While this topic does not have much to do with Christianity, I have noticed that Christian parents of those with disabled tend to be overprotective of their disabled children – to the point of causing harm.Parents are called to love and protect their children, and when your child has a disability there becomes a fine line on whats overprotective.  Disabled children just like any child need to make mistakes in order to learn, and if you don’t allow a child to make mistakes and learn it will never learn.  Parents of those with disabilities tend to not allow their children to make mistakes in the guise of protecting their children, without knowing they are causing greater harm then their disability ever would.

I have seen one occasion where the overprotective parent who is a christian went to the point of lying, and manipulating people around her child in order to protect her daughter.   It has just about come to the point of being abusive.

At what point does protecting a child become harmful when the child has a disability? I would like your input.

Churches can sometimes be extremely abusive to the disabled, without even knowing it.  Here are some tips on how churches can better serve those with disabilities and other special needs.Let People With Disabilties Say Their Own Needs

People with Disabilities often are trying to please everyone else, so often you have to push them to say their own needs.  This sounds kinda strange, but most people with disabilities really care about other people – often to a fault.  They will often sacrifice their own needs to please someone else.  Letting this go on for a significant ammount of time can be very draining and could result in someone not being comfortable at church anymore, anger towards the church and depression.

Dont Assume They Understand, or that they don’t understand

Assumptions are commonly made about those with disabilities as to their ability to comprehend and understand things.  Often times people think just because they are disabled that they can’t understand something, or that they will be able to understand it just fine.  This is why churches need to get time to personally get to know everyone that reguarley attends, even those with disabilities.  By getting to know people – you get to know their unique needs.

Don’t Segregate

Churches should not segregate those with disabilities like they would children during a service.  How would you like it if you were 40 years old and asked to leave the sanctuary during service at the same time of the children?  I think that’s enough on this one.

Patience

People with disabilities often have meltdowns, temper tantrums, and other emotional stuff attached to their lives.  These usually result from needs not being met, or being overwhelmed during the church service.  Don’t be afraid afterwords to ask what made them upset and how you can help fix it.

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