Children are not little angels nor are they spiritual savants:
People with disabilities are not specially gifted to be in communion with God. This is often the narrative that adults place on people with disabilities.
Rather we are people who may catch a glimpse of God from our different vantage point and uniquely share it with those around us.
The parents are specially gifted by God with this child because they can handle it:
To tell a parent that God only chooses special people to have disabled children borders on cruel. They hold the child through meltdowns while trying desperately not to melt down. They call out to God and ask when will it get better. They need community to walk with them and support them.
Theology & Disability Podcast List
Disability Comes to Church – A podcast that looks at the intersection of faith and disabilities. The church and do better at welcoming and including people with disabilities and I want to help.
Disability language and theology, with Rev Katie Tupling (Roots for Churches – Episode 7)
Honest Conversations about Disability and the Church (The Millennial Pastor – Episode
Theology & Disability Reading List
Overview of Disability & Theology Reading List
Disability in the Christian Tradition (Brock & Swinton)
Becoming the Baptized Body (Sara Jean Barton)
The Disabled God: Toward A Liberation Theology of Disability (Eiesland)
Vulnerable Communion (Reynolds)
From Inclusion to Justice (Raffety)
Disabling Leadership (Draper)
Mental Health Reading List
Finding Jesus in the Storm (Swinton)
Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression (Coblentz)
Christ on the Psych Ward (Finnegan-Hosey – Personal Story)
Down Syndrome & Theology Reading List
Theology and Down Syndrome (YouArmand Leon van van Omenng)
Autism & Theology Reading List
Autism and the Church (Macaskil)
Disability and the Church (Hardwick)
Autism and Worship (van Ommen)
On the Spectrum (Bowman – Personal story)
Traumatic Brain Injury & Theology Reading List
Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefulness, and Gentle Discipleship (Swinton)
Dementia: Living in the Memories of God (Swinton)
Disability, Providence and Ethics (Reinders)
Practical Theology of Disability Reading List
Of Such Is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability (Kinard)
Included and Valued (Hathaway & Kishekwa)
The Inclusive Atrium 