How Churches of Every Size Can Create Inclusive Ministry Spaces for People with Disabilities

An estimated one in five households has a child with a disability.

Many of these families miss out on church due to a lack of physical or social accommodations.

And while ministry leaders want to help, they often don’t know how to with limited space, budget, and trained volunteers. Churches must understand the challenges that disability families face so they can remove barriers to biblical fellowship.

Sandra Peoples, a disability ministry consultant and professor, has equipped hundreds of churches, large and small, to reach children and teens who have various cognitive disabilities, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and behavioral and mental health diagnoses. Caring for disabled family members of her own, she understands what it takes to create a welcoming, inclusive space that supports children with a variety of diagnoses into adulthood.

Read Sample Stories from the Book

Through expert advice and practical examples, she shows ministry leaders how they can make their spaces—and the gospel—accessible to all.

Practical Direction

Features creative ways that churches can adapt their teaching style, classrooms, safety policies, and more to accommodate special needs families.

Written by an Experienced Consultant and Professor

Sandra Peoples draws from her years of expertise as well as her personal experience as a caregiver.

A Great Resource for Churches and Families

Ideal for pastors and volunteers in children’s ministry, family ministry, disability ministry, and more, as well as parents of children with disabilities.

Addresses a Variety of Needs

Including Down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma-related issues.

I applaud Sandra’s work in Accessible Church. Her book will help you win the heart of your church for disability ministry.

– Joni Eareckson Tada

What Others Are Saying

“Theologically grounded and deeply practical, Accessible Church will give clear direction to any church that desires to be welcoming and accessible to people with disabilities and their families. I’m grateful for Sandra Peoples’s advocacy on behalf of families like mine and creating ways for all people to experience God’s plans, purposes, and blessings through disability.”

Laura Wifler

Mom to a child with a disability; author of Like Me: A Story About Disability and Discovering God’s Image in Every Person

“As a father of a son with a disability, I’ve seen firsthand the profound beauty and challenges that come with raising a child who doesn’t fit the world’s narrow definition of ‘normal.’ But Sandra Peoples reminds us in Accessible Church that God’s grace shines brightest in our weakness. Sandra weaves together theology, personal experience, and practical wisdom to show how every church can be a place where the gospel reaches and transforms everyone. This is more than a book; it’s an invitation to see God’s glory in unexpected places.”

Shane Pruitt

National Next Gen Director, North American Mission Board; author of 9 Common
Lies Christians Believe

“Sandra Peoples has provided a biblically grounded and clinically aware guide to disability ministry. As the dad of a young adult with autism, I was moved by the compassion and intentionality expressed in Accessible Church. As a church leader, I’m grateful for a resource that’s practical and scalable for congregations of different sizes and budgets. This will be my go-to recommendation for churches looking to start or mature a ministry to special-needs children, students, adults, and their families.”

Jared Kennedy

Managing Editor for Books and Curriculum, The Gospel Coalition; author of The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible and Keeping Your Children’s Ministry on Mission

“Few churches are equipped to welcome our brothers and sisters with disabilities, not because we don’t want to but because we don’t know how. Sandra Peoples wants to help churches be well prepared for the task. Her pioneering work is a gift to the church. If you are a pastor who desires to serve saints with disabilities, you and your staff need this book.”

Daniel Darling

Director, The Land Center for Cultural Engagement; author of The Dignity Revolution and Agents of Grace

“Sandra Peoples has given us a plethora of practical steps in this important book. Her many years of living with people with disabilities and working ‘in the trenches’ has produced wisdom that she translates effectively into pragmatic, down-to-earth models for ministry in the church. The church needs to read, absorb, and apply this wisdom. I am grateful Sandra has labored long to produce this faithful resource, and I recommend it heartily and with gratitude.”

Michael S. Beates

Chaplain and Bible Teacher, The Geneva School; author of Disability and the Gospel

“Every church should be accessible to everyone. In Accessible Church, Sandra Peoples casts a compelling vision of the why and how of becoming more accessible to the disabled community. Read this book, but more importantly, do whatever it takes to implement the wisdom it contains.”

Kyle Idleman

Senior Pastor, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky

Sandra Peoples, Author and Disability Advocate

Meet the Author

Sandra Peoples (M Div) is the disability ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and an adjunct professor for Liberty University, teaching classes in disability ministry. Sandra is currently a PhD candidate at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for disability families. She is the author of Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families and Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family She and her family live outside of Houston, TX. You can connect with her at sandrapeoples.com.

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"Jesus's healings do more than restore sight or mobility or health. They also restore relationships and communities." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"We can break down barriers and invite those without access to come close to Jesus and be part of our church families." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"For children with invisible disabilities, the ways we help them are often invisible as well." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"God is going to grow our disability ministry at the rate we are willing and available to serve families with care. The more support we have, the more we can expand. And that support includes training every volunteer on the best practices for inclusion." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"Our kids (as well as teens and adults) have three needs to be comfortable in our ministry environments: safety, social, connection, and success." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"When a family hears a diagnosis for their child, they need the support of their church---from Christ-followers who believe that every person is made in the image of God, that God created each person on purpose with a plan for his or her life, and that everyone has value regardless of the person's ability level." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"With a record number of young adults with developmental disabilities graduating from school and still needing care, let's make sure our inclusive ministries don't stop with their transition out of children's ministry of their graduation from high school." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples

"Becoming an accessible church is the first step. Letting people know you're accessible is the second step." Accessible Church by Sandra Peoples