Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.
Dan
Disability
lynn
Miriam
Staci
This journey started over thirty years ago when we received a call from a mom who asked us if her son could come to our church. Today, twenty five percent of our congregation is persons with developmental disabilities.
Síndrome de Down: Los autores describen algunas de las alegrías y desafíos que tanto ellos como sus iglesias han experimentado al amar y vivir con alguien con síndrome de Down.
Aquí hay algunos consejos para ayudarle a pensar acerca de cómo trabajar juntos en el reino creciente de Dios.
There is one article specific to the Canadian context, but the remainder of the pieces are must-reads all over North America.
특집: 다운증후군 - 자신 또는 그들의 교회가 다운증후군을 가진 장애우들과 함께 살며 사랑하는 경험을 통해 저자들이 경험한 기쁨과 어려움을 아래 이야기에 담았습니다.
As in all other things, we need sanctification. To sanctify our spaces, our communications, and our attitudes, new ideas can help. Here are five ideas for belonging and an example for each.
When Sharon McQueary shared her journey with depression at a women’s conference, many of the women felt permission to share their own experiences with mental health challenges.
What keeps many people with a disability from being considered for a leadership position? I've included a video that raises awareness about how pastoral search teams can discriminate against leaders with a disability.
Often we are changed in and by our relationships with people with disabilities and their families. Consider these videos a glimpse into their lives and an invitation to deepen relationships in your congregation and community.
Topics include children and youth with disabilities, mental health issues, ways of showing welcome that go beyond physical accessibility, and more. Here they are in one post for your convenience.
Recently a church member asked, “How long have you suffered with your disability?” I immediately replied, “I have lived with my Cerebral Palsy since birth.”
La enfermedad mental y la práctica espiritual: Los autores describen de qué manera la enfermedad mental de un ser querido o la suya propia han formado su fe y practica espiritual en la que se entrecruzan los ritmos del bienestar mental, la vida devocional y el discipulado personal.
Down syndrome—Authors describe some of the joys and challenges they and their church have experienced in loving and living with someone with Down syndrome.
A Day in the Life by Bev Roozeboom gives a glimpse into the chaos and hope of families with children living in the grip of chronic mental health disorders.
Except for our spouses, we’ve shared bedrooms with each other more than anyone else over the past 10 years. Join us at at Inspire to learn how our churches and denominations benefit when we share some spaces.
We started captioning videos for people with disabilities. It turns out this also helps a bunch of other people.
Most of my life I’ve been embarrassed and ashamed to admit I have Tourette’s. Initially mocked by peers, I quickly learned to hide or camouflage the tics with movements that wouldn’t be recognized as readily.
One question that came in challenged the judge’s ability to do his job because of his illnesses. This challenge is based on the assumption that mental illnesses affect an individual’s intelligence and judgment.
The adoption agency director calmly said amid our excitement, “Just wait, Anna. They think that he might have Down syndrome.” Nonchalantly, I replied, “Oh, Ok.” He kindly encouraged us to take the weekend to think about and pray about our decision.
In this video Dori Dykstra reflects on how she feels called to be in relationship with others in the Body of Christ and how that both encourages and prepares her to pick up the phone or send an email.
For Regional Disability Advocates, following up with churches is an important part of building and maintaining relationships as you continue supporting churches in being places where everybody belongs and everybody serves!
In this blog Dori Dykstra shares her experience of phoning congregations to speak about the ministry of Disability Concerns. This is a helpful tool especially for Regional Disability Advocates.
I am so thankful for the discipleship of Jean Vanier, and I remain thankful for the people carrying on his ministry, those who are simply the latest to arrive.
For Disability Week this year (October 13 through 20), we are highlighting the value and importance of disability advocates.
I was almost born. Actually, I was five months old and in my mother’s tummy. My mother had a test done and when the results came in, a nurse called the house and asked my parents, “So, when will you terminate this pregnancy?”