Now that we’ve celebrated Easter, it’s time to look forward to the next big event on our church calendar—Vacation Bible School! This year I hope your church will be ready to serve and support more kids than ever by taking these steps toward accessibility and inclusion. You can tackle one each week as you count…
The first step toward inclusion in churches is developing a theology of disability. We need to understand why we do inclusion before we make a plan for how we’ll do it. It’s also important for parents of kids with disabilities to read and meditate on what Scripture says about disabilities. Let’s start with examining the…
Is your ministry welcoming & accessible? “Nearly every pastor (99%) and churchgoer (97%) says someone with a disability would feel welcomed and included at their church.” (Lifeway Research) What churches say they are doing: Three in 4 pastors (75%) say their church encourages volunteering in community events, like the Special Olympics, for people with disabilities….
What are invisible disabilities? Invisible or hidden disabilities include emotional, behavioral, or developmental disorders/diagnoses with no apparent physical symptoms or characteristics. Includes students with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Anxiety disorders Autism spectrum disorders Developmental disabilities Learning disabilities PDD NOS Oppositional defiant disorder Mood disorders (depression, bipolar) Attachment disorders (common in adopted and foster care children) Fetal…
Respite events are an important way the church can care for special-needs families and reach their communities. Our church offers respite events four times a year. We set our age limit from 5-15 and include typical siblings. We do different options for days of the week and times so more people get an opportunity to…