After a recent conversation, Joanna French had the realization that she rarely masks her neurodivergence in her church. She shares her hope that everyone finds a community where their difference will be celebrated instead of admonished.
Adult Advocates, Autism, Advocacy, Care and Support, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Families, Hope, Key Ministry, Parents, Resources, Special Needs Ministry, Spiritual Development
“I shared my family’s hurt and pain of feeling excluded and unaccepted by the very church that I, as its pastor, am called to love and serve. I shared offensive words shared with me regarding my autistic son’s needs. I shared how these actions created a wall between our family and the church. We felt unwelcome.” Shannon Blosser shares about church hurt, and where the church can grow.
#DATC2024, Announcements, Care and Support, Church Support, Event, Hope, Key Ministry, podcast, Resources, Sandra Peoples, Special Needs Ministry
Beth Golik and Sandra Peoples give a Disability & the Church 2024 Conference Recap that happened this past week in Orlando, FL.
#DATC2024, Autism, Book Reviews, Care and Support, Church Support, Culture of Life, Disability Ministry, Hidden Disabilities, Hope, Spiritual Development
Dr. Steve Grcevich sits down and interviews Dr. Lamar Hardwick on his new book How Ableism Fuels Racism. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series! Dr. Lamar Hardwick will be speaking at Disability & the Church 2024 Conference in Orlando, FL May 1-3. Go to www.keyministry.org/datc2024 to register now!
Care and Support, Church Support, Mental Health, Mental Health Ministry, podcast, #DATC2024, Advocacy, Catherine Boyle, Hidden Disabilities, Resources
Recently, Catherine had a conversation with Dr. Jim and Heather Sells, authors of the new book “Beyond the Clinical Hour: How Counselors Can Partner with the Church to Address the Mental Health Crisis.” Jim, Heather and their co-author Dr. Amy Trout offer a valuable resource to both mental health professionals and ministry leaders as a way to meet the heartfelt mental health needs impacting both churches and our culture. Take a listen to this thought-provoking conversation.
#DATC2024, Care and Support, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Hidden Disabilities, Hope, Key Ministry, Special Needs Ministry
“I am disabled. For years that was so hard to admit. I couldn’t mention out loud my neurodivergence. I whispered about my post-traumatic stress disorder, insisting ‘I’m better now.’ I was a champion for the disabled who didn’t want to talk about her own disabilities. It was disingenuous, but I didn’t know how to come to terms with the fact that I was disabled. I was still scared that admitting my disability publicly would convince people I was not able to do anything.” Joanna French writes on her experience with disability.
