Who Do I Work With?

As you seek to understand how to help individuals with disabilities strengthen their faith and receive the blessings of the gospel, remember that the members themselves and their families or other caregivers are generally the best resource for information. They know about the strengths and challenges that come with a specific disability and can help you identify if help is needed and how to best support them. From there, you can work with them and with the ward disability specialist, if one is called, to discuss specific plans to provide love and support to members with disabilities and their families or other caregivers.

Members with Disabilities

Build sincere relationships with members with disabilities in your stake to help them feel loved and help them come unto Christ.

Families and Other Caregivers of Individuals with Disabilities

Develop trusting relationships with the families or other caregivers of members with disabilities. Keep in mind that they may need physical, spiritual, and emotional support as well as rest from their daily routine.

Ward Disability Specialists

Provide support and encouragement to ward disability specialists, if any are called. Meet with them frequently to discuss their needs and accomplishments.

Leaders and Teachers of Individuals with Disabilities

Counsel together with organization and priesthood quorum leaders and teachers about what types of accommodations and modifications could be made in lessons, visuals, and activities to make sure that all lessons and activities are inclusive.
You may be prompted to discuss with ward leaders the benefit of a lesson that focuses on helping leaders and teachers understand disabilities and the specific needs of members in their ward. You may teach this lesson, or it may be taught by a ward disability specialist, if one has been called.
Work with stake and ward leaders to help members with disabilities and their families or other caregivers find community resources they can access at low cost or no charge.
Encourage ward leaders to have ward disability specialists function as additional levels of ministering leaders for families who are touched by disability.
Encourage stake and ward leaders to learn about the Church-service mission program.

Stake Presidency

You report to the stake presidency. Under the direction of the stake presidency, you may be assigned to report to another leader, such as a member of the high council or the stake Primary president. Counsel with the stake presidency or other assigned leader to determine how often you should report to them.

Stake Council

You will work with members of the stake council to meet the needs of members with disabilities and their families or other caregivers. As needed or as invited, you may attend stake council meetings in order to discuss these needs and coordinate your efforts with those of stake leaders.