Conference Workshops
Please read over the workshops descriptions below and choose the three workshop sessions and
one seminar session you would like to attend on your registration form. Although workshops are
designated within either the Family/Caregiver Track or the Church/Community Track,
you may choose to attend any session in either track. Session choices will be confirmed at the
conference.

Family/Caregiver Track

Disability Law
Are you aware of the current legal information regarding guardianship issues, wills and trusts for
persons with disabilities? Are you challenged by the swirl of information regarding governmentbased
benefits? This workshop will discuss these topics and provide helpful guidance on other
legal areas as related to disability concerns. At this informative session, you’ll learn when, where
and how to start planning for the legal needs of your family.
Mark Nation, Founder, The Nation Law Firm, Greater Orlando area

Theology of Disability
Churches need people with disabilities within their congregation. In fact, we are given the
responsibility to help carry out His mandate in the Bible — that we go and bring persons with
disabilities into the body of Christ. This insightful session will lead people with disabilities, their
families, and those who work alongside people with disabilities through a thoughtful discussion
that looks at theology behind the question of “why?”. Why do I have a disability? Why does our
child have to suffer? Why must the church actively pursue and include those with disabilities
within the congregation? The answers aren’t always clear, but there is wisdom and comfort
within the word of God to help.
Rev. Mike S. Beates, D. Min., Adjunct Professor, Belhaven College in Orlando, Teacher at the
Geneva School and Parent of seven children, three of whom have significant disability challenges

Marriage and Family
Being married is tough. Raising children is rough, having a child or a spouse who lives the life of
disability can be rough and tough. In this session you will learn techniques in developing a health
family life in the midst of living with disability.
Dr. David Carson, Professor of Counseling, Palm Beach Atlantic University – Orlando, and
Director of LIFT Counseling Center, Orlando

Estate Planning
During this session presented by experts in the field of special needs financial planning, learn
how to best plan for your child’s future security. You will be given specific information developing
a special needs trust, so that your child’s future benefits will not be jeopardized.
Tom Nurse and Kevin Manning, Financial Advisors and e tDESK Specialists with
MetLife’s Division of Estate Planning for Special Kids at New England Financial - A MetLife
Company, Tampa, FL Office

Disability Recreation Opportunities
In this session, you will be reminded life is not all about IEP’s and therapy appointments. Leisure
is fun! Many activities can be adapted for individual and family enjoyment – so get off the couch
and go outside!
Doug Goddard, Director, Joni and Friends – South Florida
A Conference on Faith and Disability

Autism and the Family
This is a session for anyone whose life has been touched by autism. Dr. James Coffield will lead
an informative and personal discussion regarding the dynamics of family life with autism in the
midst. He will also provide strategies for living a positive family life even with the challenges
families must navigate through on a daily basis.
Dr. James Coffield, Professor of Counseling, Reformed Theological Seminary – Oviedo, and
Parent of a Child with Autism

Building Skills and Providing Joy Through Animal Therapy
Find out how the various kinds of animal therapy programs can provide many positive gains and
great joy for a person with disabilities. Learn about Central Florida’s Freedom Ride program
about the many benefits of hippotherapy and how to get involved. Ross Feezel of the Angel
Therapy Dog Ministry will tell what they do and how to connect with their program, or perhaps
start your own! Finally, information will given out on a special Dolphin Therapy program offered in
the Key West, FL area.
Jeannie Forthuber, Freedom Ride, Orlando
Ross Feezel, Angel Therapy Dog Ministry, Greater Orlando Area

Advocacy and You: Learning to Self-Advocate or Advocate for You Loved One
In almost all aspects of life, persons with disabilities may encounter barriers of one kind or
another – architectural/physical barriers, communication barriers, and attitudinal barriers. So how
does one navigate life, or help another in that navigation with so many challenges ahead? By
learning how to advocate for yourself and others! This workshop will provide practical help in
thinking through advocacy across the span of life. From medical, educational, recreational,
community, and religious advocacy, the same basic strategies can apply. This workshop will
encourage you to speak up in a positive and proactive way when you see a barrier coming your
way!
Jonathan Giza, Student, Seminole Co. Schools
Jeannie Forthuber, Family Community Liaison, The Toni Jennings Center Exceptional Education
Institute at the University of Central Florida

Partnering with Your Primary Physician: The Medical Home Model
Now more than ever medical advances allow for more people with significant medical issues to
live at home and in the community. However, it is also more important than ever that families and
their primary physician collaborate and coordinate together to provide the best care plan possible
for a loved one requiring a high degree of medical oversight. The Medical Home Model provides
a structure and guidance as to how families and physicians can work together in the coordination
of working with other medical specialists, therapists, nursing care, the school system, and
insurance.
Henry P. Dumas, M.D., Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care, Florida Children’s Hospital, Orlando
Linda Starnes, Parent of Two Children with Disabilities/Significant Medical Issues

Keeping Your Child’s Emotional Tank Full
A nationally popular speaker, author and parent of five children will share how meeting the
emotional needs of your child through love, understanding and discipline will determine their
basic attitude toward life. Based on information taken from Dr. Ross Campbell’s “How to Really
Love Your Child”, this session will help parents and caregivers understand how to keep children’s
“emotional/love tank” full while caring for both children with special needs and typically developing
children.
Nina Fuller, Founder, Living Proof Testimonies and S.M.I.L.E. on Down Syndrome, Newburgh, IN

Seminar - Disability Resources: A Panel of Experts
Where do you start to find services when disability enters into daily life? How do you research for
further information as the path of life changes and transition needs arise? From federal to state,
regional to local, agency to non-profit, community to faith-based organizations – this is the place
to learn about the network of resources across the country and in the community available to
those with disabilities and their families.
Linda Starnes, Co-Chair, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
And Parent of Two Children with Disabilities, Longwood, FL
Laura Lee Wright, Team Leader for Access Ministry, Northland Church
Final Panelist - Confirmation Pending
Seminar - Wheels for the World
This is an exciting opportunity to have a direct impact on people affected by disabilities
internationally while fellowshipping with other believers in a teambuilding environment. Those
attending will build and/or refurbish a number of wheelchairs with supervision of wheelchair
mechanics and seating specialist. These items will then be shipped overseas and given to an
individual affected by a disability who has need of a wheelchair as part of the Joni and Friends
Wheels for the World program. Each individual who receives a wheelchair also receives a bible
and is presented with the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ — so come be a part of this
life changing exercise.
Doug Goddard, Area Director, Joni and Friends South Florida
Church/Community Track

Access Ministry 101
Now is the time and the place to start proactive plans for including people with disability at your
place of worship! If your church is at the starting point of developing such plans – or needs to be
– this is the session for you. Learn from two individuals who have been involved from the
“mustard seed” moment through the growth of two outstanding ministries. This is a must attend
session for anyone who wants to plant a mustard seed at their own church so that all are
welcomed into the House of God – from parents and volunteers to religious teachers and leaders.
Jackie Mills-Fernald, Director, Access Ministry of McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA
Linda Starnes, Co-Chair, President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities
And Parent of Two Children with Disabilities, Longwood, FL
Developing an Inclusive Children’s Ministry
How do you best serve and teach all children who come to your place of worship? What
groundwork needs to be laid for a safe and welcoming environment for all students in the
preschool and Sunday school setting? Want to learn how to kick-start or build upon the inclusion
of children with disabilities into the activities of your Children’s Ministry? These are some of the
questions to be answered in this helpful session by two people who have answered such
questions as they developed the growing Children’s Ministry program at Northland Church.
Debbie Blahnik, Director of Children’s Ministry, Northland Church
Laura Lee Wright, Team Leader for Access Ministry, Northland Church

Teaching the Teacher
A Parent’s Top Ten List: What I Want My Special Needs Child’s Teachers to Know . . . including
Sunday school teachers! Nina Fuller presents this session each semester as a guest lecturer to
elementary and special education majors in a 300 level course at University of Southern Indiana.
Nina Fuller, Founder, Living Proof Testimonies and S.M.I.L.E. on Down Syndrome, Newburgh, IN

Including Adults with Disabilities in Worship, Discipling, and Service
Everyone should be welcomed and included at their chosen place of worship, and able to
participate fully in the life of the church. This session provides information and strategies for
including adults with disabilities within the body of the church. You will be provided ideas for
removing barriers, welcoming all to worship, discipling programs for adults with intellectual
disabilities, and how to weave people with disabilities into the service activities of your church.
Nils Swanson, Executive Director, Covenant Support Services of Sanford, FL

Training and Retaining Volunteers
Attend this informative session and walk away with a “toolkit” for equipping others to volunteer
within your disability ministry. Learn how to build and implement a training program volunteer.
Gain strategies for maintaining and retaining your volunteer pool over time. Many of the ideas in
this session lend themselves to other volunteer groups across your place of worship, but it is
specifically focused on serving alongside those with disabilities. This workshop will be presented
by Dr. Dick Wynn, an expert in leadership development, having worked previous to Northland
Church with Crown Ministries, EQUIP, Emerging Young Leaders, and Youth for Christ.
Dr. Dick Wynn, Chief of Staff, Northland Church

Seminar - Starting a Respite Care Program at Your Church
One of the most common concerns faced by parents of a child with disability that regularly tops
the list is finding appropriate, safe childcare. Most families do not have the provisions to pay for
skilled care that may be needed and they share the responsibility alone. Providing safe respite
care is one of the greatest gifts a congregation can give a family! Come find out about the
partnering program offered by Nathaniel’s Hope, a faith-based non-profit devoted to serving “VIP”
kids and their families. By partnering with this organization, churches receive training and
support in building a respite care program. This is a great opportunity to see the partnering
program in action at Northland during the conference, as well as learn about respite care from the
co-founder of Nathaniel’s Hope, Marie Kuck.
Marie Kuck, Executive Director, Nathaniel’s Hope, Orlando FL
Seminar - Risk Management for Disability Ministries

This exciting and expanded workshop from one of the national leaders in disability ministry will
help you prepare for the management a disability ministry at your place of worship. This is a
chance to learn first-hand from the director of one of the largest disability ministries in the country.
Access Ministry at McLean Bible Church began with a small pool of passionate volunteers
serving a class of five children with significant disabilities. Today it has a myriad of activities
across the life of the church and the community at large, which includes all ages and all types of
people with disabilities. The church outreach across the entire Northern Virginia/Washington, DC
metro area serves over a thousand people each year, and does so successfully because of
appropriate management planning.
Jackie Mills-Fernald, Director, Access Ministry of McLean Bible Church, McLean, VA