“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
- 1 Corinthians 12:26
Disability Ministry
For the past 10 years, Riverbend Community Church has hosted Night to Shine in the Lehigh Valley to demonstrate God’s love to individuals with Special Needs and their families. At the beginning of 2024, we began our journey from a one-night event, to becoming an accessible church year-round.
Focusing first on the current needs in our church (Autism, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, et. al.), our desire at Riverbend is to eventually be able to walk alongside all families and individuals with disabilities. We are committed to making our church as a whole more accommodating to those in our community with disabilities. Our ultimate goal is that everyone feels welcomed and included.
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Sensory Friendly Spaces
Called “The Family Room,” this inclusive sensory friendly space is available to anyone who needs it. The room is equipped with couches, fidgets, proprioceptive and sensory items. On Sundays, the church service is live streamed in the room offering an alternative space to worship with us for individuals and families that need space to stim, rest, sensory seek, or just sit in a comfy chair.
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Accessible Church
Our current church facility is wheelchair accessible throughout the main floor of the building which includes the large gathering space, lobby, children’s ministry, cafe, accessible bathrooms, and Family Room. A stair lift is available to access the lower levels of the church. Additionally, we have headphones and portable sensory bins in the Cafe that can be taken and used anywhere throughout the church building.
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Inclusion
In addition to events like Night to Shine, Riverbend offers inclusive Sunday School for children 6 months through 5th grade (with a floater buddy program) - as well as an online community/support group where individuals and families can connect, pray and make plans to gather together!
More information about both can be found below.
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Accommodations
At Riverbend, we recognize that every individual is uniquely and wonderfully made. We are always looking to grow and be more welcoming to anyone and everyone.
If there is an accommodation you or your loved one needs to make our church more accessible, please let us know!
You’re Invited to the Family Room Online
The Family Room Online is an inclusive community group for individuals and families with disabilities to gather together online, share stories and pray for one another - with others who “get it.”
We meet the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month at 7pm via ZOOM
Riverbend is committed to making our church as a whole and our Foundations Children’s Program more accommodating to those in our community with disabilities and special needs. A combination of online and in-person practical and theological training was created in-house for volunteers to learn more about God’s heart for neurodiversity and individuals with disabilities; how to practically engage and love kids of all abilities where they are at. At the end of February 2024, Riverbend hosted a training led by the behavioral health services team from Glen and Koch Associates to help our volunteers learn more about Autism, ADHD and Sensory Differences and how to serve the children in our care.
Riverbend currently has a floater buddy program in our Foundations Children’s Programs. Buddies are trained volunteers who are available to specially assist and care for children with special needs in the classroom.
At Riverbend, we recognize that every child is uniquely and wonderfully made. We would love to get to know you and your child better- and make the environment at Foundations accessible to all kids.
If you are interested in your child attending our Foundations program, please consider filling out a “child profile” form or reaching out to our Disability Ministry Coordinator, Lisa Jones, so we can learn how to best serve your child!
Inclusive Sunday School
Volunteer
Volunteer
Riverbend is always looking for volunteers to serve either in the church as a Floater Buddy on the Foundations Team, or as a Greeter for the Family Room on the Impressions Team. Additionally, our Night-to-Shine team is always looking for volunteers to fill one of the MANY different rolls.