1. Organizations. There are great organizations out there committed to help churches reach out to the disability community.
Joni and Friends is built on biblical truth and the foundation of Jesus Christ. They are about advancing disability ministry and changing the church and communities around the world. They help equip churches for a disability ministry (for all ages).
The Inclusive Church believes that every church needs a plan for inclusion. It’s an amazing resource for church leaders, from creating sensory rooms to creating intake forms to training volunteers. You can also check out their Facebook page.
Key Ministry is committed to help every child with a disability find a church. They seek to come alongside pastors and volunteers with relevant tools and resources to enhance their ministries. They have created an online resource kit with a variety of articles, forms, ideas and how-to guides to take your ministry to the next level. You can explore their Key Ring Binder, Inclusion Fusion Library, Workbench, FreeRespite, special events, Party with a Purpose, and Key TV modules to find new ways to reach families affected by disability in your own community!
Nathaniel’s Hope is dedicated to sharing hope with kids with special needs (VIP kids) and their families. They help churches establish buddy breaks, or free respite, for families with VIP kids.
2. Books. Here are some great book resources you can read on the subject:
Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability
by Stephanie Hubach
When the church attempts to function without all of its parts, the body of Christ becomes disabled. This work is designed to renew our minds to think biblically about disability. This is perhaps my favorite book on disability.
Leading A Special Needs Ministry
by Amy Fenton Lee (founder of the Inclusive Church)
This books serves as a practical “how to” handbook for the family ministry team working to welcome one or 100 children with special needs. Easily referenced guidance is offered for expressing care for parents who are learning that their child has a diagnosis, all the way to developing programs, policies and education for volunteers working with children with disabilities. Example ministry documents are provided throughout this resource guide.
Walking With Tension
by Jenny Hill
From the book: “What kind of God hears the desperate cry of a little girl to be physically healed … and says no? Learning how to walk with cerebral palsy was hard, but learning how to walk alongside God was harder. In Walking with Tension, Jenny Hill shares her journey to seek healing from her disability. When healing doesn’t happen, she begins to wrestle with God over some big questions. ‘Is God really good?’ ‘Where is He in the midst of our struggles?’ and ‘How do we love God when we don’t understand Him?'”
