We are thrilled and blessed to have you with us!

One-on-One Assistants

Some of our friends with Special Needs, for a variety of reasons, may need an adult or youth helper with them in the classroom or at special events. One-on-One Assistants provide supports for behavioral issues, safety issues and physical assistance. A One-on-One Assistant can be requested by a family. Or teachers, youth leaders or ministry leaders may contact the Special Needs Ministry if they feel there is someone who may need extra support. The Special Needs Ministry will evaluate the need and provide a One-on-One Assistant to support those needs. Please contact the Special Needs Coordinators to request a One-on-One Assistant or if you feel there is someone who may need extra support.

Quiet Room

The Quiet Room is a space for those who are having difficulty with over-stimulation or who are out of sorts and need a quiet spot to help them feel better. The Quiet Room has low-lighting, large, comfortable cushions and bean bags, plus a variety of multi-sensory activities. The Quiet Room also has a small tent if there is a need for a smaller, calming space. The Quiet Room is staffed by adult volunteers and youth helpers. Family members may bring someone to the Quiet Room from church service or teachers may escort someone to the Quiet Room.

The Quiet Room is available during the 9:30 am church service. If you would like to have the Quiet Room available at other times, please contact the Special Needs Coordinators.

The Quiet Room is located downstairs by Fellowship Hall, across from the bathrooms in Room101.

The Quiet Room welcomes any donations of new or slightly used multi-sensory toys, as well as a rocking chair. Please contact the Special Needs Coordinators if you have any donations you could share with us.

Safe Sanctuaries

Safe Sanctuaries is a policy mandate of the United Methodist Church for churches to design policies and procedures, as well as training to implement those policies and procedures for the safety of children and youth.

Trinity UMC’s Safe Sanctuaries document is the Child and Youth Protection Policy and Procedures. This document is reviewed bi-annually by all staff and volunteers who work with children and youth at Trinity UMC.

Background checks and disclosure of criminal history is required by all adults who work with children and youth at Trinity UMC.

Church School Registration & Special Needs Forms

Trinity UMC Church School and the Special Needs Ministry have two forms for our Special Needs families to complete. The Church School Registration form provides emergency information to the Church School staff and teachers. Please complete this form every new Church School Year and provide consistent information, especially if there are food allergies or other allergies that could require emergency care. The Special Needs form provides detailed information on the care and support your child or youth may need while at Trinity UMC. IEPs and behavioral strategies from school are very helpful, as well as providing consistency. The information you share with us will facilitate designing and providing supports and accommodations for your child or youth.

Church School Registration Form

Accessibility Summit

The Accessibility Summit is an annual conference that focuses on disability ministries and information, materials and resources for providing inclusion in the church and community. There are numerous workshops for families, churches and communities, as well as uplifting and inspiring speakers plus a variety of exhibits and resources.  The Accessibility Summit is held during the Spring at the Mclean Bible Church in Mclean, Virginia.

The Special Needs Coordinators at Trinity UMC attend this conference annually to learn more about specific disabilities, discover new materials, and explore how to implement accommodations and supports. We are inspired by the speakers and presenters as they give testimony about bringing the Word of God in to the lives of all his children. We would love to have you join us at the next conference! If you are interested in attending, please contact the Special Needs Coordinators. For more information, go to the Accessibility Summit website at http://www.accessibilitysummit.org.

Special Needs Library

The Special Needs Ministry library is available for lending to our church family and friends. These books are a resource for all who have family members with Special needs or anyone who works with people with Special Needs. We welcome any donations of books, DVDs and other resources to add to the Special Needs Ministry library.

• Special Strength for Special Parents: 31 days of Spiritual Therapy for Parents of Children with Special Needs by Nina Fuller

• Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention by Kathleen Nadeau, PhD and Ellen B. Dixon, PhD

• Helping a Child with Nonverbal Learning Disorder or Aspergers Disorder by Kathryn Stewart, PhD

• It’s So Much Work to be Your Friend:  Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success by Richard Lavoie

• Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare

• Educational Psychology: Theory and Practice by Robert E. Slavin

• The ADHD Book of Lists: A Practical Guide for Helping Children and Teens with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sandra F. Rief

• Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Barbara J. Newman

• Gospel Light’s Special Needs Smart Pages: Advice, Answers & Articles about Teaching Children with Special Needs by Joni and Friends

Links

The Special Needs Ministry is always looking for great information and materials to help us better serve those with Special Needs at Trinity United Methodist Church. On this page you will find many links to many different websites pertaining to those with Special Needs for training, education and information. If you have any suggestions for links, please contact the Special Needs Ministry Coordinators.

• Wrights Law Special Education Advocacy -  www.wrightslaw.com

• Special Olympics of Calvert County - http://www.somdcalvert.org/

• Autism Project - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

• The Autism-Asperger Association of Calvert County - http://www.asdcalvert.org

• Barstow Acres Children’s Center - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Morgan’s Wonderland: All Access Theme Park - http://www.morganswonderland.com/

• Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped - http://www.ccfh.org/

• ARC of Southern Maryland - http://www.arcsomd.org/

• Parents’ Place of Maryland: The Parents’ Place is Maryland’s Parent Center and is committed to improving the lives of children with disabilities and special health care needs. - http://www.ppmd.org/

• VSA: Very Special Arts (formerly Very Special Artists) - http://www.vsarts.org/

• Kennedy Krieger Institute - http://www.kennedykrieger.org/

• My Great Kid: See the Potential - http://mygreatkid.com/

• Council for Exceptional Children - http://www.cec.sped.org

• LD Online - http://www.ldonline.org/

• ADDitude: Living Well with ADD - http://www.additudemag.com/

• Muscular Dystrophy Association - http://www.mdausa.org/

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – www.aacap.org