some overlap of learning which can be built on in conversations and games. However the Special Buddies creators make it clear that the curriculum is not one that is adapted from the regular curriculum, but is designed from the beginning to meet the needs of special needs children.
Leadership guides designed for teachers, caregivers and parents, take-home materials for the children with activities, freshness of subject matter each week and the fundamental foundation on the Bible best characterize this curriculum. Curriculum includes a Leader’s Guide and a Learner’s Guide. One church has taken the Special Buddies curriculum and built a program for autistic children around it. This church was blessed with three families who each have two children with autism. Other families joined. It became clear that a class was needed to minister to these children and their families.
What has evolved is program that is ambitious, effective, and clearly informed by the real-world experiences of parents. It may be of interest to visit the website. The church is Highest Praise Family Church in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and the program is called Heart 4 H.O.P.E. Autism Programs. H.O.P.E. stands for Helping our Precious Excel. It can be found at
heart4hopeautism.com. The program includes children’s church, parent’s night out, and summer camp. The learning experience is built on Lifeway’s Special Buddies program.
For any curriculum that you are considering, a call to the publisher can be rewarding. Call them, ask for an editor or other person familiar with the program, and talk to them about it. It can take a lot of the mystery out of the decision when trying to differentiate between your options.
www.teamdanielfoundation.org 29
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