When a diagnosis is still fresh, do not pressure parents to focus on the positive about the situation. Doing so suggests that the parents aren't allowed to grieve.

Remember that mourning is both biblical and healing. Doing anything that might repress a person's need to grieve is both uncaring and unhealthy.

Please keep in mind that there is no "once-size-fits-all" prescription for conveying support to every family walking through a special needs diagnosis.

The best way to connect with such a family is to recognize what's unique about their life story. Your support is felt when they see your desire to join them in bearing their burdens.

While grief is a natural part of any special needs parent's journey, it may be processed somewhat differently for the family affected by a diagnosis with a wide range of outcomes, such as autism. Every child with or without a disability is unique. And no special-needs diagnosis affects any two children the same way.

Few things feel as threatening to a mother as does something that jeopardizes others' love for and acceptance of her child.

When parents don't empower a children's ministry team with information to successfully care for their child, everyone loses.