Ohio Disability and Ministry Collaborative

Ohio Disability and Ministry Collaborative Empower churches to provide worship experiences inclusive of all people with various abilities.

This Collaborative is between the West Ohio Conference Disability Awareness team and Flat Rock Homes, in north central Ohio near Sandusky, a ministry of the East Ohio Conference. Most readers will know the West Ohio Conference, and here is a bit of information about Flat Rock Homes. Flat Rock Homes was founded as an Evangelical Association ministry in 1866. It became affiliated with the Evangelica

l United Brethren Church by merger in 1946 and eventually began a covenant relationship with the East Ohio Conference by merger and the founding of the present-day United Methodist Church in 1968. Flat Rock began as an orphanage serving “orphan train” children, and in 1978 changed its focus to minister to the needs of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Today, Flat Rock serves youth and adults with a variety of disabilities but with a special focus on adults with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities and severe behavioral disorders. The individuals and families served by Flat Rock come from 28 counties in Ohio, and Flat Rock currently serves 13 Ohio counties, including Seneca, Sandusky, Huron, Erie, Lorain, Wyandot, Morrow, Richland, Ashland, Crawford, Knox, Marion, and Ottawa Counties. Flat Rock’s Church & Community Engagement Coordinators, Rose M Darling, and UMW Deaconess Sherri Buehl reach out to churches and are available for speaking engagements in both the East and West Ohio Conferences.

05/29/2026

Studies show that children with “invisible” disabilities are the least likely to attend church, and many parents indicate that their neurodivergent children have been excluded at church.

One parent argues that the church needs a culture shift.

She writes, “Inclusion begins with recognizing that every person, regardless of ability, is created in the image of God and has gifts to offer the church community.”

From the CT archive: https://chrst.today/4vk7BMC

Our wonderful co chairs doing their part at the West Ohio Annual conference.
05/29/2026

Our wonderful co chairs doing their part at the West Ohio Annual conference.

Fabulous!
05/25/2026

Fabulous!

Instead of going low, let’s rise higher. 💙

A Place 2B Me is a nonprofit whose mission is to connect individuals with developmental disabilities to their community and create meaningful opportunities for belonging, relationships, and support. Along the way, we often see gaps and real needs that exist for many people around us.

Rather than focusing on negativity, we are choosing to focus on purpose. We believe kindness creates change, community creates connection, and action speaks louder than words.

Help us help others. 🫶🏻

Currently A Place 2B Me is working on creating Hygiene kits we can share with individuals when they are being placed in respite situations or placed in new living situations and they don’t have the items or resources needed to purchase these items yet. Everyone deserves dignity!

Walmart & Amazon wishlists to help:

https://www.walmart.com/registry/RR/abd50a71-fced-48ed-8e7f-09997b92994c

https://a.co/099tS80F

We are also working on a Community Hub project that we are building in partnership with Old Brook High School Students & Eagle Scouts at our office located at the United Methodist Church of Brook Park. These items on the Walmart list can also be used to fill up our friendship fence. This community hub gives those with developmental disabilities a chance to give back to the very community that supports them & also gain skills while also connecting with others in the community!

Check out the community hub:
https://heyzine.com/flip-book/d9848be633.html

If you want to support our Community Hub project or help us create hygiene kits for those in need, we’d love to have you join us. Please reach out to us!

*donations can dropped off in the bin behind the church.

A UMC Church in Kentucky is providing space for
04/30/2026

A UMC Church in Kentucky is providing space for

Families who once felt there was no place for them are finding something different at Crestwood UMC. Through sensory-friendly spaces and intentional care, this ministry is creating room for belonging, connection, and faith to take root.

Autism, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia and other Neurodivergence is not a fancy word for mentally ill.
04/17/2026

Autism, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia and other Neurodivergence is not a fancy word for mentally ill.

Room for Everyone!
04/16/2026

Room for Everyone!

1 in 4 people in the U.S. lives with a disability—yet
many are still missing from our churches.

What if that changed?

What if every church truly treated every person
as indispensable? What if we created spaces
where everyone feels safe, included, and
empowered to fully participate?

In Luke 14, Jesus paints a picture of a table
where everyone is invited, welcomed, and
honored—no exceptions.

Let’s be the church that makes room

Truth!
03/02/2026

Truth!

Disability ministry is more than that one class at the very end of the hall. Disability is discipleship and should be every bit a part of the church's DNA.

Address

32 Wesley Boulevard
Worthington, OH
43085

Website

http://www.flatrockhomes.org/, http://www.umcdmc.org/

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