I meant to get this series out earlier - but we've had a lot going on in the Pondering Platypus household!
I wanted to give a voice to parents who have children with additional needs and how they 'do' church.

For all of these, I will be changing names - unless the writer specifically wants their real name used, just because publically writing about your church home can be hard.

These will come from all over the country - so there will be no game of guess the church!
But they will all be real stories and unedited by me. I don't need to add anything - they speak for themselves.

This is the first:

What’s it like coming to church with a child with additional needs?

I have thought about this a lot, and I can say that I feel I have felt love and care from other people when bringing a child with additional needs.

Physical Access

When she was younger it was easier, we had a buggy style wheelchair and if she was unsettled, I could get her out and sit on my lap.

But those days are gone, she’s bigger now and has a large, moulded wheelchair. I feel we are a bit in the way with limited space making access difficult. Getting around and finding a seat can be stressful for me.

I am always very grateful when people ask if they can help to find us a space, which I’m lucky mostly happens.

Children’s provision

When she was younger, she could go out with the young children even though she was older and bigger at that time it wasn’t really a problem. Now I no longer feel that it’s an option as the age gap is too large.

However, to go in a group of children her age would be difficult as intellectually the age gap would be too great.

I liked it when she mixed with the other children with it benefiting both her and the other children, it was a good experience on both sides but can’t see a way forward with that.

Current Position

She stays in the service with me now, which is ok when she’s happy, she loves the music and if I sing to her when the songs are happening it’s even better.

It can be hard to fit in and a little isolating and is very much different than bringing a child with no additional needs where you can easily fit in with everything provided.

Physical facilities

I’m very happy in my church and we don’t live a perfect life where everything provided.

As outside the church, you have to deal with challenges everyday, but moving forward if churches want to welcome people with additional needs into churches, I feel the way forward is understanding each other’s needs better - disabled or not and be willing to be open and learn more about each order.

I feel changing places are a big step forward a larger changing/toilet facility where there is a hoist and changing bed.

There are grants available and if changes are being made and can be accommodated - why not?

What a way to say we love and care and welcome you!