Speedway United Methodist Church

New! Sunday Morning Respite Care

On Sunday mornings from 9:30 to noon, Easter Seals Crossroads provides 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 Pastor Darren at 317-241-1563.

Westside Special Needs Network--New Fall Schedule

The Westside Special Needs Network of Speedway United Methodist Church is 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 Beth DeHoff or leaving a message at 317.971.2619.

Times for All Meetings: 2nd Tuesdays of odd months (January, March, May, July, September, November). Refreshments and visiting begins at 6:30 pm. Speaker begins at 6:45 pm. Some additional events occur in other months as announced.

“How to Prepare for your child’s Special Education Case Conference”
featuring Mary Delaney of INSource,
the Indiana Resource Center for Special Needs
Case conferences can be confusing and stressful for parents. This session helps parents identify issues of concern, use Article 7 to review how the law impacts those issues, organize documents, prepare information, and communicate effectively during the case conference. This class will help parents become their child’s best advocate and build positive relationships with school personnel.

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: August 29; September 12 and 26; October 10 and 24; November 7 and 21; December 5 and 19

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

Mark Your Calendars: BLAST outing to 'Strides to Success' on January 10th. 'Strides to Success' is an equestrian therapy program located near Plainfield. The cost is $10 per person and participants must be accompanied by a parent or other caregiver.

On the fourth Friday of each month, Speedway UMC and Easter Seals Crossroads offers a parents' night out from 6 to 10 pm. 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.

We were so blessed to host about 400 visitors, exhibitors and volunteers as part of the 2010 Special Needs Family Resource and Information Fair on April 24, when more than 50 area organizations shared services and resources with families of children and adults with special needs. Thanks to all who came. With new exhibitors and new information from all exhibitors each year, we are glad to provide this event at no charge to the community each year. The next fair will be April 23, 2011. Mark your calendar!

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.

Adult Social Group--Sycamore Services
Sycamore Services leads this social group for adults and older teens, meeting monthly at Speedway UMC. Next Gathering will be Saturday, April 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Children 4 to 7 years old meet for athletic and gross motor activity. Runs three times a year for 6 to 8 weeks at a time.

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

Special Needs Ministries