Special Needs
The Brandywine Special Needs Ministry is here to welcome and to provide “just right” support for each child. We work directly with parents/guardians to determine an appropriate plan, train the volunteers specifically for that child, then monitor and modify as needed. Our Special Needs Ministry includes:
- Buddies are trained volunteers who work one-on-one with a child to help them successfully participate in Sunday morning classes.
- Floaters are trained volunteers who may be assigned as extra classroom support or serve as extra hands on deck to ensure we have enough help.
- Chill Zone is a quiet room with sensory friendly items that a child may access with their buddy if a “movement break” or a “calm down time” is needed before rejoining their Sunday class.
- Support for families is offered through several social and respite events we host throughout the year. We also host WinGS, a small group for moms of kids with special needs, and Extraordinary Dads, a small group for dads of kids with special needs.
Who Is Eligible?
Our ministry currently serves children from age 3 through 12th grade. In the future, we hope to support adults (18+) with special needs to become or to remain active, engaged members of the church community.
When Is It Available?
The Special Needs Ministry is available:
- Sunday Mornings: We provide support for each child during one of our Sunday morning hours. As part of the intake process, we will discuss which service works best for each family, while also considering volunteer availability.
- VBS: We support any child who is identified as needing extra support in order to successfully participate in VBS.
- Family Social Events: We host several social events each year that bring together families of children with special needs for a time of fellowship.
- Respite Events: We hosted our first respite event in March 2025 and had an absolute blast! We plan to host similar events in the future where parents can drop their children off for a fun-filled evening, while parents get a few kid-free hours…stay tuned.
How Do I Sign Up My Child?
To request Special Needs Ministry support for your child, please complete this intake survey. Please be patient as it may take a few days or so for us to receive the results. We will reach out to chat with you in more detail once we do. We truly look forward to serving your family!
If you would like more information about the Special Needs Ministry please email us.
We are praying for you!!
Our dedicated Prayer Team meets monthly to pray specifically for the Special Needs Ministry – for our volunteers, our children and their families. Please let us know how our Special Needs Ministry Prayer Team can be praying for your specific needs.
How Do I Get Involved As a Volunteer?
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Special Needs Ministry! Please complete this form and we will contact you about next steps.