Moderator: Ashley Belknap, Director of Engaging Disability With The Gospel
Panelists:
Amanda Ew, mom of a son with autism and has epilepsy herself
Susie Lovekamp, mom of a daughter with Rett syndrome
Rachel Unglesby, mom of a daughter with 2q37 deletion syndrome
As this unique COVID-19 season of ministry continues, we want to explore ways everyone can love and care for individuals and families impacted by disability. In this online training, we will focus on how to care well for individuals and families who are navigating a new diagnosis or disability.
Experiencing a new diagnosis or onset of disability can occur at any point across the lifespan. Some families receive news of a possible disability during prenatal doctor visits. Some families learn of a disability when a child is born. Others receive a diagnosis in preschool, elementary, or teenage years. Mental health diagnoses can first emerge in the young adult and adult years. Sometimes, disability is a result of an accident or injury. Seniors often experience hearing loss or vision impairment in the natural progression of aging.
In this curated conversation, we will explore various ways families navigate new diagnoses or the onset of disability. We’ll discuss practical ways to come alongside these individuals and their families with love, support, and friendship. Ashley will share several broad principles for caring well, and each panelist will share examples, tips, encouragement, and wisdom from their own experiences navigating a new diagnosis.
