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Special Needs
Sun Valley’s Special Needs Team exists to support children with special needs and their families as a valued part of our family in Christ.
We strive to:
- introduce children with special needs and their families to Christ.
- show children of all abilities love, compassion, and understanding.
- enable parents to enjoy weekend services, knowing that their children are loved and learning.
Inclusion
Many of our kids take part in a typical classroom, shadowed by a 1:1 support volunteer. These volunteers receive all the background checks as our regular children's ministry volunteers, and they also receive specialized training in issues relating to developmental disabilities.
The volunteer's purpose is to:
- support the child so s/he can be successful
- provide models of appropriate communication and interaction
- fade out support as much as possible to allow for independence
- prompt and encourage peer interaction (rather than just adult-child interaction)
- provide feedback to parents about the child's participation
If at any point the typical classroom becomes overwhelming or if a child is simply having a tough day, our 1:1 Classrooms are always available as a safe retreat.
1:1 Classrooms
In addition to providing 1:1 support for children who require it in their typical classrooms, we have separate classrooms available during the Sunday services (at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:59 AM) for children who require a quieter environment, more visual support, and a higher child-adult ratio. The ratio in these classrooms is one volunteer per child PLUS one additional volunteer.
The volunteer's purpose is to:
- support the child so s/he can be successful
- provide models of appropriate communication and interaction
- fade out support as much as possible to allow for independence
- prompt and encourage peer interaction (rather than just adult-child interaction)
- provide feedback to parents about the child's participation
Our 1:1 Classrooms provide more sensory opportunities (such as a swing and a tent), more visual and communication support (such as communication books), and a focus on encouraging appropriate peer interaction. The classrooms are also secured against escape and serve only gluten-free, casein-free snacks.
In addition to being a safe and supportive environment for your child, we also have a modified curriculum for children with language and cognitive delays and disorders. Each week’s Bible story is short, easy to comprehend, and illustrated for kids who are visual learners. After hearing the story, children then participate in a craft project that teaches more about the week’s lesson. The point of the lesson is sent home with the child so you can review important points at home.
If you wish to observe one of our 1:1 classrooms in action, please contact Christie Priem to make an appointment.
Communication
We endeavor to provide whatever is required to enable a child to communicate successfully.
In order to encourage more advanced expressive communication, we provide and use communication books (using the Picture Exchange Communication System protocol – (see http://www.bbbautism.com/pdf/article_16_PECS_shorthand.pdf for more information) in our 1:1 Classrooms. Our toys are stored out of reach in order to require children to request what they want to play with. This allows for repeated practice of communication and interpersonal skills.
In order to support emerging receptive communication, we use visual reminders of classroom routines, Class Rules, turn-taking protocols, and stories. We use visual timers (see HYPERLINK www.timetimers.com) to allow children to see how much time is left until a preferred activity. Volunteers are specially trained to provide limited verbal input, lots of thinking time, and many visual cues when encouraging communication.
Sensory Input
If your child has sensory needs, s/he will love our 1:1 Classrooms! Children in our 1:1 Classroom are able to choose which sensory experiences they need and request them with as much support as they require. Children can request: swing, tent, beans/rice, shaving cream, sit and spin, beanbag toss, gears, marble tower, weighted vest, bouncy ball, trampoline, and more.
1:1 Support
You must arrange in advance for 1:1 support for your child. From the time you initially contact us, it will likely be approximately two to four weeks before we have the volunteers trained and in place to provide 1:1 support for your child. Please contact Christie Priem for more information or to inquire about 1:1 support for your child.
If your child requires 1:1 support, two volunteers will be assigned to your child. They will alternate, one working with your child one week and the other the next week. This rotating schedule allows us to schedule for vacations and have coverage in case of volunteer illness. It also means that your child will get to know his/her volunteers, but that s/he will not become overly attached to any one person. This is a great help as we help children transition from being adult-dependent to being independent.
When we are able to provide 1:1 support for your child, please keep in mind that your child’s volunteers will be present for your child alone. If you are unable attend on any particular Sunday, please call the Service Coordinator of the service you are attending to inform us of your absence. This will allow our volunteers to feel their time is being respected.
Christie Priem, M.S., CCC-SLP
Special Needs Team Director
Christie Priem has been part of Sun Valley Community Church since 1997. She is a Speech-Language Pathologist who specializes in supporting the communication of children with Autism. Her experience includes working with children of all ages and a wide variety of diagnoses. She and the entire Sun Valley Special Needs Team look forward to meeting you and your child/ren!
If you have questions or would like more information on this ministry, please e-mail our Special Needs Team Director, Christie Priem at Cpriem@sunvalleycc.com