General Resources

• Spring 2025 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/4jhiFTM) Recognizing and responding to a mental health crisis; resources and helpline contact information.

• April 2025 DMC (https://conta.cc/4iepRj1) Advocacy around threats to eliminating Section 504 disability civil rights and cutting Medicaid funding for health care and community support options. What can churches do?  Resources for advocacy.

• Winter 2025 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/4aybraY) Finding hope, Positive thinking?, Prudential grace, People of hope: 

• Giving Tuesday 2024 (https://conta.cc/3ZkEN8K) Opening doors to ministry candidates with disabilities, Representing disability at General Conference, Equipping disability advocates, Collaborating on disability awareness and anti-ableism, Appreciating support from Council of Bishops

• Fall 2024 Mental Health (https://conta.cc/47V1zHe) Self-care and mental health: healing and wellness, meditation, back to nature, praying without words. 

• August 2024 DMC (Link to share) Chancel and pulpit accessibility, accommodations for pastors with hearing, vision, light sensitivity, autism, and mobility disabilities

• June 2024 Mental Health (Link to share) Mental health support for children and youth

• April 2024 DMC (Link to share) Introducing the new website, DMC at General Conference

• Winter 2024 Mental Health (Link to share) How to become a Caring Congregation, supporting mental health of pastors and members, congregational ministries

• Year End 2023 DMC Grant recipients, DMC collaboration with boards and agencies, updates to the Disability-friendly and Accessible Church badge program

• June 2023 Mental Health Advocacy for mental health treatment, supporting pastors and individuals with mental health concerns

• Spring 2023 DMC Resource Update Grant information, resources available for annual conferences, Badge program information, resources, volunteer needs

• Giving Tuesday 2022 DMC Grants awarded, creating sensory spaces, Badge program Gold church example

• August 2022 DMC Resource Update  Badge program, working with annual conferences, grant cycle

• May 2022 DMC Autism and neurodiversity, meet an autistic pastor, creating safe sensory spaces, autism resources

• March 2022 Mental Health Helping persons struggling with opioid abuse, Mental Health Ministries joins Pathways to Promise, UMC beliefs about mental illness, Petition about non-discrimination in disability compensation

• February 2022 DMC Resource Update  New and updated resources, grant cycle, volunteers needed

• December 2021 Mental Health: Long COVID, Wounded healer, Mental Health First Aid

• Fall 2021 DMC: DMC work/ Giving Tuesday: Grant funding in Uruguay, Resources launch a new career in W Ohio, Consultation supports Wisconsin church to achieve Gold badge status

• September 2021 Mental Health: About suicide, Teen suicide, Resources that address suicide, taking time to grieve

• Summer 2021 DMC: Introducing new and ongoing members of the DMC

• May 2021 Mental Health: Mental Health Awareness Month, a parable of hope, becoming God's hope.

• January 2021 Mental Health: Navigating mental health during the pandemic, Risking Connection training helps churches offer trauma-informed support, Suicide prevention

• Fall 2020 DMC: First Gold badge church in Alaska, Accessible voting, Meeting needs during COVID, ASL worship services offer global outreach, in memoriam Rev. Jim McIntire

• Summer 2020: Intersection of Racism and Disability, Reflecting on 30 years of the ADA, Introducing the Ableism Toolkit, The UMC and the ADA

• Spring 2020 DMC: COVID resources - accessible on-line worship, advocating for equal health care rights in a time of rationing, outreach with members with intellectual and developmental disabilities, praying without words.

• February 2018 DMC: Employment-related ministries, Putting Faith to Work program

• November 2017 DMC: Giving Tuesday, DMC work, need, funding

• Fall 2017 Mental Health: Giving Tuesday, Mental Health Ministries

• Note: All prior issues are from the DMC and are disability-focused

• Spring 2017: Disability ministries and outreach in Spanish-speaking areas

• Fall 2016: Housing ministries offered by churches; Friendship House at Duke

• Summer 2016: Sibling support, children of disabled parents, parent support groups &  needs

• March 2016: Annual Conference Accessibility; Ableism in conference planning; Using captioning; Role of event accessibility coordinator; Resource tool kit for planning accessible meetings and events

• Winter 2014/ 2015: Strategies to make your church safe for people with invisible disabilities including severe food allergies, chemical sensitivity, and asthma

• Fall 2014: Ministries inclusive of children with disabilities, hints for sensory overload and sensory processing needs

• Summer 2014: The Mission u disability study and resources, updates from the DisAbility Ministries Committee

• Winter 2013/ 2014: How the church can prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies in ways that include and anticipate people with disabilities

• Fall 2013: International Methodist disability ministries, EDAN women and violence conference, Kenya Deaf mission trip

• Summer 2013: Updates from the joint meetings of the UM Committee on DisAbility Ministries and the UM Association of Ministers with Disabilities

• May 2013: Camping ministries: accessible challenge courses, autism workshop, ADA pool regulations, job creation

• March 2013: National and regional interfaith disability coalitions address mental health, offer education and support

• January 2013: Building a comprehensive dementia ministry; Important Committee social media updates

• November 2012: Spiritual supports & programs for people with intellectual disabilities; Jo D'Archangelis

• September 2012: Intentional hospitality; Kenya mission trip; 2012 Task Force meeting highlights

• Summer 2012: Certification program; Institute on Theology and Disability; Disability Open Mic; NAMI; Deaf camps

• April 2012: Updates on General Conference legislation, website, and conference disability committees

• March 2012: Pastors who are hard of hearing called to Deaf Ministry; UM Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing meeting; Technology for communication access

• February 2012: Medical equipment loan programs; Occupational therapists' and Parish nurses' roles in disability ministry

• January 2012: Church accessibility; Working with trustees; Platform lifts

• December 2011: Models of adapted worship, multi-sensory worship, Rejoicing Spirits

• November 2011: Ministers who are blind; Web accessibility

• September 2011: Ministry with Homeless Persons

• July / August 2011: Ramp-building Ministries

• June 2011: Members and Work of the Task Force

• May 2011: Inclusive and Accessible Camping Ministries

• April 2011: Reaching out to Young Adults with Disabilities

• March 2011: Disability Awareness Sunday

• 40 Low Cost or No Cost Ways to Improve Camp Accessibility

A

• Able Privilege Scorecard

• Ableism and Disability Glossary

• Ableist Microaggressions in Church Life

• Ableist Microaggressions Worksheet

• Accessibility in Hybrid Worship and Meetings

• Accessibility Tips:

• Accessible Parking Guidelines

• Accessible Restrooms on a Budget

• Calculating Slope

• Pew Cuts

• Suggested Audit Tools

• Accessible Church Badge Process

• Adapting a Building/ for Blind or Low Vision

• Adapting Activities for Campers with Hidden Disabilities

• Adapting Worship & Media for Blind and Low Vision

• Annual Accessibility Audit - Basics

• Anti-Ableism Resource List

• Anti-Ableist Liturgies

• Approaches to Dismantling Ableism

• Author’s Guide for DMC

B

• Badge Flyer Update 2024

• Braille, Audio, & Large Print Worship Materials

C

• Camp Accessibility Is For....

• Camp Mini-Audit: Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities

• Congregational Survey: Ministry with People with Disabilities

• Creating a Local Church Accessibility Committee

• Creating a Sunday School Where Every Child Belongs

• Creating Safe Sensory Spaces at Camp

• Creating Safe Sensory Spaces in Your Church

D

• DeafSpace Contributes to Universal Design

• Dementia-Friendly Worship Tools

• Disability Awareness Sunday FAQs

• Disability Committees

• Disability Etiquette Skit: “Can You Believe It?"

• Disability Ministries Overview

• Disability Rights and Justice Toolkit for the Disability Advocate

• Disability-Related Excerpts in the Book of Discipline 2016

• Disabilty Sunday Order of Worship by Rev. R Holland

• DMC Brochure 2022

• DMC Media Release Form

• DMC-Resource-Person-Roles

• DMC Website Use Policy

• Donate

E

• End Age and Disability-Related Marriage Penalties (Resolution)

• Engagement and Communication Practices:

• With a Person Who Has an Intellectual Disability

• With a Person Who has a Speech or Language Disability

• With Persons Who are Blind or Have Low Vision

• With Persons Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

• With Persons with Dementia

• With Persons Who Have Environmental Sensitivities

• With Persons with a Mental Health Condition

• With Persons with a Mobility Limitation or Physical Disability

• With Persons who are Neurodivergent

• With Persons who have Non-Visible Disabilities

• Environmental Sensitivities and Fragrance Reduction

• Event Accessibility:

• Event Accessibility A-Z Roadmap

• Event Accessibility: Accommodations Request

• Event Accessibility Coordinator Job Description

• Event Accessibility Guide for Speakers and Program Leaders

• Event Accessibility Planning and Set-up Checklist

• Event Accessibility Post Event Survey

F

• Find-a-Church Guidance

G

• Get Involved - Volunteer with the DMC

• God Created All Living Things Good Litany

• Guidance for Completing the “Annual Accessibility Audit for UM Churches

• Guide Dog & Service Animal Etiquette

H

• How to Gather Compelling Stories

L

• Liturgy for Blind Equality Achievement Month (L Yates)

M

• Making Sensory Items for Your Church

• Mailing Lists Sign-up Sheet

• Mental Health Sunday 1: Changing our Attitudes (Link to outside blog article)

O

• Obtaining Bronze or Silver Badge

• Obtaining Gold Badge

• Overcoming Ableism and Audism Resolution

• Overview of Audism (DHM)

P

• Prayer Mental Health Awareness (S Gregg-Schroeder)

• Prayer of Confession (SEMAR)

• Prayer of Confession for Ableism (K Roelofs/ CRCNA)

• Prayer of Sending (T Binford)

• Prayer of Thanksgiving (A. Larson)

• Prayer of the Day Using Inclusive Language (J D'Archangelis)

R

• Repentance for Support of Eugenics

• Resource Person Application

• Roles of the AC Disability Concerns Committee

S

• Safer Sanctuaries Disability Ministry Flyer

• Scripture - The Bible and Disabilities (list of OT and NT passages)

• Sermons: Accessible and Inclusive

• Songs and Hymns

T

• Teens and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities (curriculum)

• The Great Thanksgiving (P Johnson/T Burton-Edwards)

• Theology and Disability Ministry

U

• UMC Annual Accessibility Audit - 2024 version

• UMC Find-A-Church Guidance

• Understanding Ableism

• Understanding Sensory Processing Differences

V

• Virtual Worship is Here to Stay (T Vermande and others)

• Engagement & Communication Practices with Persons with a Speech or Language Disability

• Accessibility Tip: Ramps, Lifts, and Elevators

• Accessibility Tip: Lighting

• Appropriate Language in Discussing Mental Illness

• Blue Christmas

• Central Conference Disability Ministries (FAQ 13) DMC Grants program

• DMC Grant Application Sample

• DMC Grant application

• DMC Leadership

• Event Accessibility Extended Checklist

• Extend Worship to People with Disabilities

• Funding Resources for Church Accessibility Projects

• Global Accessibility Audit for Methodist Churches

• On Greeting Persons With Disabilities/Ushers and Greeters Manual

• Pastoral Prayer for Mental Health Sunday (H. Wilkin)

• Prayers you can use for Disability Awareness Sunday (R. Holland)

• Resources for Including Children with Disabilities and Their Families

• Twenty Practical Things Pastors and Churches Can Do to Welcome Families

• Universal Design Guidelines

• Ableism and Disability Glossary