Have you considered writing for Breaking Barriers?

Breaking Barriers newsletter has a print circulation of about 80,000 print copies per quarter plus over 2500 electronic subscriptions to Christian Reformed and Reformed Church in America churches and many individuals. Here’s what we are planning for the next issue, and we’d love to have your contributions.

Winter 2021—Young people with disabilities
In Canada and the United States, about 13 percent of people ages 15–30 live with a disability. Are you one of them? Please tell us a story (up to 400 words) about living with a disability when nearly 90 percent of your peers do not. Send your submission by November 8, 2021.

Disability Awareness Sunday

Resources for Disability Week and Disability Sunday 2021

We encourage all churches to recognize Disability Awareness Sunday this October to demonstrate that all members of their congregation are valued. The Reformed Church in America celebrates Disability Sunday on October 10 and the Christian Reformed Church on October 17. Our theme this year is: Who’s missing in my church.

Disability Concerns Canada October Series:
Everybody Belongs, Serving Together

Interested in diving in and engaging in conversations that are key to Everybody Belongs, Serving Together? Great! Join us every Thursday evening in October, when we host a series focused on unpacking material from this book with key people engaged in the work of disability advocacy. Though hosted by Disability Concerns Canada, it’s open to friends in the U.S. and beyond. We look forward to having you join us!

Truth and Reconciliation

Reflections for National Truth and Reconciliation Day

September 30th 2021 marked the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. It coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots commemoration marked by the wearing of Orange Shirts for children forced to leave their families and attend residential schools. As Disability Concerns, we lament the significant loss of life that has occurred through the residential school system as well as the abuse that so many innocent children suffered during their time there.

We are thankful for the CRC Canadian Indigenous Ministry Committee for creating this guided reflection for us.

Disability Advocacy Journey Update

The Disability Advocacy Journey has begun!

Our first Disability Advocacy Journey session was a great success! Participants, practitioners, coaches and staff came together to start the journey. If you or a young adult you know is interested in learning more about disability advocacy, we'll be offering another opportunity for training soon. Please let us know if you are interested, and we'll get in touch when plans are in place.

Mental Health Matters

Book Study Guide: Finding Jesus in the Storm
(Mental Health Resource)

October 10th is World Mental Health Day. Raising awareness around mental health is so important. One way to start a conversation on mental health in your community would be to host a book club. Recently, our ministry hosted a book club based on the book by Prof. John Swinton, Finding Jesus in the Storm: The Spiritual Lives of Christians with Mental Health Challenges. We created a book club guide for this book that is available to everyone. Start a healthy conversation around mental health today!

Donate Now

Thank You for Your Support!

Without monetary support for Disability Concerns, we wouldn’t be able to share these stories. To help us ensure that “everybody belongs and everybody serves,” would you please consider praying for us and making a financial contribution? It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s a gracious and beautiful act of obedience.

You can donate to the ongoing work of Disability Concerns at the CRCNA here.

You can donate to the ongoing work of Disability Concerns at the RCA here.