Why Your Ward Needs a Disabilities Specialist | A How I Lead Interview with Anna Rast

Anna Rast is a service missionary for the Disability Services
division of the Priesthood and Family Department at Church
headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves serving as the
stake disability specialist in the American Fork East Stake, and
she previously had the honor of serving as the stake disability
specialist for the Valencia California Stake. She lives with her
wonderful husband, her two fantastic and brilliant children with
autism, and her tiny dog, Daisy. Highlights 02:20 Anna shares her
background as a service missionary at Church headquarters in the
disability department. She is also the disability specialist for
the American Fork East Stake. 03:15 Disability specialist is a new
calling and most people don’t know about it because there aren’t
many called. 04:10 Anna has two kids on the autism spectrum and
that is how she got into disability work. She shares stories of
them growing up with these issues. 09:20 The power of a disability
specialist is to have an advocate and to make sure that there is a
place for everybody. 11:10 There are five things that a disability
specialist does They serve as a resource for ward leaders, stake
leaders, families and individuals. Get to know and reach out to
families that are touched with disabilities. Research all of the
members' disability-related questions and concerns. Identify
meaningful ways to serve people with disabilities. Identify
community resources to help church members. 14:40 Working with
Primary-age children. The specialist can work with Primary leaders,
do trainings, and classroom observations. The Church also has
online trainings available. 19:00 Calling classroom helpers and
working one on one with kids that might need a little extra help.
20:20 Other resources that are available. Facebook group -
Disability Specialists The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. This is where people can ask questions and post scenarios.
22:00 Some needs are obvious to identify. Some wards might think
they don’t have any disabilities but really there are always extra
needs and struggles in every ward. Some families might need extra
ministers. Some people might have a problem that isn’t diagnosed.
28:30 You don’t have to have a disability to work with the
disability specialist. Maybe you have a temporary need that you
need help with or a struggle that you need some extra support.
30:40 The number one thing that Anna sees that adults are
struggling with is anxiety and depression. 33:00 We need the gifts
and talents of each member. Every member needs a friend and a
calling. Be prayerful on how someone with a disability can help and
be included. Don’t just mark their name off the list. 35:50 The
Church recently released some new guidelines for service animals.
37:00 Helping the elderly and people struggling. If you don’t have
a disability specialist, ask for one! 39:50 There is a facilities
manager for every building. So if you have someone with mobility
issues you can contact the manager to fix mobility problems in the
buildings and make them more accessible. Also think about what
activities you are doing to include the needs of all the members.
42:10 How to find out if your stake has a disability specialist or
not. 43:00 Ways to support families that are touched with
disabilities. 47:40 Anybody can be a disability specialist. You
don’t have to have any work experience or degree. You just have to
be willing to serve. 48:30 Anna shares how her calling has blessed
her and taught her. Links Handbook: Disability Specialist Calling
Disability Resources Facebook: Disability Specialists - Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Policies and Guidelines Related
to Disabilities To contact Anna, use our Contact Page and we will
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