Teens and Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Being in Ministry with all people
The Disability Ministries Committee (DMC) has been working to address the need
for age-appropriate materials for youth or adults with intellectual disabilities. We
have started a curriculum that has been used successfully by several
congregations, called the “Flames Faith Development and Confirmation Curriculum
for Teens and Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.” Materials
are written at a 3-4th grade reading level, but are designed to be of interest to
youth and adults.
Lessons include songs from the United Methodist Hymnal, Chuck Knows Church
videos, Bible verses, discussion, prayer, and hands-on activities. The lessons may
need to be modified for the reading and comprehension level of your participants.
This curriculum is a work in progress. We are open to volunteers who will write
additional units or adapt existing units to meet a broader set of learning styles and
needs.
Background
The Flames and The Well groups in Minnesota and Matthew’s Ministry in Kansas
are churches in vibrant ministry with people who have intellectual disabilities. If
your church has a ministry to share, please contact information@umcdmc.org.
Flames Sunday School and confirmation series engages and prepares teens and
adults of all abilities to participate in worship and church life. While designed for
use in classes for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
it can also supplement materials in inclusive classes designed for typical students.
Use these lessons in any order in your church setting, to help Christians relate to
others at church, home, work, school, and the community. They are provided free
of charge, although if you find them useful, please consider a donation to help
fund and continue our work.
One pastor taught the communion lesson a
week prior to starting having members who
were autistic or had brain injuries and
intellectual disabilities serve as communion
servers.
“God Across Cultures” continues the
confirmation series by sharing about other
religions, cultures, and denominations.
Faith Development Overview and Lessons
God Across Cultures Overview and Lessons
Using the Bible
It is helpful to use Bible translations that include more familiar words. You may
find that the following translations are easier for participants to follow than the
typical NRSV or NIV versions:
Bible Gateway allows you to look up any passage. Try out the Easy-to-Read version, God’s Word Version, and the EasyEnglish version. The site also offers audio Bibles for persons with difficulty reading the text.
Easy English Bible is a fully on-line version.
The New International Reader's Version is written at the 3rd grade level, and is available on-line at Bible Study Tools.
Preparing the Congregation for Inclusion
You will also want to work with the congregation as a whole to ensure that
everyone experiences a true welcome and has opportunities to serve and join in
fellowship as well as worship. The downloadable document by the Vanderbilt
Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, Welcoming People
with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families: A Practical Guide for
Congregations, offers many tips.
The book Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service
Providers, Families, and Congregations by Erik W. Carter (2007), Baltimore: Paul H.
Brookes, is full of useful information.
By Debby Newman; updated by Deaconess Lynn Swedberg 9/10/2024
The Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church is a partner ministry
of the General Commission on Religion and Race