(dis) Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ By Danyelle Ferguson and Lynn Parsons, M.S.

Book Blurb & Endorsements:

Each day, parents and church leaders struggle to teach individuals with special needs. Using helpful

information, real-life stories, and a touch of humor, (dis)Abilities and the Gospel provides ways for you to effectively teach people of all ages with Autism, Down syndrome,

bipolar disorder, memory loss, and other disabilities.

Inside this useful guide, you’ll find

• Guidance for building strong family relationships• Steps to teaching prayer and scripture study
• Practical and creative teaching tips• Programs to help with transitions, communication barriers, and behaviors
• Techniques to help others feel welcome and valued

Find the answers you need and overcome the challenges of teaching the gospel. (dis)Abilities and the Gospel will help you develop each person’s ability to learn and grow

as you build peace in your home or classroom.

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel is a resource that may be read, re

read, and used many times. . . . The authors have beautifully woven the frustrations

that so many people have experienced into an action-

living plan to help children with special needs.
—Lloyd Kinnison, PhD. Texas Woman’s University, Special Education

Department

This book is an unexpected and very welcome gift to the community of churches and their leaders. It addresses so many of the problems that children, young adults,

and adults with disabilities face in church activities.

—Brenda Winegar, Early Interventionist/Cofounder, Kids on the Move

I was Primary President for four years. During those years I had the opportunity to work with many children, many of those with special needs. There were children in our primary that were autistic and many with ADHD, including my own children. Being a teacher, I felt like I had a little bit of knowledge of how to help these children enjoy their experience at church. There wasn't a lot of information available to help me and my counselors to know how to help these children at the time. So when I read the book, (dis) Abilities and the Gospel: How to Bring People with Special Needs Closer to Christ, I knew that this book was inspired. As I read the book, I was so excited to see how Danyelle and Lynn have provided so much information for those working with people that have special needs. The wonderful thing about this book is that even though it is written for people in the LDS church, the ideas will work for anyone of any religion.

Listed here are the section titles and a few of the chapter titles that go

with the sections:

GENERAL INFORMATION

-Gospel Views on Children with Special Needs

-Demystifying the Diagnosis

TEACHING STRATEGIES

-A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

-Power Card Strategies

PRIMARY

-Every Star is Different

-The Baptism Dilemma

-We'll Be Loyal Scouts

YOUNG MEN & YOUNG WOMEN

-Teaching Youth with a Broader Gap in Needs

-The Young Women Connection

-Deacons, Teachers, and More-Oh My!

ADULTS

-Church Callings

-Love One Another

FAMILIES

-Sacrament Meeting Survival

-Scripture Power

-Can I Make It Through Another Day?

-Building Parent-Child Relationships

I AM A CHILD OF GOD

-Expressions of Faith and Love

One other thing that I feel needs to be pointed out. Many of the things talked about in the wonderful book can be applied to all children, not just those with special needs. I was so impressed with the information and ideas that Lynn and Danyelle shared in this book. My hope is that all wards/branches/homes will purchase this book and then use the ideas found in the book. I think that this would be a worthwhile way of using ward budget money, so the books can be given to Primary and Young Men and Young

Women leaders. Just my humble opinion people. I give this book 5 stars!!

Now the exciting thing about this blog tour is a giveaway...

Blog Tour Giveaways:

Enter to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards! One name will be drawn for a $25 Amazon gift card on June 30^th. Another name will be drawn for a $25 Amazon gift card on July 22nd. Winners will be announced onwww.QueenOfTheClan.com There are many ways to enter. You must leave a comment on the reviewer’s blog letting us know what you’ve done. Please include your email address.

1 Point Each:

- Leave a thoughtful comment about the blogger’s review.

- Add the book to your “to-read” list on GoodReads

- Follow the reviewer’s blog

- Follow Danyelle’s blog

- Follow Lynn’s blog

- Follow Danyelle on FB

- Follow Lynn on FB

- Follow Danyelle on Twitter @DanyelleTweets

- Follow Lynn on Twitter @ParsonsLynn

2 Points Each:

- Tell your friends about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel on Facebook with a person links to Danyelle Ferguson & Lynn Parsons

- Tell your friends about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel on Twitter with links to @DanyelleTweets

5 Points:

- Interview Danyelle or Lynn for your blog or write a blog post about why you’re excited about (dis)Abilities and the Gospel. Be sure to leave a direct link to your post in your comment so we can visit and say hello!

Blog Tour Schedule

June 2nd - Christine Bryant @ Day Dreamer

June 7th - Tristi Pinkston

June 9th - Tamera @ 3 Boys & a Dog

June 14th - Ashlee @ Topsy Turvy Cakes

June 17th - Heather Justesen

June 23rd - Rebecca Talley

June 27th - Don Carey

July 6th - Danette @ Everyday Adventures

July 8th - Sheila Staley @ LDS Women's Book Review and Why Not? Because I Said So!

July 11th - Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer

July 13th - Jessica @ Fringies

July 15th - Heather @ Fire and Ice by Little Red Reads

July 18th - Nichole Giles @ Star Crossed Book Reviews

Purchase & Review Links:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Deseret Book

GoodReads

Danyelle’s Info:

Website: http://www.DanyelleFerguson.com

Blog: http://www.QueenOfTheClan.com

Danyelle Ferguson is a wife, mom, book editor, reviewer, and writer. She keeps busy

raising four angels-in-training, the oldest of which has Autism. She and her husband,

John, co-founded a non-profit organization, called Friends of GIANT Steps, which raises

money to supplement an Autism preschool in Orem, UT. Danyelle has been active in the

Autism community for over eight years, during which time she

learned that prayer and a sense of humor are the keys to not only enduring but

enjoying the special needs journey.

Danyelle discovered her love for the written word in elementary school. Her first article

she placed runner up in the Pennsylvania School of Excellence for Arts program, specializing

in creative writing. Since then, she's won several awards for her poetry, short stories,

articles, and other writings. Her work has been published in newspapers, school journals,

and online. Some of her short stories appear in the book ofMormon Mishaps

and Mischief: Hilarious Stories for Saints by Cindy Beck and Nichole Giles. Her book,

(dis)Abilities and the Gospel, will be published in May 2011 through Cedar Fort Publishing.

Danyelle served as Treasurer for the League of Utah Writers - Utah Valley Chapter.

She's a member of Authors Incognito, Super Edits critique group,

and meets weekly with her local writers group. She was also a member of the

Whitney Awards Committee.


Danyelle grew up surrounded by the beautiful Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania.

Then she lived for ten years among the majestic Wasatch Mountains. She is currently

experiencing mountain-withdrawal while living in Kansas with her husband and family.

She enjoys reading, writing, dancing and singing in the kitchen, and the occasional

long bubble bath to relax from the everyday stress of being “Mommy.”

Lynn’s Info:

Website: http://www.lynndparsons.com/

Blog: http://lynndeniseparsons.blogspot.com/

I am a wife, mother, grandmother, educational diagnostician, and writer. I entered the field of special education because two of my four children had special needs.

My thesis for BYU was titled, “Non-Drug Treatments for Attention Deficit Disorder.” After receiving my Bachelor of Independent Studies degree from BYU, I became certified as a special education teacher, primarily working with students with Autism.

My classes and teaching methods were featured in “District Administration Magazine”, the online magazine “Edutopia”, and several web sites on disabilities including “Positively Autism” and “The Family Center on Technology and Disability“.

My thesis for my master’s degree through Walden University was published by the Council for Exceptional Children. I have also been a community columnist for the “Fort Worth Star-Telegram” and I continue to work on my writing skills. I'm also working on a PhD in Special Education through Northcentral University.

I am an experienced speaker and presenter. I have taught many teacher in-services, given presentations on using technology for learners with special needs, and done presentations about disabilities for the community.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, but now call Texas home. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and needlework. I am currently works as an Educational Diagnostician. I continue to seek out and develop innovative teaching methods for children with special needs.