kids, but Wetherbee says the quick pace of the humor and language appeals to older kids and adults.
- The Thirteen Most Important Bible Lessons for Teenagers from Group. These lessons offer drama and hands on material, too.
- Believe it Or Not Bible Studies by Group. This will appeal to kids fascinated with the interesting and obscure.
- God, Our Father by Friendship Ministries is an long time, solid standard for those with special needs.
You’ll find Katie’s list at Solutions: Finding Devotional Materials for Teens with Special Needs.
Gifts around $10 for Kids with Special Needs
Sylvia Phillips, a Different Dream guest blogger, has also published a list of gifts for kids with special needs. Every gift is around ten dollars, extra appeal if you’re on a budget. Her list includes:
What Are Your Best Special Needs Gift Recommendations?
Okay, if that helped you finish your Christmas shopping, sit down and put your feet up. For the rest of you, it’s now your turn. What gifts do you recommend for kids with special needs? Leave your ideas in the comment box. Merry Christmas!
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
Photo Credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net
Subscribe for Updates from Jolene
by jphilo | Jul 18, 2013 | Different Dream, Every Child Welcome, Products
We’re Writing a Book for Special Needs Ministry Volunteers
Yup, you read that right. Another book for the special needs community is in the works. Co-author Katie Wetherbee and I signed a book contract with Kregel Publications. The book is tentatively titled Every Child Welcome: A Menu of Strategies for Including Kids with Special Needs at Church. Now that you know the basic details, would you join Katie and me as we do our happy dance?
Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance!
What the Book Timeline?
I can’t speak for you or Katie, but my happy dance left me feeling energized. Which is a good thing because Katie and I need to roll up our sleeves and get to work on the new book…just as soon as the manuscript for my other project, The Caregiver’s Notebook, goes to Discovery House on September 1. Once that’s done, Katie and I will be hard at work to meet Kregel’s April 1, 2014 deadline for the Every Child Welcome manuscript. They haven’t set a publication date, but rest assured we’ll be announcing that date once it’s in place.
What’s In the Book?
Every Child Welcome is geared for volunteers who work with children’s ministry. It will be jam-packed with practical and doable inclusion strategies children’s ministry volunteers can implement so every child feels welcome. The book will include strategies to help volunteers:
- Prepare ahead of time
- When children arrive
- Before, during, and after lessons and activities
- Reinforce concepts at home
- Keep kids safe
- Communicate with parents
- Find resources
Now that you are in the know, Katie and I are ready for another happy dance. Feel free to join us.
Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance! Happy Dance!
What Would You Like to See in the Book?
Are you a children’s ministry volunteer? What do you want to see in the book? Your suggestions will be considered, so please leave a comment!
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop-up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
Photo credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net
Subscribe for Updates from Jolene
![Fun Toys for Kids with Special Needs]()
by jphilo | Jun 12, 2013 | Different Dream, Link Share, Special Needs Parenting
Fun Toys for Kids with Special Needs
Summertime fun gets a little harder to manufacture as the calendar inches toward mid-July. So today’s post is dedicated to two companies that make fantastic, fun toys for kids with special needs. These recommendations come from my friend Katie Wetherbee who blogs about special needs at Diving for Pearls. Katie’s background is in special education, so she’s always on the lookout for products that are both fun and therapeutic. Let’s take a look at two of her favorite sources for special needs resources.
DISCLOSURE : Blog posts and advertisements seen on this site may contain affiliate links to products that I recommend, which means that at no additional cost to you, if you make a purchase from these links, I will receive a small commission that helps to support my family and this website. You are under no obligation or requirement to make a purchase.
Fat Brain Toys is a family-owned business. Their retail store is based in Elkhorn, Nebraska. But they also do a brisk internet business with quality, open-ended toys, games, and gifts that entertain and educate. They choose games from around the world and have the largest selection of American-made toys found anywhere.
They also gather feedback from customers about how their products are used by children with special needs. They maintain a directory where caregivers can find information about appropriate toys for individuals with many different types of special needs listed below (click any of the below to view Fat Brain Toys for that category):
You can explore their very information website at www.fatbraintoys.com.
The second company Katie recommends is The Therapy Shoppe. It is an occupational therapist owned company that’s been in business for 19 years. Products are selected by pediatric therapists. And they are kid, parent, and/or teacher-tested and approved. They carry:
- Sensory products
- Therapy tools for learning and play
- Self-regulation tools
- Sensory integration products
- Handwriting helps (Um, remember this is summer…wait until school starts for these)
- Motor skill development items
- And much more
Check out their website at www.TherapyShoppe.com.
What Do You Recommend?
Okay, Katie’s given her recommendations. So now it’s your turn. Where do you find toys that are both fun and therapeutic for your kids? Leave your rec’s in the comment box. Thanks!
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for both in the upper right column on this page.
Katie Wetherbee is an educator with over 25 years of experience helping students with disabilities thrive at home, school, and in the community.
Subscribe for Updates from Jolene
by jphilo | Apr 26, 2012 | Books and Resources, Different Dream, Special Needs Parenting
Last weekend, McClean Bible Church in the Washington, DC area held its annual Accessibility Summit. The conference reaches out to the special needs community – families, professionals, and ministries. Last December my proposed topic, Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind, was accepted as one of the Family Track workshops. Ever since then, I looked forward to attending. Not because of what I had to share with others, but because of what they had to share with me.
Who Was At the Accessibility Summit
Even though my plane was delayed 6 hours, which meant I missed all the Friday happenings, there was plenty of time to meet oodles of people on Saturday. Barb Dittrich of Snappin’ Ministries was one of the first people I met Saturday morning. She’s in the yellow shirt in the above photo. The two of us shared a booth in the Exhibit Hall. Thanks to her, A Different Dream for My Child and Different Dream Parenting started selling Friday evening!
Lots of people stopped by the booth Saturday, including Shannon Dingle who blogs about special needs ministries at www.theworksofgoddisplayed.com.
Harmony Hensley and Katie Wetherbee of Key Ministry strolled by on the way to their booth, too. So did two people I interviewed by phone while researching Different Dream Parenting. The first was Lainie Byers, creator of the famous Lainie’s Chart which in one of the appendices of DDP. The other was Stephanie Hubach, author of Same Lake, Different Boat, one of the best books available about the theology behind special needs ministries. Unfortunately, lots of other people were visiting the booth then, too, so we never had a chance for photos.
Who Attended the Time Management Workshop
During my workshop session, over 50 parents eager to learn more about managing their time made our hour together fly by. Here’s the left side of the room,
and the right side of the room.
Even though I took their pictures with my new iPad 3, warned them they might show up on this blog, and made goofy expressions like this one during the presentation,
they sat through the whole thing. Some of them even visited my booth later to talk. Those parents were the very best part of the weekend, and many of them shared more time management tips during the Q & A time at the end.
DifferentDream.com Bloggers Were in Virtual Attendance
DifferentDream.com guest bloggers Laurie Wallin, Amy Stout, Rebekah Benimoff, and Melissa Gamble were in virtual attendance, too, when the time management tips they sent to me were shared, along with their photos, in the Power Point. Their tips were such a big hit, they will run in a time management series here at Different Dream. The first installment will run on Friday, May 4 so stop by again to hear what they have to say.
Leave a Comment
If you also attended the Accessibility Summit, leave a comment about your impressions. Or if you attend a different conference, tell us about it and share your reasons for attending. I’d love to hear from you!
Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.
