God’s Plan
As I turn 40 this week, I find myself fighting off constant disappointments and being distracted by all the things I thought would come to fruition by now. As special needs parents, my husband and I have tirelessly fought for the best treatments and therapies for our son in hopes that he would be “mainstreamed” by now. Being mainstreamed means that a child transitions from special education into regular education with typical peers. As I plugged away at my master’s degree years ago, I took pride in the fact that I had read all the research and positioned my [...]
How Your Special Needs Family is Crucial to the Church
If you’re a special needs family, we welcome you to Woodridge! Your family, your experiences, and your unique situation brings so much to the church as a whole. As a special needs mom, I didn’t always feel that. I’ve only been the Special Needs Ministry Director for Woodridge for a short time, but I have been a special needs mom for 10 years. My son has autism-the type of autism that sometimes makes our family feel like it is easier to stay away from crowds. He is certainly a blessing to us but being out in public and being [...]
The Friends Ministry at WBC
Before I joined the staff at Woodridge, I had already heard of the incredible Special Needs Ministry here. I was excited to be a part of something so rare and to meet church leadership that prioritized special needs. As the Director and as a special needs mom, the Friends Ministry has made a tremendous impact on my life. I have been blessed to see a church that values individuals with special needs as image bearers worthy of dignity and respect. I have met volunteers that not only serve but come into class excited and full of love and enthusiasm [...]
Caring for the Quarantined Caregiver
Understandably, the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down for everyone. However, it has taken a particularly hard toll on special needs caregivers. Many who have relied on outside help for so long, have now transitioned into the role of primary caregiver. Help from schools, therapists, doctors and home health aren’t as available as they once were, leaving parents to fill all of those needs. I know first-hand that this task is something that special needs parents willingly accept, but nonetheless it has proven to be challenging. When flying, parents are instructed to place the oxygen masks on [...]
Breaking the Barriers
On February 7th Woodridge hosted Night to Shine (NTS), sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. NTS is a prom for individuals with special needs centered around God’s love for all people. What makes NTS unique is that it is run by volunteers from all over, not just church members. We had teens and adults from Humble, Kingwood, Atascocita, and even as far as Conroe to help. Volunteers came from local auto companies, charity organizations, and even therapists came out to dance and karaoke the night away! God tells us to love like Him and to share the good news [...]