Speedway United Methodist Church

Check Out Our Special Needs Ministries Newsletter

Sat. April 20, 2013 "Special Needs Family Resource and Information Fair" Stop by this 8th annual fair, one of the largest in Indiana, to learn from more than 50 special needs service providers about activities, programs and other services available for your family. The free fair includes booths, child care, and a carnival for the kids, as well as an optional lunch. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Download a registration form for your organization to reserve booth space.

For more information or to reserve child care for any of these events, call 317-971-2619 or email Beth at dehoff5@att.net .

BLAST Youth Group

BLAST is a youth group for teens and young adults of all abilities--specially designed for youth with special needs and peer friends. If you are 12 years old or older, you will have a blast developing friendships and faith in God. BLAST is a partnership with Speedway United Methodist Church and Fresh Perspectives. Special thanks to the Down Syndrome Indiana for their generous support.

Dates: January 13 and 27th and February 10th and 24th

Time: 4:30 to 5:15 pm (optional dinner with UMYF at 5:15--all meals are prepared with food allergies in mind)

Sunday Morning Respite Care

On Sunday mornings from 9:30 to noon, we provide respite care for children with disabilities. Whenever possible, students with disabilities are placed in classrooms with their typical peers, with the respite provider there to offer trained assistance to children with special needs. This service is for parents or caregivers and their children interested in attending Speedway United Methodist Church's Sunday School hour at 9:30 a.m. and/or its worship service at 10:45 a.m. For more information, contact Beth at dehoff5@att.net or the church office, 317-241-1563.

Parents Night Out Program
Parents Night Out is sponsored and presented by Easter Seals Crossroads the fourth Friday of every month at Speedway UMC. Families get free respite care for a night out and occasionally receive packages for restaurants or events. There will be no PNO during the month of May due to the race. To attend, you must pre-register by calling ESC at 317-466-2010.

Parent Support Group

Are you a parent of a child with special needs? Have you ever felt isolated and frustrated? Come join other parents on Sunday afternoons at 4:30 p.m. (meetings are held every other Sunday.) Meetings will be August 12 and 26th.

We are Looking for Persons Who Have Been Affected by Health Care Reform & Medicaid Issues

The Indiana Disability Concerns Committee of the United Methodist Church is looking for Hoosier families positively affected by measures of the Affordable Care Act (health care reform), such as benefiting from having no pre-existing condition exclusions, no annual or lifetime caps, the 100 percent coverage of preventive care, and/or the ability to include adult children to age 26 on parents' medical policies. In addition, Speedway UMC Special Needs Ministry is interested to hear if parents have dealt with their children being dropped from or denied Medicaid coverage because of a parent's alleged failure to complete a process that the parent actually completed. If either of these advocacy issues have impacted you, please email Beth.

Family Resource and Information Fair

Each year we host a resource and information fair that brings together service providers for parents and caregivers to learn about the resources that are available. April 28, 2012 was our 7th annual fair and over 400 people participated. Next year the fair will be Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Venders can download a registration form to reserve a booth.

We believe that we cannot be the Church of Jesus Christ unless every person has the ability to participate in the life of our congregation as they are able. Our special needs ministries committee works with individuals and their families to find ways for their inclusion in our educational programs, fellowship events and worship services. Because each person is unique we look for ways to tailor what we do to the unique challenges AND gifts of the individual.

Summer Camp--Noble of Indiana
Our church is host to one of the sites for Noble of Indiana's summer-long day camp for children with special needs. We have worked with Nobel to secure grant money so that nearly every family in the camp receives financial assistance.

Child and Teen Social Skills Groups--Fresh Perspectives
Adolescents on the autism spectrum and others with needs for social interaction can get together for fun and sharing with help from the staff of Fresh Perspectives.

Staff from Easter Seals Crossroads lead activities for children ages 6 months to 12 years on te fourth Fridays of each month from 6-10 p.m.

For more information on any of these events, email dehoff5@att.net or leave a message on the SUMC Special Needs Ministry voice mail, 317-971-2619.

Our Vision

Special Needs Policy Statement
Children and adults with mental, physical and developmental disabilities are persons of sacred worth whose identity is ultimately defined by the grace of God and not by their diagnosis or behavior. Therefore, we affirm that all children, youth and adults with disabilities are created in the image of God; and we reaffirm our commitment to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ to them by sharing his acceptance and respect. Therefore, we will