{"id":11768,"date":"2025-12-08T18:29:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/?page_id=11768"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:58:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T18:58:57","slug":"disability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/disability\/","title":{"rendered":"Disability Ministries Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Disability Ministries<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Assess Accessibility<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Commit to an annual accessibility audit for your church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start Your Audit\u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Choose any Sunday in July to help your congregation recognize and celebrate disability as part of God\u2019s diverse creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plan Your Service\u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Watch and Learn<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Watch recorded webinars on disability inclusion from the Center for Leadership Excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch Now\u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Explore Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Access connectional resources to strengthen disability ministry in your congregation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explore the Connection\u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What is an Accessibility Audit?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

An accessibility audit is an review of a church\u2019s building, grounds, and facilities to identify physical, architectural, or communication barriers that may limit full participation. An annual audit is required by the Book of Discipline<\/em> (\u00b62533.6) and helps congregations identify practical steps to improve accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Completes the Audit? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The board of trustees is responsible for the audit, but is encouraged to include people with disabilities, family members, and professionals with relevant expertise, such as builders, architects, or rehabilitation specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Support is Available?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The UMC Disability Ministries Committee offers a fillable PDF audit, step-by-step guidelines, small accessibility grants, and a variety of resources to help congregations address accessibility concerns effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Download Audit<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
View Guide and Resources<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Learn about Accessibility Grants<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Disability Awareness Sunday is a celebration of the gifts and graces of people with disabilities and a call to deepen our commitment to full inclusion of persons with disabilities (Book of Discipline<\/em> \u00b6265.4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United Methodist Disability Ministries Committee offers a full set of ready-to-use worship materials\u2014an order of worship, liturgies, songs, a children\u2019s message, and more\u2014to help congregations plan a meaningful service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NC Conference invites congregations to choose any Sunday in July to celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday. Because July is also Disability Pride Month, it provides a particularly fitting opportunity to honor disability as part of God\u2019s diverse creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For churches in a pastoral transition, these resources also make it easy to plan a laity-led service early in the month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Disability Awareness Sunday Resources<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Why Celebrate?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Watch and Learn<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

When the NC Conference Disability Ministries committee concluded its work, the Center for Leadership Excellence picked up the mantle. Since 2022, we have offered regular webinars to equip churches in creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for people of all abilities, providing practical strategies, inspiration, and tools for disability ministries in faith communities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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