SPECIAL NEEDS
& DISABILITY
Marty Baker, Senior Pastor

Welcome to the
Special Needs Ministry
at Burke Community Church
Serving special needs and showing the love of Jesus so that all may worship.
We would love for you to get to know us and we hope you plan to visit soon!

Kristen Mizell
Kristen received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Ouachita Baptist University. As a parent of children with special needs as well as an educator with experience in the special education classroom setting, Kristen has a passion for serving individuals with special needs and their families. Her desire in leading this ministry is to help those with special needs nurture their love for Jesus and experience fellowship that is accessible to all.
Special Needs Kids
Our Special Needs Ministry provides an opportunity for children with special needs to learn about God’s love in a way that is accessible to everyone. We seek to know your family and create the best environment for your child’s specific needs. We have buddies who support children with special needs during our Sunday morning programming as well as a sensory room for those who need a quiet space.
Our mission is to serve any family with a special need and to show the love of Jesus so that all may worship. We hope to enable families to participate in the community of our church. Through our Helping Hands Program we provide one on one support with a long term buddy that partners with your child.
Helping Hands
We provide one on one support with a long-term buddy that partners with your child with special needs. They will support your child throughout their class time and assist them in all activities.
Respite Night
Once a month we offer a night of respite to parents of children with special needs. Children with special needs and their siblings are offered a safe space to have fun through art, music, movies, physical play and a snack while parents have a night out. Registration is required.
Sensory Room
A self-contained classroom is available for children who need a safe space to calm down or need extra care. Loving volunteers provide a safe and welcoming environment while children enjoy a video Bible lesson, worship music and a lesson activity.
PEACE
We provide a support group for parents who have children with special needs. The group meets once a month in Fairfax and is led by Paula Burton. For more information contact Kristen Mizell at: [email protected]
BCC Children’s Activities
We provide support for children with special needs during Children’s Ministries events such as VBS, Fall Festival and Christmas Eve Services.
What special needs do we accommodate?
We attempt to accommodate every family’s specific need. As we meet, we will create a plan for your loved one in order for him or her to be successful in our different environments. We are volunteer based and the level of support will depend on experience of staff and volunteers.
Are there any events for my child with special needs?
Our respite nights throughout the year provide respite time for parents who have children with special needs. We also provide support for your child during Vacation Bible School, Fall Festival and Christmas Eve Services.
Is there a parent support group?
Yes! Our parent support group is called PEACE. Parents meet via Zoom once a month. For more information contact us at [email protected].
Do volunteers have a background check?
All volunteers, teen and adults, go through a complete application process before serving in our classrooms. Adults have a thorough background check completed and participate in Sexual Abuse Awareness Training. All volunteers review and agree to abide by our General Practices. At least two volunteers must be present in a classroom at all times.
Special Needs Adults
We are in the process of creating an adult special needs Friendship Class. If you are interested in helping us launch this ministry or would like more information, please reach out to our Special Needs Coordinator Kristen Mizell.
Upcoming Events

PEACE Parent Support Group

PEACE Parent Support Group

PEACE Parent Support Group

Special Needs Respite Night

PEACE Parent Support Group
Disability Resources
We make it a priority to ensure that our campus, our events, and our Sunday services are accessible to those with disabilities. If you have any questions or specific needs, please reach out to our Special Needs Coordinator Kristen Mizell.
Disabled Parking is located by both the Main Entrance and the North Entrance of our property (See map)
Wheelchair Accessibility is provided throughout our campus and bathrooms are ADA compliant
Screen Reading through our Church Online platform provides improved accessibility for the visually impaired during our online services
Closed Captioning is available for our 9am & 10:30am Sunday morning services on Facebook Live
Volunteer

You can be a blessing to others...
Contact Info
We would love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Special Needs Coordinator Kristen Mizell with any questions or requests.