Hali Project
www.thehaliproject.org

I'm Hali Thompson, and I am a child with special needs. Society would say that I have a disability. I am one of 70,000 children with special needs born in our country every year. When children like me are born, it affects everyone - family, friends and even the community.

My father, Brad, is the founder of the HALI Project. The mission of this project is to help the families of children with special needs learn skills that will help them meet the incredible challenges they will face as these children grow up. The HALI Project is dedicated to provide training, education and counseling to help these people, not just cope with their situation, but make the best of it.

In January 2000, Brad and Karen Thompson began working with other families who have children with special needs. They have worked with families in over 20 schools in the Texas Panhandle and, with the Lord's blessing, that number continues to grow. Their programs include counseling, education, and resource development to help families find the answers (when there are answers) to questions they never thought they would have to answer. On August 26, 2002, a second part of their program started. Their first student with developmental delays, Jacob Cooper, began a special college program at West Texas A & M through the Special Education Department. These kids will have the opportunity to continue to develop their academic skills and improve their employment opportunities by working with mentors in their areas of interest. To the future - One of the most common struggles of these families is the question of God's fairness, "Why me, Lord?". Because of that struggle and others like it, a large percentage of these families have given up on faith and the church. We want to reach out to them and show them the grace and mercy only God can provide, and His hope that goes far beyond this life.

As a part of this effort, we are currently offering a Sunday morning Bible class to people with special needs. The class is specifically designed for people with learning disabilities to be engaged in learning the Bible. We also have an "Empowered Parents" group meeting at Southwest every other Wednesday night at 7 p.m. While the parents meet together, a group of volunteers help the children to their classes and care for them one-on-one if necessary. Those interested should contact the Southwest church office (806-352-5647) to find out when the next meeting will take place. We are also offering respite care for families of children with special needs one Saturday each month at Baptist-St. Anthony's Hospital. Typically it is the last Saturday of each month. Families can add their children to the list or get more information by contacting the Southwest church office (806-352-5647).

For more information, visit www.thehaliproject.org or contact Brad Thompson.