Dr. Rebekah Dyer
is a professor in the college of education at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ. The courses that she teaches focus on special education. She is the faculty advisor for two clubs on campus; Best Buddies and Canyon Inclusive. Both clubs focus on the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Her dissertation research focused on the inclusion of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in disability ministry programs. She presented her research at an International Autism Conference in Nanjiing, China. Dr. Dyer is passionate about special education, specifically inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
Disability Ministry: Faith Connection
Churches that provide ministries specific to the needs of individuals with disabilities are impacting faith; the faith of the individuals with disabilities themselves and their parents or families. Being a parent of a child with a disability can be very overwhelming and lead to a disconnect with one’s faith due to the stress of the situation. Individuals with disability may struggle with their faith because of the struggles they face. This presentation will review how disability ministry can support faith by demonstrating God’s love to everyone involved, with examples of experiences from families and research. A discussion of specific strategies to support the participants of disability ministries and their families will be included as well.