Key Ministry Foundation will sponsor a free workshop entitled “We Want You Back: Strategies and Solutions for Helping Families with Special Needs in the Church.” The workshop is being held at The Church of St. Rita, 33200 Baldwin Road in Solon on Monday, August 18 from 7-9:00 p.m.  It will feature a panel of experts to whom participants may address questions about how children with a variety of special needs can be better served in the church and in religious education settings. 

            Panelists will include Stephen Grcevich, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Cara Daily, Ph.D., a child psychologist specializing in autism, Rhonda Martin, L.P.C.C., a counselor specializing in anxiety disorders, Sheri Halagan, National Board Certified Teacher, Karen Sunderhaft, contributor to ADDitude Magazine and teacher specializing in learning disabilities, and Mary Ann Colegrove, parent and St. Rita parishioner.  Serving as Moderator will be Katie Wetherbee, board member and volunteer with Key Ministry and owner of HOPE Educational Consulting, LLC.

            Examples of questions that may be asked include: “my child takes medication for his ADHD during the school week, but on weekends, I like to give him a break from his medication; how can I help him to pay attention in church,” or “my child has autism and has difficulty communicating with peers in church; are there ways to help her and our church to work together to meet her needs?”

            Key Ministry is a non-profit organization empowering churches to minister to families of children with “hidden disabilities” (disabilities with no outwardly visible symptoms). Common examples of hidden disabilities include autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, and many others. For more information about Key Ministry, please visit our website at www.keyministry.org.