Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.
Disability
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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.
This article outlines the role of the church advocate and provides the steps from considering being a church advocate to working within the role.
Regional Advocates are invaluable to our work in Disability Concerns. Interested in learning more about the role? This roadmap should provide you with the answers!
'Zoom Into Friendship!' meets every Friday at 1:00 pm Eastern. We invite everyone to join us for a time of faith, fun, and friendship!
Over the course of October, we invited five speakers to come together to discuss caregiving. Each one brought a unique perspective to the conversation!
People with disabilities tend to be highly agile because they must navigate physical and social structures that are created by and for people who do not have disabilities.
Every church should be a place where everyone belongs and everyone serves, but often people with disabilities are inadvertently overlooked and not able to participate fully in the life of the church.
A living will (also called an advance directive) identifies the kind of medical care you want or don't want in times of serious illness. If you haven't had those conversations yet, now is the time.
Disability Concerns has assembled a list of support services and resources in the wake of COVID-19. We hope this will be helpful if you are caring for people with disabilities in your community.
Disability Concerns shares resources to help your congregation mark Disability Awareness Sunday (October 20, 2019 or whenever works best for your church).
There is one article specific to the Canadian context, but the remainder of the pieces are must-reads all over North America.
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.
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.
At a recent RCA Classis Minnesota meeting there was a discussion about no-cost options for welcoming people with disabilities. Here are some of the strategies they wanted to share.
Be sure to order printed copies of this insert for Disability Awareness Sunday on October 20, 2019!
“Since we do not have sufficient funds to change the building, we want to find other ways to help and support families so that they feel loved and appreciated.” Listen to Daysi share in her language of Spanish (English captions available).
Because he couldn’t get in the door, safely use the restroom, or access the pulpit, Kyle Crist “decided to become a disability advocate out of necessity.” Listen to Kyle share more of his experience as a disability advocate.
While Cara had worked with people with disabilities, disability advocacy wasn’t connected back to her faith until this opportunity came.
Beth shares her experience with Friendship Bible Studies that affirms “when you learn you teach and when you teach you learn.” Listen to more of her story below!
“I’m so happy that, finally, disability concerns [is something] the whole denomination is starting to think about…that’s exciting for me.” Listen to Reg’s own words to hear his delight in this ministry.
Rev. Dr. Joanne Van Sant, Church Advocate in Ridgewood, NJ, shares a story of witnessing God's grace when “everything was just right in that moment.”
Michèle Gyselinck, Regional Advocate for Eastern Canada, shares how she became a disability advocate and how her leadership shapes her and her community!
Rather than creating special accommodations/requirements for a minority population, universal design reflects spaces and programs that can be accessed by everybody.
We hope your congregations are gearing up for Disability Awareness Sunday on October 21. Rev. Miriam Spies has offered a reflection based on the gospel lesson from Mark.