(dis)Abilities and the Gospel:

A Guide for Families and Church Leaders

by Danyelle Ferguson and Lynn Parsons

Each day families and church leaders struggle to teach individuals with special needs. Teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and building family relationships can be challenging. (dis)Abilities and the Gospel provides information, real life stories, and a touch of humor to help teach people with autism, Down syndrome, bipolar disorder, memory loss, and more. Chapters covering issues for children, teens, and adults are included in this beneficial guide.

Family resources include subjects, such as:

• Guidance for building strong family relationships,
• Steps to teach prayer and scripture study,
• Answers to questions concerning baptism and missions.

Church leaders and teachers will find topics covered, such as:

• Practical and creative teaching tips,
• Programs to help with transitions, communication barriers, and behaviors,
• Techniques to help individuals with special needs feel welcome and valued in the congregation.

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel will help you discover each person’s ability to learn about the gospel. As questions are answered, hope is rejuvenated and a new energy is found to continue your journey teaching and guiding individuals with special needs.

Praise for (dis)Abilities and the Gospel:

"I have had the opportunity to read (dis)Abilities and the Gospel by Danyelle Ferguson and Lynn Parsons. As a past Primary President, I found the information contained in this book to be applicable to any child who has difficulty in the classroom and/or Primary setting. I believe the techniques described in this book can be used to help all children learn, even if they do not have a diagnosed disability. I wish I’d had access to this book while I served as Primary President and will implement the techniques I learned from it in my future classroom settings.

As a mother of a child diagnosed with Down syndrome, I would like this book available to those who will work with, and teach, my son. I feel it would benefit my son and those who work with him. I’d like to see it placed in the libraries of each church building as a resource for teachers working with children with special needs.

I’ve found that people sometimes fear working with children with special needs. Fear then breeds prejudice and everyone involved loses. (dis)Abilities and the Gospel removes that fear and replaces it with concrete ways to teach and work with children with special needs. It’s filled with examples and sound advice. What I love most about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel is that it reminds us that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father and He will assist us as we work to help those who may have different struggles than we have.

I believe this book is a valuable resource written by those who have first-hand experience. I highly recommend it.

- Rebecca Talley, Colorado

"(dis)Abilities and the Gospel will be a real blessing to families who are dealing with disabilities. As a mom of a disabled child, it can be very lonely sometimes trying to figure out how to make and ask for accommodations so that our entire family is able to attend their own classes and get the most benefit from attending church. As our son grows older, I look forward to reading (dis)Abilities and the Gospel and finding out what other families have done to make their experience at church as easy as possible for older children."

-Teri Fronk, Utah

"I think (dis)Abilities and the Gospel is really needed. There are so many people struggling with help in Church classes and with leaders who are unable or unwilling to look at each child as an individual and helping them succeed in the way that they learn best. Our daughter was able, after a years work of preparing her and the Bishop and our Stake President, to obtain her Temple recommend and now serves weekly in the Temple not only with endowments but also works in the laundry.

I can see where this type of book would be helpful for baptism, priesthood and other ordinances that our children should be able to receive. We are anxious to see the book published, in fact I would love to read it before it is published!

Thank you to Danyelle and Lynn for putting it together and realizing how important it is to get these kinds of help to our families with children with special needs."

- Brenda Winegar, Utah

Kids on the Move Early Intervention Center, Co-Founder

"(dis)Abilities and the Gospel belongs on the bookshelf of every Bishop, Relief Society, and Primary president. It belongs in the home of those of us who are raising these children and nurturing them through adulthood. The gospel is for everyone, every member, every special spirit; we just need to know how to reach them. Thank you for (dis)Abilities and the Gospel !"

-Alison Palmer

Author of the Sharing Through Song series

"We are looking forward to the publishing of (dis)Abilities and the Gospel . Our six year old son has autism and it has been a struggle to teach him the gospel and also to have him participate in Primary. It is important to us that he is able to participate and learn as much as he can. We want him to have the joys of learning the gospel and Primary. We hope that the book will be a help to us and our church leaders. Not only for our son, but also for other children who face the same challenges as him."

-Rachel Pilgrim, Texas

"This book is long overdue. It contains precious aides that every person involved with a special needs child has been looking for. Many people are aware that special needs children require different care in certain areas, but few are aware of how to best go about this care.

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel answers these questions and then some. It not only addresses the issues of the child, but it also gives so much more to help the parents, friends, teachers, and the church community at large to know how to face, understand, and balance the many emotional, physical, and often trying aspects of caring for, maintaining good relationships, disciplining, and nurturing special needs children. I feel that (dis)Abilities and the Gospel will some day come to be known as a standard reference guide for working with the unique and varied aspects of children with special needs."

-Keisha Hansen, Kansas