Missed Opportunities for Belonging
Jeannette Versteeg is Evan's mom. She is his #1 advocate, working to ensure that his community fully embraces him. Often she runs into roadblocks because Evan has Down Syndrome.
Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.
Here you'll find resources posted by individuals, churches, and ministries. Add comments, give a 'thumbs up', or post your own. Can't find something? Use the chat box to let us know.
Jeannette Versteeg is Evan's mom. She is his #1 advocate, working to ensure that his community fully embraces him. Often she runs into roadblocks because Evan has Down Syndrome.
Dr. Jay Dolmage is a professor at the University of Waterloo. Recently he spoke on Academic Ableism at Western Theological Seminary. He has shared many great resources with us in this article.
This article has suggestions and resources to help your congregation considers having emotional support animals in your church.
What we say or fail to say about mental health concerns in worship settings can be profoundly formative for how Christian communities respond to these challenges.
If someone is thinking of taking their own life, it’s not a secret to keep. For Disability Week this year, we have curated resources on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.
Fellow church members can make a critical, positive difference in the lives of stroke survivors and their loved ones when they make the effort to welcome and accept them.
We sometimes hear the phrases “the poorest of the poor” or “the least of these.” Interested in knowing who they are?
In this article, the Autism Society asks all faith leaders to answer the call and support over 3.5 million people with Autism Spectrum Disorders in inclusive faith communities.
Belonging to a support system provides encouragement, strength, and a feeling of acceptance. A well-run support group can do all that and much more.
Progress in creating accessible and inclusive spaces for people with disabilities can be slow. Yet, there are signs of hope. Check out this encouraging article about churches being proactive!
What if churches and church leaders looked at ministry with people with serious mental illnesses not as burdens to be borne but as opportunities from God for ministry?
Here are some ideas for ministry with people who have mental illnesses. These ideas can be used in various ways — such as a bulletin insert, newsletter article, or read from the pulpit.
Walk through this season of celebration and change with these tips for supporting persons with disabilities from Barbara J. Newman.
These ideas give brief, clear, helpful guidance for ministering with people affected by disabilities, especially pastors, elders, deacons, and care team members.
Here is a list of resources for churches to use to become compliant to the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Although the target audience is for those living in Ontario, there are many helpful hints for all churches!
When ushers seat people who use walkers, the walkers are sometimes taken away. Without the walkers, they become disabled. What is the best way to handle this situation?
The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was “made like his brothers and sisters in every way” (2:17, TNIV). But can almighty God truly understand human limitations, even long-term limitations we call disabilities? At advent and Christmas especially we wonder at the mystery and meaning of Christ's incarnation.
Stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults around the world, so most congregations probably include—or will soon include—stroke survivors. And the implications for churches are significant.
Many nondisabled people feel anxious in the presence of someone with a disability, so they say nothing and avoid contact. In this publication you will find suggestions that will help educate people about communicating with people with disabilities.
Information for people with disabilities considering college, including legal rights and how to access campus resources.
This edition of the journal Lifelong Faith: the Theory and Practice of Lifelong Faith Formation presents theological and theoretical reflections on faith formation with people with special needs, as well as practical suggestions for ministry and learning.
It’s summertime! That means school is out and your church is most likely working on its summer programming. Your church can take a few simple steps so that every child will feel welcomed and included in your summer activities.
A social scientist, Erik Carter started his keynote address at the 2014 Summer Institute on Disability and Theology by saying he would be "preaching from Numbers." With data, he established the opportunity congregations and other communities of faith have to "welcome, receive, and be hospitable" every day of the week.
This guide helps to identify the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues for college students and where and when to seek help.
This article by Joan Huyser-Honig from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship examines communion from the perspective of people with disabilities and concludes, "The cultivation of daily gratitude, receiving all of life as gift—the training for that is at the table."