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You are a hands-on parent. Your child has some challenges. You are looking for creative ideas to help you help your child reach for all they were meant to be. Tom and Julie Meekins, who have over 21 years of experience raising children with challenges and mentoring and coaching other parents all along the way, will encourage and empower you with tips and strategies regarding child development, heart-based parenting, and nutrition that are practical, doable, and life-changing.
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C4P 69 – “Support, Encouragement, Ideas, Training, Resources for YOU”
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Show Notes for Podcast 69 – “Support, Encouragement, Ideas, Training, Resources for YOU” Today on the Podcast we are talking about all the ways that we engage with and support parents and caregivers and also ministry leaders. If you are feeling stuck or isolated, need to brainstorm some ideas over a puzzle or concern, would like to know of resource…
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C4P 68 – “Why You Should Come to DATC2025”
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Show Notes for Podcast 68 – “Why You Should Come to DATC2025” On May 1st through 3rd, we had the wonderful privilege of attending, speaking at, and having an exhibitor table at the Disability and the Church 2024 (a/k/a DATC2024) Conference put on by Key Ministry and the Tim Tebow Foundation. The Disability and the Church conference was such an amaz…
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Most of us face some kind of crisis in our lifetimes. Families affected by disability encounter situations that could be considered – catastrophes, dilemmas, disasters, emergencies, or troublesome – often and sometimes daily, at least during some seasons. As we go through the crisis, we may feel a whole range of emotions. We may feel anxious, guilt…
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C4P 66 – “Disability Ministry – A Whole Church Ministry or a Department?”
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For the last four years, we have spent a significant amount of time meeting with and collaborating with leaders all over the country who are passionate about keeping disability ministry on many levels moving and growing and about supporting those along the way who want to participate in the movement. We are very optimistic. We see many ministry lea…
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C4P 65 – Perseverance – How to Push Through in the Hard Times
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Today on the podcast we are talking about perseverance – pushing through those hard times. We all have them. Recently we asked some folks in our local support group and in our Champions4Parents Facebook Community group four questions about how they persevere when it’s tough and what encourages them. What inspires you to persevere in hard times? How…
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C4P 64 – Dispelling Discouragement in Disability by Reframing
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Today on the podcast we are talking about creating environments where those with disabilities can push through discouragement, grow, shine, and bring to the world what they were intended to bring. Whether you are a parent, another type of caregiver, or you work with someone with disability in the church setting, this podcast is for you. Tune in as …
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Show Notes for Podcast 63 – “Trailmap for Life” Today on the Podcast we introduce you to a free Life Skills resource and invite you to join us in providing input to the organization that created it to address some of the needs of the disability community. Most of us, as adults, are in pursuit of making life better, of doing life more efficiently, o…
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Show Notes for Podcast 62 – “Sleep Issues? 25 Tips to Help You Catch some more Z-z-z-s” At our house, we have sleep issues. Can you relate? Join us on the Podcast today as we share some ideas that may make it easier for you to GET to sleep and to GET BACK to sleep. As we promised in this Podcast: Here is the link with a few tips from Healthline.com…
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C4P 61 –Helping Adults with Disabilities Navigate the Hurts of being Misunderstood and Undervalued.
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Recently we had the privilege of teaching a class of adults with disabilities for six weeks. We heard their victories and we also heard their hurts. Many of them have had countless experiences of cruelty and thoughtlessness acted out toward them. When we looked into their eyes as they were telling their stories of abuse and persecution and being ov…
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Join us on this Podcast entitled “MELTDOWNS” as we discuss what meltdowns can look like and how we can support individual children or adults with disabilities showing signs of a potential meltdown coming or when they are in the midst of a full-on meltdown. We cover some potential triggers and strategies to put in place. Here are some links of good …
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C4P 59 – The Challenges of Traveling with Disability
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Join us on this Podcast entitled “The Challenges of Traveling with Disability” as we discuss some of the unique challenges special needs families encounter while traveling. The resilience of families affected by disability never ceases to amaze us. There is this underlying persistence and grit that propels forward motion to do what needs doing mome…
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Join us on this Podcast entitled “Every Child Needs?” as we discuss some things we learned at a recent appreciation lunch/training for volunteers in the disability ministry of our church. Listen in as we talk a little more about these four things that Every Child Needs: To know Jesus personally. To be known by name. To be prayed for weekly. To be d…
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Join us on this Podcast entitled “Special Needs or Disabled?” as we discuss the words used to describe people with disabilities. There are strong opinions around the language of disability. What should be our response? As a parent or as someone who serves in disability ministry, what is the correct terminology? Listen in as we share terms and some …
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C4P 56 – Tips for Ministry Folks to Serve more Effectively
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Ministry is hard. It can be very lonely and a bit overwhelming. Join us on this Podcast entitled “Tips for Ministry Folks to Serve more Effectively” to find out ways that you can combat the loneliness and address the overwhelm. Our goal in this podcast is for you to find something that can boost you as you carry out the tasks before you. Please kno…
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Parents and Caregivers are you feeling a little low? Wondering why your family is dealing with special needs? Are you sad that you cannot do what you used to be able to do? Are you grieving over the loss of the life you anticipated for you and your family? Join us on this Podcast entitled “Feeling Lonely” for one way that may help you to get out of…
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C4P 54 – Lessons Learned Raising a Child with Disabilities
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Raising children with disabilities is challenging. Along the journey, we, as parents, learn some things. Join us on this Podcast entitled “Lessons Learned Raising a Child with Disabilities” and hear from parents. Take courage from other parents. Know that you are not alone. Gain wisdom and get tips that could make your days a little lighter. You ma…
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C4P 53 – Surviving Extended Family Events
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Family. Sometimes extended family including folks like Grandparents, Siblings, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc. are very helpful as we navigate life with a child with disabilities. Other times, family gatherings are filled with more anxiety than cozy Hallmark moments. Join us on this Podcast entitled “Surviving Extended Family Events” where we will sha…
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Community. We all need it. Today on the Podcast, we talk about the benefits we get when we are part of a community. We also share with you different ways that you may be able to find community for you and your family. This Podcast is for you if you are a dad or a mom looking to find community, or a ministry leader desiring to help families affected…
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Dads, we know that you have a lot to process when your children have significant challenges. Join us as we discuss Tom’s own struggles as a dad and what he found to be helpful in navigating being part of a family affected by disabilities. We also talk about the broader spectrum of what other dads may be feeling. Moms, you may want to catch this cha…
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Mama, you are going full speed ahead taking care of the needs of everyone around you. It is what you do, because you love them. But – here’s the question – are you realizing that you need to nourish you as well? Have you been so focused on your loved ones for such an extended period of time, forgetting to nourish you, that you may be dangerously cl…
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Teamwork in Disability Ministry Teamwork in Disability Ministry – Parents, Volunteers, & Staff – You are the Disability Ministry Team! This Podcast concludes a four part series entitled “Working Together in Disability Ministry” Today’s Podcast “Teamwork in Disability Ministry” is directed to all members of the team: Parents, Volunteers, & Staff. Jo…
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Staff in Disability Ministry Parents and Volunteers need your shepherding leadership. Tune in as we talk about your unique challenges and support you in this challenging role. This Podcast continues a four part series entitled “Working Together in Disability Ministry” Today’s Podcast “Staff in Disability Ministry” is directed to Staff. However, we …
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Volunteers in Disability Ministry Volunteers in Disability Ministry – you are a gift to parents and caregivers and also to the staff members who are commissioned to serve them. This Podcast continues a four part series entitled “Working Together in Disability Ministry” Today’s Podcast “Volunteers in Disability Ministry” is directed to volunteers. H…
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Parents in Disability Ministry Finding a faith-based community that works well for your loved one affected by disability can be a lonely and frustrating one. There are several people with differing roles that need to come together to make it work. Today’s Podcast “Parents – Disability Ministry” is directed to parents. However, we invite volunteers …
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Traveling can be very enjoyable, but also very stressful. On today’s Podcast, we talk about how to plan ahead to accommodate the needs of all members of your family or traveling group. Some topics that we cover are: Pre-travel planning Packing Passenger nervousness tips (Anxiety) Stops along the way In car – food and snacks In car – entertainment C…
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