Front Row: Michael Smith, Jolene Philo, Emily Colson; Middle Row: Denise Schamens, Shelly Nichols Davidson, Ruth Stieff, Danielle Schaeffer; Back Row: Amy Kendall, Harmony Hensley, Blanca Garcia, Ben Richards, Joe Butler

McLean Bible Church‘s  fantastic Accessibility Summit was held last weekend in Washington, DC. The Summit is one of the highlights of the year for parents of kids with special needs and special needs ministry leaders, myself included. I attended and presented a workshop for the fifth year in a row. (This year’s topic was PTSD: The Effects of Early Medical Trauma on Kids with Special Needs.)

Special Needs Ministry Resources

I could go on and on about the wonderfulness of the Summit. Listening to 13-yeaer-old Christopher Duffley, who is blind and has autism, sing and play the piano. Hearing Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics, flash his Kennedy smile and inspire the audience with stories about his work. Getting the first glimpse of Every Child Welcome, which won’t release nationally until April 27 and showing it off so co-author Katie Wetherbee could see it .Selling out at the book table for the first time ever since my first book came out. Attending amazing workshops by Joe Butler of Ability Tree and Emily Colson, author of Dancing with Max.

 Special Needs Ministry Dreaming

All those things were wonderful. But they paled in comparison to the people. Seeing old friends from previous Summits, picking the brains of experts at their booths, and sharing dreams and visions of how to move along the continuum of special needs ministry for people with special needs to special needs ministry with those with special needs to special needs ministry by people with special needs. And after the Summit was over, going out for supper with people who see one another only once a year, and laughing and smiling for hours.

Special Needs Ministry Conferences

The Accessibility Summit is one of many special needs conferences around the country. Now’s your chance to give your favorite conference a shout out in the comment box. Thanks!

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