Every Child Belongs

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim sits down with Meredith Shuman, founder of James Trail, trauma-informed trainer, therapist, adoptive mom, and passionate advocate for families impacted by trauma.
 
Meredith brings nearly three decades of experience working with children, families, churches, and organizations across the U.S. and around the world. Together, Kim and Meredith explore why community and felt safety are essential for healing, especially for adoptive, foster, and kinship families navigating complex trauma.
 
You'll hear Meredith unpack:
-What trauma really is and why it affects far more families than we realize
-Why many families struggle to find safety and belonging in church spaces
-How reading the Bible through a trauma-informed lens changes how we see people like Moses and Gideon
-What global churches understand about trauma that the U.S. often misses
-Why nature is such a powerful tool for regulation, healing, and hope
-Practical ways parents can advocate for kids in medical and high-stress environments
-Why the holidays can be especially difficult for kids with trauma histories and how community helps carry the load
 
This conversation is honest, hope-filled, and deeply practical for parents, caregivers, church leaders, and anyone who wants to help create environments where kids and families can truly belong.
 
Connect with Meredith and James Trail:
Website: https://www.jamestrail.org/
 
"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto 
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)
 
Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.
 
Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

Kim talks with Henry "Tribes", a Dallas barber known for sensory-friendly haircuts for neurodivergent kids and the inventor of the Weighted Cape. Henry shares how a weighted blanket inspired a new kind of haircut cape, which opened his eyes to families who needed more than a traditional barbershop experience.

Henry explains what makes a session successful: preparation with parents before the appointment, reading nonverbal cues, letting kids set the pace, and bringing calm, flexible, positive energy into every interaction. He also highlights the importance of honoring parents, including the hard days when a haircut does not happen, and why he commits to never quitting on a child.

This conversation offers practical strategies for anyone who works with neurodivergent kids, plus Henry's vision for sensory-friendly support becoming the standard in industries like health care, education, and travel.

Henry's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrytribes/
Henry's Website: https://theweightedcape.com/

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V (affiliate links)

Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.

Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

What changes a church more than a new program? Sometimes it's a friendship.
Kim sits down with Ryan Wolfe, President of Ability Ministry, for a conversation that's both practical and deeply personal. Ryan shares the stories of Clyde and Coral, two friends who shaped his calling and helped him see the difference between doing ministry for people with disabilities and doing ministry with them (and ultimately by them).
You'll also walk away with tools you can use right away, including Ability Ministry's free, professional one-page resources (intake forms, volunteer training, disability awareness tools, visual schedules, and more) and DisabilityIsBeautiful.com, a free stock photo library that helps churches reflect the people they hope to welcome.
Whether you're a church leader trying to take next steps or a parent wondering if your child will truly be seen, this episode will encourage you and give you a starting point.

Ability Ministry Website: https://abilityministry.com/

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V (affiliate links)

Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.

Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with Josh Zello, founder of JesusLovesPreschoolers.com, about building gospel-centered, developmentally rich preschool ministries where kids feel safe, known, and loved.

Josh shares what changed when he moved from Texas to Baltimore and stepped into ministry in an urban context where trust is not assumed. He explains why many outreach events fail when they require parents to drop off children, and how trust is often built outside the church walls through consistent presence, service, and relationships, including his surprising role as "Tot Lot Josh."

Kim and Josh also dig into big feelings in little kids. Josh reframes emotions as part of being made in God's image and offers practical ways to partner with children as their brains grow and their experiences shape what they feel.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Josh shares what he has learned serving families in his church who are blind, including simple but meaningful accommodations like adjusting worship slides for readability, providing song lyrics in Braille, changing everyday ministry language, and training volunteers to communicate in ways that help kids feel safe and included.

They close by talking about wonder, the childlike faith of preschoolers, and how kids can help adults rediscover trust, presence, and joy in the everyday gifts of God.

Connect with Josh:
Website: JesusLovesPreschoolers.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesuslovespreschoolers/

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V (affiliate links)

Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.

Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.

In this episode, Kim talks with Cortney Jenkins, founder of Awe and Wonder, about practical, realistic ways churches can create spaces where kids with disabilities truly belong. Cortney shares how her years as a middle school special education teacher shaped her passion to bridge the gap between classroom strategies and church ministry, and why her adapted Bible resources help more than one group of learners.

Cortney unpacks simple tools churches can use right away, including visual timers for transitions, visual supports and AAC-style symbols to clarify Bible stories, and repeating one clear main idea throughout a lesson. She also challenges churches to think beyond children's ministry and build a lifespan mindset, especially helping students transition into middle school and youth ministry with the supports they already use as kids.

They discuss what well-intentioned leaders sometimes say that can unintentionally harm families, how to reframe disruption as discipleship, and how to pursue safety and inclusion when a child has high support needs. Cortney closes with practical ideas for churches without a dedicated sensory room, plus the hope and heartbreak she carries as she hears stories from families and ministry leaders across the country.

Resources mentioned: 
Awe and Wonder Website: https://www.specialneedsministryresources.com/
Awe and Wonder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awe__and__wonder/
Free Resources mentioned during episode: https://www.specialneedsministryresources.com/adapting-church-curriculum-handout

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V (affiliate links)

Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.

Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.