December 29, 2011: Over 50 people attended the SPECIAL LIFE® Family Bowling Day at Main Event in Shenandoah, Texas. Individuals with a disability bowled free, and their friends and families paid half price. All together there were over 40 bowlers.
December 24, 2011: The Woodlands United Methodist Church held its annual Special Needs Christmas Eve service for special needs families and their guests from 1:30pm to 2:30pm in the Jones Library A105 (former Wesley).
December 17, 2011: Special Life Network sponsored the first annual Holiday Craft Making Event for children with disabilities. The event was hosted by The Woodland's Children Museum.
December 17. 2011: Orwall Challenger Baseball legue held its fundraiser to support our local community baseball league for children and teens with disabilities.
December 17, 2011: Lifeway Christian Store at Portofino shopping center held a book signing event with author Denise Briley who's new book "Feathers from Heaven" describes the challenges and blessings of raising a child with a disability.
December 1, 2011: The Discovery Ministry at West Conroe Baptist Church invited individuals with special needs and their families to a special night of Bethlehem City, a drive-thru Christmas experience for the entire family. Thank you all at Discovery Ministry for another great event in our communnity that accomodates children, teens and adults with disabilities.
October 9, 2011: SPECIAL LIFE® third quarter board meeting.
November 13, 2011: Special Life Network met with ministry leaders of Grace Crossing in Conroe, TX to network and exchange ideas on how to expand their existing ministry for children with special needs. The meeting included tours of the special needs programs at both The Woodlands United Methodist Church and Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands as well as an opportunity to meet with their program directors.
August 1, 2011: For the second consecutive yeaer, a Special Needs Resources section was published in the 2011-2012 Interfaith of The Woodlands Directory. The project was a collaborative effort between Special Life Network and Interfaith of The Woodlands . The resources can be viewed on p.20-21 in the front section of the directory and is a tremendous value to parents of special needs children, teens and adults.
July 18-22, 2011: In collaboration with Faith Bible Church, Special Life Network helped facilitate a vacation bible school event specifically adapted for adults in the community with disabilities. Thirty-eight people participated including 19 adults with disabilities and 19 volunteers.
May 21, 2011: In collaboration with The Woodlands Market Street Management, Special Life Network hosted the main water tent located in market square near the finish line at Memorial Herman Hospital's first annual Iron Man Contest in The Woodlands, Texas. The event began with a 2.4-mile swim in Lake Woodlands, followed by a 112-mile bike course and ended with a 26.2-mile marathon course that concluded with a spectacular finish on Market Street. It was a great opportunity to increase awareness about the many children, teens and adults with disabilities in our community and the families that support them.
May 5, 2011: Special Life Network was recognized by both The Woodlands Market Street organization and The Woodlands Car Association via the Change for Charities program where leading local charities are selected to receive donations for their contribution to the community.
April 10, 2011: Special Life Network donated $300 to support student leadership of the Best Buddies program at College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas. Best Buddies is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
April 10, 2011: SPECIAL LIFE® second quarter board meeting.
March 27, 2011: SPECIAL LIFE® Community Meeting: Debbie Glass, former Special Needs Director of The Woodlands United Methodist Church spoke on "God's Lead in Special Needs Ministries and Missions".
March 3. 2011: Special Life Network participated in the CISD Resource Fair
February 25, 2011: Over 50 SPECIAL LIFE® participants attended the Chris Tomlin Concert in The Woodlands, Texas.
February 19th, 2011: Special life network donated $300 to the Houston Live Stock and Rodeo Show's Top Hands Horse Show which enables children with disabilities to compete and demonstrate their horse handling skills.
February 2, 2011: SPECIAL LIFE® Leadership Team met to discuss training and volunteer opportunities.
January 30th, 2011: Over 15 people participated in the second annual SPECIAL LIFE® Advisory Council of Community Leaders.
January 16, 2011: SPECIAL LIFE® first quarter board meeting was held.
January 11, 2011 Special Life Network Community Meeting : Special Life Network met with Conroe Independent School District Special Ed department to discuss student volunteer opportunities and networking synergies in the community.
2010
December 30, 2010: SPECIAL LIFE® Family Bowling. Over 50 people participated at Main Event. A fun afternoon of bowling and games was enjoyed by all. Children, teens and adults with disabilities bowled free, and their friends and family bowled at half price. View event pictures.
November 14, 2010: SPECIAL LIFE® American Sign Language (ASL) Workshop! Twenty people participated in the SPECIAL LIFE® ASL workshop at Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands, TX. Participants included families, volunteers and professionals in the community. A special thanks to instructor Sue Wilkerson who led the 3 hour workshop. October 17, 2010: SPECIAL LIFE® Fall Community Networking Meeting was held. Guest speakers were Pauline, the YMCA's new adaptive program manage and Sue Wilkerson, Certified Interpreter for Sign Language.
August 1, 2010: A new Special Needs Resources section was published in the 2010-2011 Interfaith of The Woodlands Directory. The project was a collaborative effort between Special Life Network and Interfaith with helpful input from the CISD parent resource center. The directory can viewed on p.21 in the front section of the directory.
June 7, 2010: Kickoff Party for Summer Reading Program. For information call 936-442-7727.
June 14-18, 2010: West Conroe Baptist Church summer programs- Discovery Ministry will accept 4th - 8th graders. 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For information contact Kandis Dennis at 281-414-5731.
June 22-25, 2010: Teen and adult summer program sponsored by Special Life Network and Oak Ridge Baptist Church. 5:45 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. For information contact Cheryl Dillon at 281-292-7070.
June 26, 2010: Complex Skills Made Easy: Shaping and Chaining Behaviors. Let us teach you how to break down everyday skills in order to effectively teach them to your child (without the tears). Registration deadline June 19th. For information call 281-852-0501.
June 28, 2010: Special Blessings Playdate in the gym at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For information call 281-297-5923.
July 8, 2010: Special Blessings Playdate in the Loft at The Woodlands United Methodist Church. 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. For information call 281-297-5923.
July 19-23, 2010: Faith Bible Church summer program for teens/adults with special needs. For information contact Rosie Eaton at 936-321-5505.
March 27, 2010: Special Life Network participated in the CISD resource fair in the Woodlands, Texas.
February 28, 2010: Annual Special Life Network Advisory Council Meeting.
January 26, 2010: Special Life Community Network & Planning Meeting (2010 & 2011)
January 10, 2010: Special Life 1Q Board Meeting
Jan 4, 2010: Special Life Network hosted its first Family Bowling event at Main Event. Children, teens and adults with disabilities bowled free, and friends and family bowled for 1/2 price. Approximately 33 bowlers were in attendance along with many bystanders.
2009
Nov 15, 2009 Special Life Network hosted a Family Skate night at SK-8 town. Children, teens and adults with disabilities skated free, and friends and family skated for 1/2 price.
Nov 7-8: Special Life Network sponsored and spoke at lunch at The Woodland's United Methodist Church's Tough Ministry Conference.
Oct 25, 2009: Special Life Network presented its SPECIAL LIFE® Imagine Plan at the quarterly community network meeting. The Imagine Plan is a community based plan supporting special needs. For more information click on the newsflash above or go to news and events.
August 18: What's happening in our Special Life Community? Click on the News & Events tab above, then select Event Calendar.
August 6-8: The Special Buddies Program of Texas provided childcare for special needs children at the Texas Home School Coalition Conference August 6-8 at the MariottWaterway in The Woodlands, Texas. The service enables parents of home schooled children with special needs to attend the conference. For more information about the event go to http://www.thsc.org/convention/default.asp
August 2: Special Life Network participated in the Watermellon Festival on August 2nd at North Shore Park in The Woodlands, TX. The event supported lovingheartsforautism.com. For more information go to www.lovingheartsforautism.com.
July: Click on NEWS & EVENTS tab at the top of this screen to see our Events Calendar and many exciting opportunities in our community for individual with Special Needs and the Special Families that support them.
June 27-28, 2009: Rhythms of Grace special needs workshop was held in Houston.
June 22-26, 2009 and July 6-10, 2009, TWUMC WOW! Science Camp: 9am to 12pm or 1:30pm to 4:30pm, Tuition is $120. WOW science camp at the Woodlands United Methodist Church is offering a class for students who qualify for special education and would benefit from a structured classroom to explore fun science concepts. More information andregistration for this class can be found at their website-http://www.wowsciencecamp.com
June 20, 2009: YMCA Parents Night Out, 5:30pm - 8:30pm Conroe Family YMCA, Volunteers Needed: Contact
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call Krista at 936-441-9622
June 22-24, 2009: VBS for VIP's: Oak Ridge Baptist Church and Special Life Network coodinated the very first a VBS for individuals with special needs that are high school age and up. The program served 16 individuals with disabilities and was implemented with a team of 25 volunteers.
June 15-19, 2009 from 9am - noon. VBS at West Conroe Baptist Church will have special needs for 4 years through completed 8th grade. Pre-registration required. Call Kandis Dennis at 281-414-5731 or eamial
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June 12, 2009: Camp Barnabas (Pinehurst, TX) needs volunteers college age (18) or older to serve in June at their camp for children with disabilities. Volunteers needed weeks of June 12, 18 and 24. For More information see our news flash above, or go to http://www.campbarnabastexas.org/Volunteerapplication.asp.
May 31, 2009: Special Life Network presented its SPECIAL LIFE® Imagine Planat the quarterly community network meeting. The Imagine Plan isa community based plan supporting special needs. Twenty 25 people attended the meeting including several churches and six different community organization including individuals from ConroeIndependent School District, Interfaith, New Danville, Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital, Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, and Adult Daycare facility owners.
May 19, 2009: Special Life Network has helped sponsor the start up of the first "Best Buddies" program in Conroe Independent School District. The program will start at College Park High School andinvolves pairing children witha disability with a "Best Buddy".
April 28, 2009: Camp Barnabas (Pinehurst, TX) needs volunteers college age (18) or older to serve in June at their camp for children with disabilities. For More information see our news flash above, or go to http://www.campbarnabastexas.org/Volunteerapplication.asp.
March 5, 2009: Special Life Network participated in the CISD Transition Fair at Lone Star College. The fair is designed to help older students with disabilities transition from the school environment to the community environment.
February 23-25, 2009: Special Life Network participated as a corporate donor in the Houston Live Stock and Rodeo Show's TOP HANDS program, where over 200 individuals with disabilities participate in various Equine-Assisted Therapeutic Riding competition.
February 20th, 2009: Special Life Network participated the Chris Tomlin Concertat the Barry Center by purchasing a block of 100 tickets and making them available to individuals with disabilities, their families and volunteers of local church and community organizations.
January 8, 2009: SPECIAL LIFE American Sign Language Classes started Thursday evenings at Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands.
January 4, 2009: SPECIAL LIFE Holiday Family Skating Night resulted in over 50 participants ranging from special needs families, volunteers, professionals and church and community leaders that work with the special needs population.
2008
Nov 27, 2008: Check out our first SPECIAL LIFE Holiday Calendarby clicking on the news scroll at the top of this screen. Many of these holiday events and activities are specifically adapted to accommodate children, teens and adults with disabilities and their families. Events are also posted to our community events calendar (2nd tab).
Nov 27, 2008: The Villager newspaper in The Woodlands,Texas published a brief feature article on Special Life Network in its Thanksgiving issue. For complete information about Special Life Network click on "SPECIAL LIFE Overview" or SPECIAL LIFE Fast Factsarticles in the "About Special Life" menu (Left).
November 15, 2008: Over 100 people attended the YMCA's HOE DOWN & Country Dance for adaptive needs kids, teens and adults and their families! A very good time was had by all!
November 10, 2008: A SPECIAL LIFE Networking meeting was held at Oak Ridge Baptist Church. Participants included members from five different area churches who discussed integration of children, teens and adults with disabilities into holiday programs, activities and events and the first SPECIAL LIFE Holiday Event Calendar.
October 26, 2008: SPECIAL LIFE Volunteer Training was held at Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands, TX. Faith Bible Church is in the process of expanding their Joyful Blessings Special Needs Ministry to include second hour services.
October 18, 2008: SPECIAL LIFE Volunteer Training was held at Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands, TX. Trinity Episcopal Church is in the process of starting up a new Special Needs Ministry with help and support from Special Life Network.
Sept 28, 2008: Special Life Network board meeting was held. Plans are being developed to support four key initiatives: Increase Awareness, Network Community Knowledge & Resources, Provide Education & Training, , and Transform Lives.
September 13, 2008: IKE disrupted the lives of many special needs families!!! Be prepared for the next time. For a Disaster Preparation Guide for individuals with Special Needs and their families go to:
http://www.houstontx.gov/oem/sguide.html
September 7, 2008: A SPECIAL LIFE Network Meeting was held Sunday September 7, 2008 and discussed Adaptations for the Visually Impaired. The meeting was hosted by Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands Texas.
August 14-16, 2008: The Texas Home School Coalition held its 2008 State Conference at the Marriott Waterway in The Woodlands, Texas. New this year is a Special Needs VBS program called Special Buddies which included 24 children and teens with disabilities. Special Life Network was one of several organizations that provided volunteer support to work this program.
July 27, 2008: Special Life Network hosted Ms. Ashton DuggerfromChurch of the Highlands in Birmingham Alabama on a tour of local Special Needs Ministries in The Woodlands, TX. The tour included the Joyful Blessings Ministry at Faith Bible Church, The Special Blessings Ministry at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, anddiscussions withchurch leaders at Fellowship of the Woodlands who is in the process of starting up a new Special Needs Ministry with support of Special Life Network.
June 29, 2008: Special Life Networkheld its 2Q board meeting and established the following network meeting schedule for 2008-2009 school year: Special Life Community Network Meetings will be held September 7, and November 9, in 2008, and January 11 and March 15, 2009 Locations to be determined soon. Meeting topics will include volunteer recruitment, how to start a special needs ministry, networking community resources.
May 18th, 2008: Special Life Networkheld its first community planning meetingto obtain input from other church and community leaders regarding our 2008-2009 Community Service Plan. If you could not make the meeting andwouldlike to provide input, please send your ideas via email to
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.
April 26, 2008: Special Life Network hosted its first Celebration Breakfastfor Special Needs Ministry coordinators at the Black Walnut Cafe, in The Woodlands, Texas.
April 15th, 2008: Special Life Network celebrated its three-year anniversaryas a non-profit corporation registered in the State of Texas. A special thanks to all the volunteers, parents, church leaders, and business leaders in the community who's active participation and / or contributions make the Special Life Network possible. Special Life Network is an approved 501(3)(c) charity organization.
March 30, 2008: Special Life Network held its 24th SPECIAL LIFE Community Networking Meeting at Grace Crossing Community Church of Christ at 105 and 1488 in Conroe, TX. A facilitated discussion on Networking Resources to Support Disability Ministriestook place. SPECIAL LIFECommunity Networking Meetings are held four time per year. The next meeting will be in the August/Sept time-frame.
March 6, 2008 Special Life Network participated in a ConroeIndependent School District's transition fair for families that care for children, teens or adults with disabilities.
February 29, 2008: Special Life Network supported the Houston Live Stock and Rodeo’s Top Hands Horse Show, an adaptive competition for children with disabilities. The competition was held at the Reliant Centerand started 2 days prior to the official opening of the Rodeo. Eighteen children from the ConroeYMCA’s Leap of Faith Program participated in the competition.
January 27, 2008: Special Life Network held its 23rd SPECIAL LIFECommunity Networking Meeting at Grace Crossing Community Church of Christ. Thirteen people were present representing eight different churches in the community. Discussion focused on How to develop and implement a Special Needs Ministry that enables children, teens and adults with disabilities (and their families) to participate in church programs, activities and events.
2007
Dec 15, 2007: Special Life Network donated $1000 to the Conroe YMCAfor adaptive programs support. The contribution will help support the purchase of a swimming pool lift and the development of more adaptive programs by their newly hired certified recreation therapist Krista Ripley who will specialize in this area. The YMCA has done an outstanding job responding to the community need since they first met with Special Life Network in October 2006.
November 29, 2007: Special Life Network partnered with West Conroe Baptist Church who hosted Bethlehem City 2007, a drive-thru Christmas experiencefor the entire family. The event included a live presentation of the Birth& Life of Christ. Special accommodations were made for families that cared for a child, teen or adult with a disability. The church also announced their new Special Needs Ministry. For more information about the ministry contact Kandis Dennis Phone: 936-760-1911; website:http://www.wcbc.us/wcb/home
November 12, 2007: SPECIAL LIFECommunity Network Meeting. A facilitated discussion on Networking Resources to Support DisabilityMinistries was hosted by Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Oak Ridge North, Texas. http://www.orbchurch.org/ Monday Nov 12, 7-9pm
Oct 6, 2007: Special Life Network participated in an Autism Disability Resource Fair and Conference sponsored by The Northwest Houston Chapter Autism Society of America and hosted by Graceview Baptist Church in Tomball, Texas. Over 200 people attended.
Sep 30, 2007: SPECIAL LIFECommunity Network meeting with a facilitated discussion on Starting a New Disability Ministry was held and hosted by Faith Bible Church, The Woodlands, Texas.
Aug 20, 2007: SPECIAL LIFE American Sign Language classes started. Classes open to community and attended by special needs ministry coordinators, volunteers, parents, school district personal and community organization staff (i.e. YMCA)
