Here you’ll find my hands-on teaching and prayer resources for children and families with disabilities. I strive to connect families with disabilities with full church life through the deep resources of our faith. If it’s by me, I have test-driven it and found it helpful for our autistic family or my students with disabilities. In the lower part of this page, you’ll find links to pages and posts about disability life in the Orthodox Church and in Christian life with disabilities generally, with an emphasis on ministry and church life with children and families.
ACCESSIBLE CHURCH SCHOOL book (affiliate link)
Stomp The Snake: Prayer of St. Ephraim Accessible Church School Routine
Enhanced Show & Tell in Accessible Church School Classrooms
Romans 8:28 Art Journaling Starter Kit Explore the scripture creatively to prepare for the 2023-2024 Creative Arts Festival.
How To Clean A Room Visual Checklist
Exalting the Valley of Disability (Antiochian East PLC 2021) Includes video of the presentation plus MANY resources.
Nurturing Independence in Prayer (GOARCH Center for Family Care Fully Human Webinar)
6 Ways to Help Calm a Meltdown at Church
Visual Schedule for the (Western Rite) Divine Liturgy of St. Gregory
Welcoming People with ADD/ADHD at Church
Improved Visual Schedule for the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
Resources for 7 Best Practices for Therapeutic Homeschool webinar (includes several free printables)
Allergen Check List Free Printable Print & display alongside foods at social gatherings.
Hands-On Church School Curriculum Example Month If you want to see what a truly accessible and inclusive Sunday school class pattern looks like, check this out. Follow my Instagram account for examples of the accessible church school approach in action.
Accessible Prayer Corner Tutorial
Jesus Prayer Matching Printable
Can People With Disabilities Be Happy?
Prayer Book With Visual Prayers
Everyday Orthodox with Elissa Bjeletich Podcast “Meet Summer Kinard”
Faith Encouraged Live Podcast “Making Room for Everyone This Christmas”
Autism-Accessible Sunday School Lesson: Silent Night
Holiday Tips For Special Needs Families
Flexible Orthodox Liturgy Schedule
7 Ways to Act on Your Autism Awareness in Church
Church Bag Printables to Improve Focus – Holy Week Version
The 5 Differences in Autism Homeschools
Sensory Diet Checklist for Your Church
Church Bag Tour : see what’s in our church bag that helps us through Liturgy.
Bible Study Communication Board
Visual Schedules for Orthodox Liturgy
Visual Schedule for Roman Catholic Mass
Visual Schedule for Episcopal Eucharist Rite Two
Visual Lord’s Prayer and Evidence-Based Resource Links
Church Social Communication Board to aid participation in church life.
Prayer Board for Concrete Thinkers
Awetism Etsy Shop with ready-made austism church resources (ON HIATUS)
Free Prodigal Son Hands-On Sunday School Lesson for concrete thinkers.
Always Lent blog for Orthodox Christians living with dietary restrictions.
The Logos for My Nonverbal Son guest post on Catherine’s Pascha blog.
Halloween for Children with Special Needs on Catherine’s Pascha blog, a post to which I contributed.
Other Sites That Cover Life With Disabilities in the Orthodox Church
Caregiver Conversations (Alana Sheldahl)
Illumination Learning Church School Seminar on Special Needs (Jennifer Hock)
Additional Online Resources
Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops: Disability and Communion
St. Nicholas Program Special Needs Family Camp
Autism and Orthodoxy – A Few Notes by Arlyn Kantz
Hidden Disabilities Keep Kids Out of Church
The Church and the Child With Hidden Disabilities
Families of Children With Special Needs Resources
Dear Church, People With Disabilities Matter by Ellen Stumbo
What are the Stats on Disability and Church?
The Association of Religious Data Archives
Congregational Accessibility Network Resources for Orthodox
Baylor University Guide to Making Churches Accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Faith Encouraged Live Podcast “Making Room For Everyone This Christmas”
Family Matters Podcast “Special Needs Families”
The Prayer Team Podcast “Special Message on Inclusion and Special Needs”
Love and Food Allergies at Church
How My Faith and Autism Activism Go Hand in Hand article by Michael Lado
