Ideas for Celebrating Disability Awareness Sunday

IDEASFORCELEBRATINGDISABILITYAWARENESSSUNDAY

WhycelebrateDisabilityAwarenessSunday?

BecauseTheBookofDiscipline(P265.4)states: “DisabilityAwarenessSundayshallbeobservedannuallyonadatetobedeterminedbytheannualconference. DisabilityAwarenessSundaycallstheChurchtocelebratethegiftsandgracesofpersonswithdisabilitiesandcallstheChurchandsocietytofullinclusionofpersonswithdisabilitiesinthecommunity.”

Becausethechurchisnotcompleteunlessallofusarepresentandincluded.

HowshouldwecelebrateDisabilityAwarenessSunday?

Eachchurchisdifferent. Startwithaplanningcommitteeandtargettheneedsofyourlocalcommunity. Completeanaccessibilityaudit-involvethetrusteesandothergroups,includingpersonswithdisabilities. Findwaystomakeyourchurchasaccessibleaspossible.Forinstance,rentaramptothechancel,hireaninterpreter,holdtheserviceoutdoorsorinanaccessiblepartofthechurch,borrowassistedlisteningdevices,printsomeofthebulletinsinalarger/bolderfont,andremindparishionerstoavoidwearingfragrances.

Reachoutintothecommunitytoinvitepersonswithdisabilitiesandtheirfamiliestoparticipateintheworshipserviceandeducationalofferings. Becreativeinlocatingpeoplethroughpreschoolprograms,deafservicecenters,rehabilitationcenters,vocationalrehabilitationoffices,ADAcomplianceoffices,etc. Placeanoticeinthenewspaper.Offertransportationtopersonswhonolongerdriveaswellaspersonsinnearbygrouphomesornursinghomes.

TypicalactivitiesincludeaworshipservicethemedaroundGod’sloveandacceptanceofallofusandanadultforumonlivingwithadisabilityorsimilartopic. Offerthechildrenachancetomeetpeoplewithdisabilities,touseawheelchairandcrutches,andtolearnsignlanguage. TakeanofferingforGoldenCrossSundayorforanaccessibilityprojectforyourcongregationorcommunity. Finishwithapotluckforfellowship. Encouragepeopletobringfoodsthateveryonecanenjoy,includinghealthylow-sugar,low-sodium,low-fatfoods. Havemembersbringacopyoftherecipetosharesootherscancopyfavoriterecipesandcheckforfoodstheymaybeallergicto.

WhatareresourcesfordevelopingyourDisabilityAwarenessSunday?

• ThereareresourcesincludingaliturgyontheUMCORHealthwebsiteat
• TheCenteronAgingOlderAdultMinistriesoftheGeneralBoardofDiscipleshiphas a variety of resources for the problems faced by this age group, as well as worship ideas. Find these at
• AbriefarticlesuitableforaMissionMomentisat
• TheAmericanAssociationofPersonswithDisabilitiesInterfaithInitiativehasprintresourcesonchurchaccessibilityandinclusiveworship.Checktheirwebsiteat
• JoniandFriendspublishesDisabilityMinistrySunday,akitcontainingmanyprogramideasandresourcestohelpyouplanyourevent. Theyhaveanon-linechurchaccessibilityaudit. See