Is There a God Connection to Kids with Disabilities?

This past week, I have been scheduling workshops with various parent support groups, early intervention centers, and schools. Two of the groups I contacted - The Autism Council of Utah & Utah Parent Center - recently had a summit about Autism and Faith. Utah State University filmed the speakers - which are available on You Tube. Cheryl Smith, from the Autism Council of Utah - asked the question: "Is there a God connection with autism?" Her answer was beautifully illustrated through a story about her son.



I absolutely love how Cheryl talked about her son, his faith, and his own unique connection with Heavenly Father. No matter who we are or what are abilities are, we each are beloved sons and daughters of God. We each demonstrate our relationships with Him differently and that's just fine. He knows us. He knows our needs. He knows our inner thoughts. He knows our desire to be close to Him. To serve Him.

My husband and I have been given answers to prayers that were unexpected - certainly not what we had hoped for. But as we have followed through with promptings and answers, we found that the path we were led down was actually the best one for our son. So his needs at school, in the community, and personal growth could be met. Actually, not just met, but which exceeded all of my personal expectations for my son. God truly does know my son with autism.

So is there a God connection to kids with disabilities? Yes, I believe so.

What are your thoughts?


This week's reviews of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel:

Rebecca Talley, a mother of a son with Down syndrome, reviewed the book on Thursday. She said:

"As a former Primary President, Primary teacher, YW leader, and as a mother of ten active, energetic children I think this book is a must-read for anyone working with, teaching, or raising children. Yes, it's intended use is to help those who work with kids with special needs, but as I read and reread it, I was struck by how much of it is applicable to children without special needs . . . I LOVE the practicality of this book. It isn't some long discourse on special needs but is truly a useful guide with ideas people can implement immediately . . . As a mother of a child with Down syndrome it's my great hope that the world will be a better place for him, that people will be more educated about special needs, and that he will have opportunities to learn and grow and become the man he can be--this book helps push my hope forward." Read the full review here. 

About.com's Special Needs columnist, Terri Mauro, picked up Christine Bryant's review and posted it in her column this week. You can read it here. 

Thank you everyone for your support! Have a wonderful weekend!

Altared Plans Winner!

The winner of the fabulous book, Altared Plans by Rebecca Cornish Talley is . . .

Pendragon!

Congrats! Pendragon, please email your snail mail address to me at queenoftheclan@gmail.com

Book Review & Give Away: Altared Plans by Rebecca Cornish Talley

From the back of Altared Plans by Rebecca Cornish Talley:

The perfect day. The perfect marriage. The perfect groom. What could go wrong?

Caitlyn has been preparing for her perfect wedding all her life. But when her fiancé abandons her at the altar, Caitlyn vows she’ll never love again.

Going to BYU doesn’t make that easy, however, and avoiding all social contact can only last so long. When her bishop calls her to be the “mom” of her family home evening group, Caitlyn is suddenly thrust into surprising circumstances that leave her flustered—the attention of two unwanted suitors.

Travis, the FHE “dad,” has plans to woo Caitlyn by using his cowboy charms, while Chase has his own ideas for dating her. Will Travis or Chase change her mind about love? Or will it be de¢ja¢ vu?

Follow Caitlyn through all the flirtatious looks, dates, ex-girlfriends, and unexpected surprises. Altared Plans is a light-hearted romance that is sure to please.


My Review:

I truly enjoyed Altared Plans. The characters were fun, but very real. I love a book that has humor and romance in it - and this one has lots of both. I especially loved the scene when Caitlyn helped out at a Special Olympics event dressed up as a clown, the went to the hospital to visit Travis in the same outfit. She received quite the surprise when she got there . . . but you'll have to read it to find out what happened. I'll just say I was laughing so hard, I needed tissues for all the tears!

I actually read this book several months ago, then won an extra copy of it. So this week, I'm hosting a give away. One lucky QOTC reader will win a copy of Altared Plans by Rebecca Cornish Talley. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Saturday, November 7th at 12 noon. I'll choose the winner either Saturday afternoon or Sunday and post it here. Good luck!

Or, if you just can't wait to see if you'll win a copy, you can purchase Altared Plans here.

Also - here's the book trailer for Altared Plans. Enjoy!