National Association of Christians in Special Education

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http://nacsped.com/aboutus.htm

The

National Association of Christians in Special Education was developed in

recognition of the fact that Christians in special education lacked their own

professional organization. It is our desire to bring special educators

together for encouragement and professional growth.

However, our desire is also no less than to change the way the Christian

Church interacts with people with disability. In spite the many interactions

Jesus is recorded to have had with people with disability in the Gospels,

somehow His church doesn't share his passion. This is seen not only in

churches, but also in other agents of the Church, like Christian schools.

Some data indicates that only 5-6% of Christian schools have programs for

children with disabilities. As Christians and as special educators, we need

to help the Church to be more responsive, more caring, dare we say more

obedient in reference to people with disability.

In 2004, a group of Christian, Special Education professionals came together

to start this organization. Dr. Jeff McNair is a professor of special

education at California Baptist University and NACSPED's founding President.

Kathi McNair is a professor of special education at California Polytechnic

University in Pomona, California. Dr. Contrucci (president elect) is a

professor of special education at Azusa Pacific University, Dr. Sherrye

is a professor of special education at California Baptist University and Dr.

Doreen Ferko is a professor of special education at California State

University, Fullerton. The founders have a passion for people with

disabilities and a passion for special education teachers. They want to see

children with disabilities get the best education possible and each teacher

pursuing excellence and feeling fulfilled in her/his calling as a teacher of

persons with disability.

With these goals in mind, NACSPED has developed the following vision and

mission statements.

Vision

Statement

The Church will be faithful to God’s command to love, value and serve

one another through the full participation of individuals with disabilities

in the Christian community.

Mission

Statement

The mission of NACSPED is to facilitate the integration and participation of

people with disabilities into the Christian community.

We accomplish this change by:

challenging Special Education professionals

to exemplify faith through vocation

providing professional development

opportunities based on best practices.

challenging Christian Special Education

professionals to use their experience and training in the church.

advocating for access to a Christian school

education, for students with disabilities