Formerly called
ADNotes, this is a publication of Anabaptist Disabilities Network. Feel free to reproduce these handouts as long as they are distributed without charge and due credit is given to ADN.
By Ruth Detweiler, a
founder of No Longer Alone Ministries in Pennsylvania
and a former ADN board member.
ADN Handout Youth Ministry and Disability.pdf Youth ministry is as much about
building relationships as it is about programming. Building supportive
relationships and effective programming require
an understanding of and appreciation for who
our youth are.
ADN Handout Autism Spectrum Disorder.pdf The playful name, "Oops…Wrong Planet!
Syndrome,” given to Asperger Syndrome by some
persons with AS, suggests that such persons may
perceive the challenges of relating to those who do not
have an autism spectrum disorder or other
neurological difference as even greater than those of
crossing cultures.
ADN Handout Exile and Community.docx.pdf The Challenge of Building Community
that includes persons with
disabilities and mental illness often involves significant
challenges. Communities like to stress their strengths
and commonalities. Persons with disabilities often
present apparent weaknesses and obvious
differences.
ADN Handout Hope in Crisis.pdf Keeping Hope Alive in Crisis: Extremely challenging behavior in a loved one can
leave us confused and exhausted. Even in the midst
of such difficulties, God is present and eager to guide
us. The following tips helped me keep hope alive
during the challenge of raising a child who lives with
autism and schizophrenia.
ADN Handout Technology.pdf In today’s world, technology has great potential to
make it easier for persons living with disabilities to participate
in the body of Christ. That potential can be
compromised, however, if congregations overlook the
problems technology can present for people who see
or hear less well than average.
ADN Handout Childrens Mental Health.pdf Mental Health in Children and Youth: As we enter church on Sunday morning, the call to
worship or song of gathering invites us to bring all that
we are. Yet for some, the complications of our lives
may seem too big to bring to church and to explain to
the faith community. For children living with mental
health problems and their families, it may seem easier
to leave the issue of mental health at the door.
ADN Handout on Preaching.pdf Preaching Can Enhance and Expand Ministry with
People who Have Disabilities
By Joni S. Sancken, Assistant Professor of Homiletics,
United Theological Seminary, Dayton Ohio. "At its best, preaching tells the truth and bears witness
to the gospel, the good news.... Here we explore three opportunities for
preachers to support and minister with people of
differing abilities."
ADN Handout Aging and Disabilities.pdf Disabilities in Aging:
As we grow older, we find that we gradually
develop disabilities. In the church they may escape
the awareness of others and often are dismissed as
an inevitable part of growing old.
People adopt mechanisms for coping...
ADN Handout Changing Attitudes.pdf 5 Stages: The Journey of Disability Attitudes:
The metaphor of journey is one way to describe
the attitudes we hold toward persons with disabilities.
Our attitudes are capable of change as we journey
through life.
Stigmatizing Beliefs .pdf What does the Bible say about mental illness? Our beliefs about mental illness can be stigmatizing or liberating.
