Promote Disability Awareness

We are all very different people, yet Christ accepts us all.

Free Worship and Educational Materials

Put developmental disability awareness into action at your church or school with Bethesda's free worship and educational materials. Our Developmental Disability Awareness package includes posters, bible studies, sermon notes, a litany and a bulletin insert.

Request awareness materials online!

Below is a list of links to other resources on our site that can help you promote disability awareness.

• Become a Bethesda Advocate - The Advocate Program is a group of volunteers who are reaching out to share His love by distributing information about Bethesda and our services to members of their congregations.
• Parish Ministry Consultants (PMCs) - Bethesda's PMCs can share success stories and discuss disability-related issues with your congregation or school.
• Youth games and activities - The Youth section of our site offers games and downloadable activities to promote disability awareness among children.
• Religious education materials - Bethesda's Religious Education Catalog offers a variety of religious education books and videotapes designed for disability ministry.
• Bethesda's publications - Bethesda publishes an array of magazines and newsletters for anyone interested in learning more about disabilities.

Many congregations make a special effort to promote disability awareness. Below are ways in which Mary Jane Brown's congregation promotes awareness. Keep in mind, even though March is National Developmental Disability Awareness Month, you can promote disability awareness all year long.

Planting SEEDS of Inclusion

Mary Jane Brown was instrumental in creating the Sharing Education Experiences in Disability (SEED) class at Praise Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Ind. The class meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month during the school year, and includes music by the church’s youth band, a Bible lesson, a snack and a closing prayer. Brown invites all who attend SEED classes to church services, events and dinner, and does so by personal invitation.

“Mary Jane has great compassion for individuals with developmental disabilities,” says Rev. Fredrick Hearn, pastor of Praise Lutheran Church. “She goes out of her way to make them feel that they belong here, and has done a great job including many of the individuals with developmental disabilities into the life of our congregation.”

“You can see the love she has for them and her example has rubbed off on the congregation as a whole. Because of her involvement, the individuals with developmental disabilities have been accepted and loved by our congregation. It has been a fantastic ministry.”

Story excerpted from Bethesda's Bulletin Insert.