Resources are needed to address these needs so we intend to become a clearinghouse of resources, providing suggestions for publications, programs, funding sources, speakers for workshops, and consultants. We will work towards networking both within our synod and with ecumenical partners in our communities. We look forward to recognizing congregations who are making positive steps towards inclusion and sharing their experience with others.
Disability Awareness Sunday Resources
- Sermon helps
- Litanies
- Litany
- Psalm 23
- Responsive Reading
- An Interfaith Litany for Wholeness
- Beatitudes for Friends and Family
- At the King’s Table
- Hymn suggestions
- Prayers
- Prayer by William Barclay
- Prayer of Confession
- Gathering Prayer
- Benediction
- Prayers from NAMI (relating to mental illness)
- Other Denominational Resources
- Presbyterian Church (USA) 2011 Disability Inclusion Resource Packet
- United Methodist Committee on Relief Disability Awareness Sunday resources
- Children’s Message from Reformed Church in America
- Litany from Reformed Church in America
- Christian Reformed Church – Disability Concerns: Resources for Worship
ELCA Resources
- ELCA Disability Ministries
- ELCA Social Message on Human Disabilities
- Women of the ELCA – Supporting and Understanding People with Special Needs. Includes informational links on particular special needs, care for care givers, and a collection of online resources and other publications.
Getting Started and Awareness Materials
- Bethesda Lutheran Communites
- Building a Developmental Disability Ministry: A Manual for Congregations
- Various disability awareness materials, many available as free downloads for congregational use.
- How to Start a Rejoicing Spirits Ministry, a guidebook for starting an adapted worship service in your community. www.rejoicingspirits.org 616-363-6264 x213
- Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities by Erik W. Carter ISBN 978-1-55766-743-4
- Joni and Friends offers help and resources, including links to national groups, covering a wide spectrum of disabilities. www.joniandfriends.org/help-and-resources
Curriculum Materials
- Faith Alive Christian Resources offering Friendship Ministry material, disability resources (including a number of publications about autism), braille and large print resources.
- Bethesda Lutheran Communities offers curriculum materials (including confirmation and First Communion) geared for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Joni and Friends – variety of material including curriculum for a disability awareness children’s camp
- Exceptional Teaching – A Comprehensive Guide for Including Students with Disabilities by Jim Pierson, ISBN 0-7847-1255-7
Mental Health
- Mental Health Ministry information and links www.NAMI.org/faithnet.
- Visit www.NAMI.org to locate the National Alliance on Mental Illness affiliate closest to your congregation in any state in our synod.
Miscellaneous
- Autism and Alleluias by Kathleen Deyer Bolduc ISBN 978-0-8170-1568-8
- Autism and Your Church materials by Barbara J. Newman (available through Faith Alive and other book sellers.
- Downloadable Disability Access Symbols to promote and publicize accessibility for people with disabilities.
- National Catholic Partnership on Disability www.ncpd.org
- Anabaptist Disabilities Network www.adnetonline.org/ADNet_Home
- Disability Concerns, a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church has written an excellent handbook on inclusion in the church: Everybody Belongs Everybody Serves.
- Commentary on praying for the permanently disabled
- Congregational Accessibility Network for individuals, families, congregations, and organizations. Includes resources and an extensive accessibility survey.
- Accessibility Summit annual conference in Vienna, VA.
- Key Ministry: A church for every child is a ministry focused on providing free resources to help connect churches with families of kids with “issues”.
- Shifting Perspectives- Images of Down Syndrome
Videos
- A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities, interfaith documentary with stories of persons with disabilities working to make their faith communities more inclusive. Includes segments from the ELCA DAYLE program at the 2009 you gathering in New Orleans. Diva Communications
- Praying with Lior www.prayingwithlior.com
- Autism and Your Church Training DVD by Barbara J. Newman www.clcnetwork.org/clc-store/church-services
