Our Programs:

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.

Fall Dates: Aug. 24, Sept. 7 and 21, Oct. 5 and 19, Nov. 2, 16 and 30, Dec. 14.

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

Parents Night Out Program

On the fourth Friday of each month, Speedway UMC and Easter Seals Crossroads offers a parents' night out from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. for children with disabilities and their siblings, ages 6 months to 12 years. Children must be registered for the Parents Night Out program in advance. For more information or to register, call Anna Marie House at Easter Seals Crossroads, 466-2006. You may download the registration forms directly from the Crossroads Web site at www.eastersealscrossroads.org. 

Fall Dates: Aug. 22, Sept. 26, and Oct. 24.

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Westside Special Needs Network

The Westside Special Needs Network of Speedway United Methodist Church has announced its fall parent network meetings, which are open to all parents of children and adults with disabilities and special needs, as well as their caregivers, relatives and teachers. Meetings are held at Speedway United Methodist Church, 5065 W. 16th St. (16th and Winton).
           
All meetings are free and include free snacks and free child care. Spanish language and/or ASL interpreters are available upon request. Please register for child care or request an interpreter by emailing bdehoff@iquest.net or leaving a message at 317-971-2619.

Times for All Meetings: 2nd Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Refreshments and visiting begins at 6:30 p.m. Speaker begins at 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 9 - Understanding and Accessing Medicaid Waivers: Medicaid waivers can provide people with disabilities and their families needed services such as Medicaid, respite care, job and residential support, and much more. Waivers are available for those with developmental disabilities, autism, and other needs - but it's important that families apply and get on the waiting lists. Jill Ginn of the Arc Network will explain waivers, how they work, and how to apply. She'll also explain the free help and support the Arc Network can give to people with disabilities and their families.

Oct. 14 - Stress Management and Self Care for Caregivers - Parents and other caregivers of children and adults with medical, behavioral and/or developmental needs are involved in an act of love that can be physically and emotionally exhausting at times. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Carole Will of NAMI will discuss common stresses of caregivers and how to manage them, sharing tips for how to care for yourself in the midst of caring for others. This event is also open to adults caring for aging loved ones.

Nov. 11 - Helping Challenged Children - Free Grants to Families for Needed Items: Eric Roberts of Helping Challenged Children will explain how their organization can provided needed equipment and other items to children with disabilities that is not covered by insurance. Helping Challenged Children is generously supported with grants and is looking for families who need help getting things for their kids!

These events are sponsored by the special needs ministry of Speedway United Methodist Church and are open to all. For more information, leave a message at 317-971-2619.

New!

Connections--A Group for Parents of Children Under 5

A Connections parent group for parents of children with special needs under age 5 will begin Sept. 11 and run every Thursday morning through Oct. 30, 9:30 to 11 a.m. at SUMC. Parents will receive free child care, refreshments and books. The Connections group is run by a Central Indiana First Steps professional and parent, and it will focus on the many privileges, challenges and strategies of raising a child with special needs. Topics will include sibling and marital issues, potty training, working with professionals, and more. Call to RSVP and/or reserve child care, 472-6163. (Child care is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so call to reserve.)  Extended family members are welcome. For more information, call Angela Touseull of Central Indiana First Steps at 472-6163.

Date: Every Thursday--September 11 through October 30.

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Annual Special Needs Information and Resource Fair

Approximately 500 individuals attended our 3rd annual Special Needs Family Resource and Information Fair on Saturday, April 26. We want to thank the 50+ exhibitors who came with information about services for children, youth and adults with disabilities. This includes organizations about specific diagnoses such as autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, dyslexia, hearing impairment, brain injury, mental illness, and more; as well as general service organizations for those with any type of disability that provide therapies, recreational programs, social programs, vocational services, health care, health and life insurance, education, respite care, and more. The 2009 fair will be held April 25. For more information or exhibitor registration email bdehoff@iquest.net.

Worship, Learning and Serving

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.

 

Our Partnerships:

Special Needs Partners at Speedway

Summer Camp

Our church is host to one of the sites for Nobel 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.

Social Skills Group

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.

Adult Social Group

Sycamore Services leads this social group for adults and older teens, meeting twice monthly at Speedway UMC. Check back for upcoming dates.

For more information on any of these events, email bdehoff@iquest.net or leave a message for Beth at the church, 317-971-2619.

ASK Training

About Special Kids (ASK, formerly known as IPIN) offers special training sessions to parents which prepares them for advocating for their children's educational needs. The training focuses on Artilce 7 and IEPs. These trainings occur once a month at our church. ASK also offers them at three other locations in Indianapolis.

Our Vision:

Speedway UMC

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

Hospitality

• Actively invite and welcome all persons with disabilities to attend our worship services, participate in our programs, and receive the sacraments.
• Help identify their gifts and enable them to use their gifts in the service of the body of Christ and the larger community;
• Receive into full membership all persons with disabilities and adapt the requirements of membership to accommodate their special needs.

Education

• Increase the awareness of disabilities and create a knowledgeable church family
• Assist all committees and programs to be accessible to persons with special needs
• Adapt existing and/or offer appropriate alternative forms of Christian education, fellowship and service for persons with special needs.