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Heister to speak on meeting parishioners’ needs

Seminar focuses on accommodating special needs or disabilities within the church

THOMPSONTOWN — Parents of children who have special needs or disabilities do not wish to have their sons or daughters to be a disruption to a church service.

Often, the parents may choose to not attend church services for this very reason.

Cindy Heister, of Thompsontown, is mom to a 14-year-old boy who has autism. She is also a Sunday School teacher and a pediatric occupational therapist who works with special needs children in the Mifflin County School District.

Heister is hosting “Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Disabilities in Our Churches,” which will be presented from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Oct. 21 at Locust Run United Methodist Church, 25 Locust Run Road, Thompsontown.

Heister said her concern has arisen from attending a small church where “every generation has had a child with significant needs” attending services.

“I wondered, if this is a small church facing this, I wonder what the bigger churches are facing,” she said.

Heister decided she would present information about how to effectively work together in a church setting. The seminar is geared toward church leaders, Sunday school teachers and vacation Bible school teachers.

The event will include tips, strategies and accommodations to adapt curriculum and programs.

Heister understands first-hand how difficult it can be to help a child with special needs get ready for school on weekday mornings. For some, she said, it may seem to be an extra burden to do it all over again on the weekend and then feel as though nothing has been gained from the experience.

“Some of these children may be unintentionally loud,” she said. “They may clap or cry. I wanted to reach out to people in the church so that we can reach out to the family.”

Some examples of assistance for a child with autism would include providing noise-cancelling headphones. Some churches also have live audio available in Sunday school rooms during the service. This gives parents a chance to step out with their child and still hear the service.

Physical limitations of some children may make craft times at church activities difficult. Heister said she has been able to purchase self-opening scissors that allow children to cut objects himself without need of assistance. She also has markers that are easier to hold in one’s hands.

Heister said VBS presents a challenge to churches because “you have to be prepared for the unexpected.”

This is why she feels it is important that any size church obtain information on how to assist these children and their families so they can experience a stress-free worship.

There is no cost for the program, but pre-registration is suggested by contacting Heister by phone at (717) 535-4458 or by email at cheister97@yahoo.com.

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