Dear Church,
You might not know this, but I have a disability. I want to be in church; I really do. But some weeks it is very hard to be here. My disability goes everywhere I go: to work, to school, to the grocery store, to the dentis, and to church.
Some people might already know that I have a disability, but most times, you cannot tell if someone has a disability just by looking at them. Because my disability may be unknown to you, there may be things you do not understand. If you did understand my perspective, perhaps I would feel more seen, known, loved, and included.
I have depression. I’m late to service because getting out of bed takes all I have.
I have anxiety. My inner voice often tells me I am not good enough to experience God’s love and grace.
I have ADHD. Passively sitting through a sermon feels unbearable.
I have sensory processing disorder. Your intense lights and sounds can be overwhelming.
I have autism. I am stressed by a change in routine or sudden change of plans.
I have a learning disability. I often get lost listening to long monologues without visual aides or engaging questions.
I have bipolar. Sometimes I miss church because I was up all night the night before and could not get to sleep, no matter how hard I tried.
I have vision loss. Sometimes the font size and style in the weekly bulletin is too small or too busy.
I have hearing loss. Background noise can be distracting and confusing.
I have a wheelchair for mobility. Your restrooms are difficult for me to maneuver around in.
I have a traumatic brain injury. There is no space for my caretaker to sit next to me in church.
I have dyslexia. Reading Bible passages aloud to my Sunday school class can be very stressful.
I have a compromised immune system. It is safer for me to access church online.
I have an intellectual disability. It is difficult for me to find a Bible study to join.
I live in a group home. I have limited transportation to and from church.
I am a member of the body of Christ. I long to be seen, known, loved, and included in my church.
Sincerely,
25% of the US Population Affected By Disability
