Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families

by Sandra Peoples, Joni Eareckson Tada (Foreword)

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

An estimated one in 5 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. Through expert advice and practical examples, she shows ministry leaders how they can make their spaces—and the gospel—accessible to all.

 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  Peoples draws from her years of expertise as well as her personal experience as a caregiver A Great Resource for Churches and  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  Including Down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, anxiety, ADHD, and trauma-related issues Includes a Foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Sandra Peoples loves to write. A writing contest sponsored by Ebony/Jet Magazine in the late 80's helped assure Sandra that she could definitely be a writer. A paper she wrote for her high school English class containing a Post-it note saying, 'This is really good; you should get this published', only gave her more affirmation. Since 2005 Sandra has been blazing a path to make her dreams come true with her pen and a computer. From her stories of fiction, to the content she writes online, she uses the power of the written word to change lives, inspire, motivate and entertain. When she is not writing, she is teaching others how to step out with their gifts and talents in pursuit of their own dreams. Sandra hails from Flint, Michigan, and is mom to two girls, Jashimbra and Aaliyah.