Masking and Belonging: Supporting Teens with Disabilities

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Teen disability ministry is a forgotten area between children's and adult ministries that deserves more attention. Teenagers with disabilities often engage in "masking"—hiding their natural behaviors to fit in—which prevents them from fully being who God created them to be.

• Over 65 million Americans have a disability (25% of population), but over 80% aren't in churches
• Teenagers primarily want to fit in, making disability and diversity challenging in these years
• Masking is a survival mechanism teens use to avoid bullying, stigma, and misunderstandings
• Logical/rigid thinking common in some disabilities creates special challenges with teenage communication
• Creating inclusive environments requires peer support networks and parental collaboration
• Churches should celebrate neurodiversity and validate each person's contributions
• Teens with disabilities need opportunities to discover and use their spiritual gifts
• The message we must convey: "You are loved, valued, have purpose, and belong"

For deeper dives into these topics and more, check out indispensable-people.com and visit Amazon to purchase the books the Indispensable Kid and Gospel Accessibility and the Indispensable People.