Denominational Outreach

Many denominations offer resources to assist their congregations in welcoming people with disabilities. The links below are various resources offered by denominations and faith groups. Inclusion in this list in no way implies endorsement by IDN.  If we have overlooked your denomination’s program, contact us! We are always delighted to know about additional resources and to add them to our list.
  
Commission on the inclusion of People with Disabilities: United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism
This page provides resources for members in Conservative Jewish Synagogues to begin educating and engaging members of their communities regarding strategies for removing barriers so that people with disabilities can fully participate in Jewish life. The Commission recently released a packet of resources about inclusion specifically around High Holy Day themes.

Disability Concerns: Christian Reformed Church
Christian Reformed Disability Concerns helps foster healthy churches by encouraging hospitality toward all people and unleashing the gifts of all people. We summarize this perspective in the words: everybody belongs; everybody serves. In our work we help churches recognize barriers to people with disabilities and ways to eliminate those barriers through a network of 100's of volunteers, through communication with churches including a quarterly newsletter and web site, and through consultation.

Disability Concerns: United Methodist Church
Disability Concerns is for persons living with physically or mentally challenging conditions, their friends, families, caretakers, lay associates, and clergy. The site offers information related to disability concerns, while adding the dimension of spiritual care. Materials are written for both individuals and faith communities on this Web site.

Disability Ministry: Evangelical Covenant Church
The vision is to network, educate, and resource churches and the Covenant as a whole so that persons with disabilities and their families are effectively served and fully included in the life and ministries of the Covenant and their local communities.

Disabilities Ministry: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Disability Ministries assists congregations, synods, and the church-wide organization in inclusive ministry with persons with disabilities.

Disability Resources: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
This Web section on disabilities has been created to offer support, comfort, and an increased level of acceptance toward those with disabilities.

Episcopal Disability Network
The Episcopal Disability Network exists to enable each child of God, regardless of the severity of his or her disability, to be an integral member of the Body of Christ, to participate in the sacraments of the church, and to discern and live out his or her calling as a Christian.

Lehiyot: Union for Reform Judaism
Access to Judaism has been a hallmark of the Reform movement since its first congregation began seating women and men together over 120 years ago. Today, access involves such things as large-print prayer books, sign interpretation at services, bar and bat mitzvah training for children with special needs, and increasing sensitivity to the scope of needs within each community. The Department of Jewish Family Concerns helps congregations create and enhance inclusive environments and accessible spaces to ensure that everyone is included. Every congregant has a right to a rich Jewish life in a welcoming environment.

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod- Taskforce on Disability Ministry
The LCMS Task Force that has addressed ministry to people with disabilities has assembled  a variety of resources that can be used to increase awareness in a congregational setting.

National Catholic Partnership on Disability
The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) was established in 1982 to foster implementation of the “Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on People with Disabilities.”  Passed unanimously on November 16, 1978, this prophetic document calls for the welcoming of over 14 million Catholics who live with disabilities.  It states that these persons must be able to participate in the celebrations and obligations of their faith. The statement also advocates for their inclusion within the total fabric of society.

National Jewish Council on Disabilities
This site contains educational resources that focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in Jewish life.

Presbyterians for Disabilities Concerns: Presbyterian Church USA
This is a collection of resources for religious leaders and people with disabilities in the Presbyterian Church-USA.  This site has consultants that can be contacted in order to receive feedback about ways to respond to people with specific disabilities.

Seventh Day Adventist Disability Ministries
Through the Ministry to People with Disabilities, a local church should give special attention to members and others with disabilities. It should develop programs for witnessing to people who have disabilities; make recommendations to the church board regarding possible actions that could make the church facilities more accessible for people with disabilities; assist the church in transportation solutions for people with disabilities; and advise departmental and church leadership regarding possible involvement of members who have disabilities.

Southern Baptist: North American Mission Board, Disability Awareness
This is a collection of resources offered from the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The stated purpose is to help churches develop accessible programs and attitudes so that they are equipped to reach out to people with disabilities and their families.

That All May Be Welcome: Unitarian Universalist Association
The Unitarian Universalist Association has committed itself to the removal of all barriers—attitudinal, physical, and programmatic—that prevent the full participation of persons with disabilities in the life of its association. Unitarian Universalism calls its members to begin the task of removing both the physical and attitudinal barriers to persons with disabilities in its congregations so that all may share their gifts and talents in its religious communities.

United Church of Christ: Disabilities Ministries
This site is designed and maintained by the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries web team to help members and friends of the United Church of Christ explore what it means for its churches to be “accessible to all.” 

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