INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS

WITH SPECIAL NEEDS IN

WEDDINGSCarter Fawcett

January 16, 2013

I.W.P. (INDIVIDUALIZED WEDDING PLAN)

1. Acknowledge the special needs in play

2. Develop a plan for each need that may be present

3. Execute the plan

STEP 1: IDENTIFY NEEDS Be sensitive when determining needs

May be embarrassedMay not want to be a bother May not know accommodations are availableMay not realize that they have a need requiring

accommodations Consider including in your bridal

questionnaire Provide access for all

Bridal partyFamilyGuests

CONSIDER ALL DISABILITIES1. Autism2. Deaf-blindness3. Deafness4. Developmental delay5. Emotional disturbance6. Hearing impairment7. Intellectual disability8. Multiple disabilities9. Orthopedic impairment10. Other health impairment11. Specific learning disability12. Speech or language impairment13. Traumatic brain injury14. Visual impairment, including blindness

STEP 2: MAKE A PLAN Call an I.W.P. (Individual Wedding Plan) meeting

Individual or Primary Caregiver- Team Captains Bride- General Manager Wedding Planner/Coordinator- Coach Venue Representative- Referee Other Vendors

Caterer/ Baker Music Photographer Translators Tuxedo Rental Officiate Florist

WEDDINGS ARE A CELEBRATIONSomeone important to me is getting married soon. When someone gets married, a

nice way to celebrate is by having a wedding. They want me to be a special part of their wedding because they love me. A wedding means about 100 people celebrating for about 5 hours.

I will get to wear fancy new clothes called a tuxedo. They may feel different from my normal clothes and that’s okay. I will get to try them on Thursday and on Friday so I will know what they will feel like on Saturday. While I am trying them on, I can practice walking in the Tuxedo. I will also get fancy shoes. I can try these on too. I will need to wear my tuxedo and my shoes for the ceremony, so I look handsome. I will wear flowers pinned on my tuxedo called a boutonniere.

The wedding will start with a ceremony. We will get to practice the ceremony on Friday night, so I know just what to do. Before the ceremony, I will hide in the Sunday school class at church. When I am told to, I will line up just like I practiced at the rehearsal. When it is my turn to walk into church, I will walk in a straight line to stand in my spot. I will keep my mouth quiet and my hands still. If I need to, I can put my hands in my pockets to help me keep them still. I will need to keep my feet on their spot and keep my body still. My eyes should look at the bride and the groom the whole ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, I will walk back out just like I will get to practice on Friday.

After the ceremony, we will have a party called a reception. At the reception, people will eat dinner and dance. It may be loud at the reception and that’s okay. If it gets too loud, I can put on my quiet headphones. If someone wants to shake my hand or give me a hug, I should touch them for 1 second and then I can step back. I can tell them that I am glad to see them and ask how they are doing. If I get overwhelmed, I will have a safe room that my buddy can take me to.

I will try my best to be on my best behavior at the wedding. I am glad to be a part of an exciting wedding celebration!

STEP 3: EXECUTION Have a plan that has been

communicated to ALL necessary parties (consider including on the itinerary)

Have 2 backup plans Have one person in charge of running

the plan who doesn’t have other duties: Wedding “buddy”

Be FLEXIBLE!

QUESTIONS?

www.weddingsbycarter.comCarter@WeddingsByCarter.com404-291-3950Facebook.com/weddingsbycarterAvailable for consultations