February 18, 2025

Church Support, Disability Ministry, Families, Parents

Key Ministry

Creating a Church Where Everyone Belongs

It’s no surprise that I eventually became a teacher, working in inclusive classrooms where children with diverse abilities learned side by side. Later, I became a mom, got deeply connected to my church, and—as often happens when you volunteer a lot—joined the staff. I served as a preschool leader, children’s pastor, and multi-campus ministry leader. I’ve had so many wonderful days leading kids, parents, and volunteers. But one of the hardest days came not as a leader but as a church attendee.

February 13, 2025

ADHD, Autism, Book Reviews, Care and Support, Caregiving, Hidden Disabilities, Parents, podcast

Elaina Marchenko

Finding KiND with Kari Baker: Podcast EP 136

Elaina sits down with Kari Baker, author of Finding KiND: Discovering Hope and Purpose While Loving Kids with Invisible Neurological Differences, and talks about special needs parenting, autism spectrum, and supporting other families on the same journey.

February 11, 2025

Care and Support, Stories, Special Needs Parenting, Parents

Stephanie McKeever

What Pediatric Cancer Taught Me

Our first day on the ninth floor, the doctors never said, "Your child has cancer." You know those childhood cancer commercials that tug at your heart? Never happened. My husband received a phone call that confirmed a biopsy, but once we were on the oncology floor, the word cancer was never uttered. Medical textbook words were used, and the rush was definitely on. We knew exactly what was happening without ever being explicitly told in those basic words.

February 6, 2025

#Disability&theChurch2025, Care and Support, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Families, Event, podcast, Sandra Peoples

Sandra Peoples

Help for Planning 2025: Podcast EP 135

It’s February, and we’ve all somewhat settled into 2025 and are ready to look ahead to what the year will bring. To help you prepare for your church’s steps of accessibility and inclusive events, we’ve created a Ministry Planning Calendar! In this episode, Sandra Peoples will walk you through ideas for planning ahead and praying for what God will do in 2025.

January 30, 2025

#Disability&theChurch2025, Advocacy, Autism, Care and Support, Caregiving, Church Support, Disability Ministry, Down syndrome, Hope, podcast

Elaina Marchenko

Supporting Families Affected by Disability with ...

Elaina Marchenko sits down with Rachael VerMeulen from A Little Extra Love Ministries to talk about the reality for families affected by special needs, the need for disability support in Colorado, and what Rachael will be sharing at Disability & the Church Conference.

Special needs family

Stephanie McKeever

February 11, 2025

Care and Support, Stories, Special Needs Parenting, Parents

What Pediatric Cancer Taught Me

Stephanie McKeever

February 11, 2025

Care and Support, Stories, Special Needs Parenting, Parents

Jolene Philo

November 15, 2024

Caregiving

November Is Family Caregiver Awareness Month

Jolene Philo

November 15, 2024

Caregiving

November Is Family Caregiver Awareness Month

November is Caregiver Awareness Month. As someone who became one of my dad’s caregivers before I started school, I grew up thinking everyone in the world was aware of caregivers and caregiving. As a young adult my husband and I cared for a son born with a life-threatening medical condition, and his typical sibling. As members of the sandwich generation, my brother, sister, and I cared for our mother for 15 years after she was diagnosed with dementia. This explains why, when I first heard that November is Caregiver Awareness Month, I was incredulous, and I still am.