Welcome

When life falls apart, confusion sets in. Personal questions are unanswerable, emotions are uncontrollable, and strength seems unattainable; such are the realities of shattering circumstances. Special Needs Ministries represents a source of hope for people by offering sound teaching, resources, and personal counseling. We invite you to visit the Special Needs blog, managed by Colleen Swindoll, director of Special Needs Ministries and the parent of a child with special needs. Colleen is intimately aware of the daily challenges you face, and she is honored for the opportunity to interact with you.

Comments

[Stephen Grcevich, MD]

Karyn: From your posts, it sounds like you've got quite a bit on your plate these days. While your son may not have a "disability" as dramatic as some described on this blog, his struggles, and those of your family are no less significant. I'd argue that any mental or physical impairment that substantially limits a person's ability to pursue spiritual growth and fully participate in the life of a local church constitutes a significant disability.

You used the term "drive me to distraction" in your post. There's a well-known book on ADHD titled "Driven to Distraction", and while one obviously can't jump to any conclusions based upon two posts on a blog, what you describe about yourself in your fluctuating enthusiasm and your son in terms of his educational struggles wouldn't be inconsistent with the experiences of persons with ADHD. CHADD (www.chadd.org) is an excellent resource for information on that condition.

There are lots of possible explanations for your son's academic struggles, and if you haven't already, you would definitely want to consider having him assessed for possible learning difficulties through his school, and for other medical or mental health conditions by a qualified professional in your area with training and experience in working with teenagers.

I trust that the Lord will use these circumstances to fulfill His purpose for you, your son, and your family.

PS: Check out Psalm 138

[Colleen Swindoll]

Karyn: I'm wondering where you are in the process...any progress, tests, helps??? You may also want to check online with a wonderful educational link...it's "ld.org" excellent web site for learning disabilities and much more. Let me know how you are doing.
Colleen

[Colleen Swindoll]

Laura: Your post (june 28) spoke of special education teaching (25 yrs, autism, 10 yrs)...how are things going with this new school year? Any advise you want to share with parents in the advocacy process? Any topic's IFL could discuss regarding parental struggles, faith confusion, or other? Do let us know. Thanks a bunch! Colleen

[Denise]

Colleen: i need some guidance for my autistic son, more than i can type out
can you please call me directly @ (651) 688-3526
Denise

[Susan Kozlowski]

Thanks Colleen for your obedience to God in starting this ministry. I came here today after hearing about your blog on your dad's radio program, and it is such an encouragement to read that others are going through similar struggles.

[Andrew Justis]

Colleen,
I am a father, and brother of special needs children. My brother was diagnosed with tumors on the brain stem and pass away in June 1997 from complications of the third such tumor. I have experienced the trauma that the family goes through when one is stricken with such a debilitating event. Life was hard for the seventeen years that my brother was alive, but we all saw and experience the mercy of God upon the life of our family. In 1994 my first born, a son, was diagnosed with a mild case of Cerebral Palsy and for 16 years we have been to therapy, advocates for schooling, and parenting him to be a Godly young man by inspiring him to be an individual and holding him responsible for what he can safety accomplish. In 1996 my second child was born, a daughter, everything appeared to be normal, but that was far the truth. She was diagnosed with mild-mental-retardation and had some challenging learning problems growing up. The biggest challenge she faces is short-term memory loss. My wife and I have been stretched by our God in ways unimaginable and we have never shied way from taking our children to church to learn about Jesus and his love for them. The most important points I want to make to you and your readers is that my wife and I have treated our children an any other child (aka normal), we have trained the child and not the special need. Second, we have relied upon the strength of our Lord to get through each and everyday. These are God children and we are just the caretakers of them and are honored by God to be given the privilege to take care of such a precious gift as a child with special needs.
Andrew Justis,
San Angelo, Texas

[NFL Jerseys]

Adorable butterfly on the "giggle" card! Have a wonderful week! ♥♥ Kay

[Ginni Bartlett]

I am so excited to find your blog! Thank you so much for writing it! I am thrilled to see the ministry that is taking place to families like mine. My son, Alex, was diagnosed as moderate on the autistic spectrum when he was almost 3. He's 11 now, and parenting him has been the biggest challenge of my life. God has been faithful and blessed us with a strong marriage, loving family and a supportive church as well as surrounding us with great people who have worked with Alex in and out of school over the years. He's taught me so much about trust and His unfailing love for me and my son. I have had a lot of ups and downs as my son has made progress and then plateaued and regressed, but I'm so thankful that God does not go on the roller coaster. He's my rock. He never changes! Just this past year I have been able to share my story with others to open their eyes to the needs of a family like mine. I spoke at my MOPS group and am speaking this next weekend at a women's retreat in California. I found your blog because I wanted to see how your story had continued from the initial interview with your dad from 2002. I will be sharing your blog as a resource as I urge the ladies there to reach out to families who have special needs children. Will you please pray for me as I speak that God will use what I say to make a difference? I really want churches to step up and answer the overwhelming need. It's great to see examples of churches here that are ministering to special needs kids and their families! Thank you for all you are doing for us!
May God bless you and your family.

[Luz Apolayo-Republic of Panama]

I am a single mom to a precious boy with Down syndrome. We live in Panama City, Panama, Central America. I do not know where to start but I will give it a try. In third world countries, like ours, it is unthinkable to receive all services required by our children from the state or government. There are some foundations that will take you for a definite period of time, the public health system is so deficient and there are so many people waiting it makes you cry from helplessness and frustration. There are many professionals for most therapies but the cost is high for our living standards. In other words, if you cannot pay it, you will not receive what you need.
Besides lacking the main resources, it is a titanic mission to educate people and make them understand that children and people with disabilities are also human beings with rights and responsibilities.
My son just turned 8 and I am exhausted, inside and out, from head to toe. I cried to God for a son, like Ana, and he gave me one I was not expecting but I accepted him even before he was born. Ministries for people with special needs do not exist here and we need help, I need lots of it. Schools are another horror story so I just wonder why, what, and how.
I have read some comments and it seems we all share basically the same issues and feelings; it is a lonely road and we need so much love from God to keep going.
I am happy I found this site where I can get encourament from others who are struggling for their children and trusting God for help.
I tried to order de CD on the especially wrapped children but the system would not take my credit card maybe because I am in a foreign country.

Thank you for having this ministry, I dream with something like it in Panama but we still need to grow as persons. Not even churches offer any help. In the meantime I will come here for peace, joy and communion with others walking the same road.
God bless you all.

[Sammy Chick]

Colleen I have listened to your father for 25 years. I can say w/out reservation alot of my views on ministry come directly from his preaching. My Wife Lorri & I started a special needs ministry in our church 7 years ago with 1 girl Mandy who is still with us. We now have game nights once a month along with our Respite program Escape that we conduct in that same weekend. We have promoted Escape through many venues but have not witnessed the growth we were expecting. We have volunteers that are truly committed @ all levels to have a truly blessed outreach. We feel there is something we are missing or not doing quite right to have parents be so hesitant. We have a website that reveals everything we are about http://www.specialneedslouisville.com but yet we have not witnessed the growth we were expecting. Too often I think maybe it is our congregation that misses the boat and God doesn't see the Church as being ready. Not sure thought maybe you could help. We are the only Church in our area doing this in depth of a ministry for special needs.

[Donna]

I am here today to offer encouragement to all on this blog.

Remember that Psalm 91 reminds us that God is our refuge and we may abide in Him. Verse 4 PROMISES us that He will shelter under His wings.

I've been much reminded of the promises in Psalm 91 lately.
A very wise lady told me a true story I'd like to share with you.

An inferno was blazing in a National Forest. A mother bird, with young chicks, sheltered on the forest floor. She protected her babies with her wings.

Afterwards, as the fire crews walked the valley, they were fascinated by the sight of a burnt - petrified bird. So, they went closer to investigate. Lifting the lifeless form of the mother, the baby chicks scurried out and across the forest floor.

But, you see, if those chicks had even dared to PEEK out from her wings, they too would have perished.

There are season's in our lives, when we need to not peek out. Trusing the Lord is easy - when life deals no trials.

I know. I walk these same trials with you.

Abide. Trust. Rest. In the Almighty.

Shalom my brothers and sisters.
Donna

[Kenneth Copeland]

Thanks Colleen for giving time for those with special needs. I admire your kind heart in making an effort to reach out and talk to parents who are experiencing this situation. I know they go through a lot and good thing you are there to help them.

[Diane Tripp]

I just learned about your blog today through a good friend of mine. I am the mother of 3 chidren, one biological and two adopted. Both of my adopted daughters have special needs. One has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome with many accompanying diagnoses like ADHD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Visual and Auditory Learning Disorders, Global Developmental Delay, Speech Delays, Motor Tics, ODD and RAD (which we believe God has given us victory over). Add to that we are missionaries living in Asia for the past 16 years. Every single day life is challenging. Some days I do better than others. I believe that my children are a trust from God, His gift to me (and not His punishment)and that in spite of our weaknesses, and maybe b/c of them, He is transforming me/us and using us to bring glory to His name. I long to be able to compare notes with others like us, but in our country of service special needs children are something to be ashamed of, not talked about (though that is slowly changing). Sometimes I feel so alone, but God's grace holds me up and He's given us wonderful friends in our host culture.
I have asked the Lord to give me promises for my children's lives and I pray those over them that they would be fulfilled. How amazing to see God's hand at work through the life of my exceptionally challenged daughter to bring her friends to Christ. Yet my greatest challenge is still to love her and accept her and be patient with her every day even when she's screaming and out of control. Life is hard, but God is the stability of my days. I haven't heard any of the broadcasts yet, but hope I'll be able to listen via the Internet since we're a day ahead of you there in the US. One great thing I'm learning recently is that my daughters and their disabilities do not define who I am. My identity is in Jesus and the more I look to Him and cling to Him, the more I experience who I really am in HIm and His joy fills my heart. I'm a work in process, but I'm so glad there are others on the road with me! Thanks

[Dori Wentland]

I am raising three children on my own (widowed in 2005) and one of my children has autism. His twin sister and older brother have expressed an interest in getting baptised and the Children's Pastor at our church is encouraging me to participate and perform the baptism which is the biggest honor of my life and I am so very blessed that God is giving me this humbling opportunity. However, my heart aches for my son with autism because I want him to join us in this journey but I don't know how to include him since I don't know exactly what he understands in regards to accepting Jesus as his personal savior. I pray all the time that God will reveal Himself to my little boy in a way he can understand but in order to be baptised he needs to make the personal profession of faith. Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I write this. Anyone have any insight or experience with this issue??? -Dori

[Zyper]

Thank you for posting this it inspired me. God bless

[Steve Watkins]

Thank you so much for this ministry its great to see a ministry centered on the SN community. Our 10 year old daughter has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and is a weak type2. As much as she is a joy to us the SMA has hit us hard it affect every part of our life especially our faith and marriage. We are slowly returning to our faith walk and are looking forward to the resources on here that are so encouraging.

[J. Adams]

I believe that I was meant to read your blog. A Friend of mine told me about you, about your special needs ministry. I would love to speak to you in person, or have you contact me by email. I think that we'd have a lot to talk about.

[Colleen Thompson]

Dear J, thanks so much for connecting. It's always amazing to me how the Lord brings hope to our hearts at just the right time. There are several ways to contact me. First, is via Insight for Living-974-475-5000 then ask for me. Another is connecting here on the blog. Most often, I'm finding the greatest connection is happening on our Facebook page. You will find a community of people that share so much in common, encourage, and empower others to 'stay at it'. I hope you will continue to connect as it sounds you soul needs to be filled with hope, love, and encouragement. Blessings tonight; thrilled to know you. Colleen

[J. Adams]

Colleen,

Wondering if you seen the video yet of the TX Education Agency Judge sleeping through a case involving a boy with autism. Very sad, and very disturbing as well!

[Maggie]

Colleen,

My husband is in the late stages of Parkinson's Disease and this poem came to me today. I feel Christ's underlying presence as I see my spouse's health decline. I pray that God helps me see what really matters. You are an inspiration, Colleen.

Parkinson’s on Drugs or What Really Matters?

Opening
The
Freezer
Door
I
Expect
To
See
Chicken
Breasts
Brats
Maybe
Some
Frozen
Veggies
Instead
I
See
Cheese
Sometimes
Bologna
I
Walk
Out
To
The
Garage
To
Do
My
Exercises
You
Watch
Me
Walk
Out
I
Say
Hey
Hon
I
Am
Going
To
Go
Exercise
Please
Don’t
Lock
The
Door
You
Hear
Me
Say
Lock
The
Door
I
Am
Locked
Out
These
Things
Don’t
Matter
But
When
I
Say
To
You
It
Is
Nice
To
See
Our
Daughter
With
Her
First
Boyfriend
Our
Eyes
Lock
We
Smile
You
Understand
You
Say
Goodnight
Hon
I
Say
Goodnight
Sweetie
This
Is
What
Really
Matters

[Colleen Thompson]

Maggie, You can't know how much your thoughts mean to me. Just yesterday, I learned another woman in my life learned her husband has Parkinson’s/and other neuro-degenerative disorders. He has been her best friend and treasured mate. There are several others in my life with the same sorrows; tears flowed quickly when I read your poem. What a grand perspective...one that is made by choice many times a day. Oh how I will join you to my prayer list and ask the Lord to provide and sustain you through each day. Many, many blessings to you today, Colleen