This month in our email newsletters, we are talking all about disability ministry supplies we love and recommend! So far, we have talked about laminators/lamination sheets, and Velcro and adhesives.

 

Today, we are talking all about adaptive art supplies. Adaptive art supplies are designed to make art projects and crafts easier and more accessible for people with fine motor difficulties or other disabilities that impact their ability to use traditional art supplies effectively. 

 

I really believe having adaptive art supplies on hand can have a big impact on individuals with disabilities (and their parents).  It communicates in such a big and tangible way that they were thought of and prepared for.

 

If you have students in your ministry who struggle to complete crafts independently (or for your own child at home) and need direct 1:1 support cutting, gluing, etc., perhaps a few adaptive supplies will provide more opportunities for engagement and participation!

 

 

When I was teaching special education, I had a pair of tabletop scissors in my classroom.  I will never forget when our Occupational Therapist brought them in and a student in my classroom with Cerebral Palsy and additional disabilities tried them out.  The smile on his face as he made those first few cuts is etched in my memory - he was so happy to finally have scissors that he could use.  He would still need some support, but his level of independence grew so much by simply having adaptive equipment on hand in the classroom. 

 

The pair we had in the classroom was closest to the pair with the green base below, although ours was a wooden base. I recently found this suction-cup version on Amazon and ordered a pair to try.  I like that they can be used with or without the suction-cup base and with or without the plastic cover over the blades.  Students who are unable to open their hands to hold traditional scissors can simply push on the top of either of these scissors with their fists to make cuts. They may need assistance moving the paper.

Just as a fair warning - these are not the best cutting scissors. Because you have to move the paper instead of the scissors, the cut lines can be a bit jagged. But I think it's totally worth giving a student the ability to cut for themselves!

 

 

Here are some other great adaptive scissor options!  Loop scissors (opens the scissors back up for them and doesn't require as much dexterity), dual-hold training scissors (one set of holes for students and one for adults), and more!

 

Adaptive cuffs slip onto pencils, colored pencils, markers, paintbrushes, etc., to make holding these items more accessible.  These are easy to pull out and use to adapt supplies you already have on hand.  Walmart has this pack for under $6.  These come in different sizes and can be used with left or right hands.  You can also find similar cuffs on Amazon, but they are much more expensive.

 

 

There are so many options for 3D-printed tools that can help students access art supplies!  You may have someone in your church who has a 3D printer or check your local library system to see if they have a 3D printer.

I love the TECH OWL library in Pennsylvania.  If you are a PA resident, you can request free tools or try them out from their lending library. If you are not a PA resident, you can use their free design files to create your own (scroll down towards the bottom of the page)!

 

I bought a set of these when my now 13-year-old was a toddler and have used them constantly in different situations since!  I particularly like this Melissa Doug set because the cups have a lid that goes on top. These are great for watercolor painting!

 

What other adaptive art supplies would you recommend? Reply to this email and let us know; we may include them in an upcoming blog post!

 

 

 

 

After sharing about lamination sheets, we had a reader email us and recommend matte lamination sheets for low-vision students.  What a great idea!  I have used matte sheets for display items at conferences to reduce glare, but I hadn't considered how this could help students with vision challenges!  Thank you for sharing, Debbie!

 

Room on Our Pew is a cohort-style program designed to guide and support churches wanting to welcome children with disabilities and their families. The program begins in January 2027 and consists of twelve months of training followed by six months of implementation support as you put your plans into practice. Throughout the program, you explore topics such as disability theology, serving the whole family, understanding behaviors, and thoughtfully evaluating the elements of a worship service to better reach children and families living with disabilities. Click HERE for more information.  There are a few openings left for next year's cohort, and the deadline for applications has been extended until the end of September.  

PS- I just saw their post about this year's cohort retreat, hosted in Waco, TX.  It looked amazing!  

 

 

 

 

There's also another conference happening in October at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas!  I will be at this conference, so I'd love to see you there!

 

 

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