June 6, 2025 • 17 mins
We explore how understanding information processing is crucial for inclusive ministry, focusing on how information gets in, how it's processed, and how it gets out. Drawing insights from Barbara Newman's book "Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship," we examine practical approaches to make ministry accessible for people of all abilities.
• Focus on what individuals CAN do rather than just their limitations
• Deliver information through multiple sensory channels for better reception and retention
• Use all five senses when teaching, following Jesus' example with communion
• Provide supportive environments that help with attention and processing
• Create diverse opportunities for people to express and communicate what they've learned
• Accommodate different learning styles to benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities
For deeper dives into these topics and more, check out indispensablepeople.com and visit Amazon to purchase the books "The Indispensable Kid" and "Gospel, Accessibility and the Indispensable People."
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hi, my name is Tracy Correll, and welcome to
Indispensable People.
I'm a wife, mom, teacher,pastor and missionary, and I
believe that every person shouldhave the opportunity to know
Christ, grow in Him and serveHim with the gifts that he has
given, no matter their ability.
Over 65 million Americans havea disability that's 25% of the
(00:26):
population.
However, over 80% of them arenot inside the walls of our
church.
Let's dive into those hardtopics biblical foundations,
perceptions and world-changingideas.
Hey, hey, welcome to thisepisode of Indispensable People,
(00:50):
where we're talking aboutinformation how does it get in,
how does a person process it andhow does it get out?
This is going to impact greatlyhow we interact with people in
ministry spaces and reallyanywhere beyond, and so I am
going to share a lot with youtoday, particularly from a book
(01:14):
called Accessible GospelInclusive Worship, and it is
written by Barbara Newman, soplease understand that a lot of
this information is coming fromher book, and it's brand new to
me.
I'm just getting into it.
So I'm excited about continuingto broaden the ideas and the
(01:35):
thoughts and the perceptionsthat we have when we work with
people with disabilities, and weneed to continually be growing
in our understanding andattempting to see what we can do
to better bridge the gap in ourministry spaces.
And so in this book it goes intotalking.
(02:00):
First of all, one of the thingssays asking the right questions
.
What can the individual do?
So first, I want to just kindof make some comments about that
.
A lot of times when we considerthose with disabilities, we
really tend to focus heavily onwhat they can't do, and we do
(02:22):
that.
I don't think that'snecessarily a bad thing to
identify the things they can'tdo, and we do that.
I don't think that'snecessarily a bad thing to
identify the things they can'tdo, right, because in knowing
and understanding that it helpsour response and our way to
reach out.
But we cannot go against or notrecognize what they can do,
because that is an even biggerfield to open up access for
(02:47):
communication, for understanding, for relationship building, for
all of those kinds of things.
And so the next question in thebook says how does the
individual take information in?
And Barbara Newman explains thatoftentimes pastors, ministers,
volunteers, those who tend to becomfortable speaking and
(03:10):
sharing a message, they do thatorally.
Right, we're speaking, we'restanding on a stage with a
microphone in our hands, all ofthat kind of stuff and that
becomes the way that wecommunicate.
But what happens in thatprocess is that there is an
assumption that that is howeveryone else receives I'm
(03:33):
speaking, so they're receiving,but that's not necessarily the
case, right?
I've said this time and timeagain.
This is not new information,but we need to be aware that
people in our presence,regardless of their ability,
learn in different ways.
I am a visual, hands-on learner.
(03:54):
If you just stand and speak atme, I will be in my head forever
laying out my to-do list, mygrocery list, what I have to do
when I get home, which kid has agame this week, all of that
kind of stuff.
I am a multitasking person.
(04:14):
That's just my way of being andmy way of doing, and to solely
just focus only in one sense isreally difficult for me, and so
many of us want to have thattangible thing, whether it's
(04:38):
smell, touch, taste, you knowany of that kind of thing.
I've always said if you can usethe five senses, then the brain
is going to receive it morereadily and it's going to retain
it more readily.
That is just brain science.
That's how the brain works, andit is incredibly important to
know that and identify that,especially if you're in
(04:59):
children's ministry, because ourchildren need desire, that
connection with the senses whenyou're providing information to
them.
Don't forget things likeproviding communication in
different ways, such as signlanguage or braille or large
print materials.
(05:20):
We want to make sure that we'reconsidering all the different
ways that information can betaken in and we want to
capitalize on that.
And that might sound a bitoverwhelming to you, but I've
said this before and I willcontinue to say it again
Anything you do for someone witha disability will only benefit
(05:42):
everybody else in the room,because the strategies that we
provide you with are brainscience.
It is the way that the brainlearns and so, therefore,
everybody else in the room isgoing to learn.
So the next step in the processthat we talk about information
right, we're already discussinghow information is taken in and
(06:04):
we want to deliver it throughthe senses, the best way that we
can.
But let's talk about how aperson processes the information
, okay, so they see it, theyhear it, they smell it, they
taste it, they touch it.
Right, we're using all the fivesenses to bring in that
(06:24):
information, but also listen,adding rhythm or movement to
information, think aboutespecially younger kids and
doing like a memory verse,whether it's to motions or to a
song, so much of scripture thatis easily retained can be found
(06:47):
in music.
And also knowing that whenwe're processing information, we
want to boil it down, we wantto simplify it as much as
possible, maybe deliver it inpoints, very simple points, and
if you can get one main thingokay, like what's the big idea,
(07:10):
what's the main point?
This is what you want to walkout with understanding today.
That's going to be ideal forthose that are processing
information.
The other thing that you'regoing to highlight on that
process information by givingthem the five senses.
But also I want you to considerthat the ability to process
(07:37):
information, take information in, has a lot to do with how we
can pay attention.
If I can't pay attention toreceive the information, then
it's likely I won't retain anyof it.
I may not even hear it, I won'tknow what to do with it.
So some very simple things toconsider in that respect is
(08:00):
providing optional seating.
Sometimes a reallyuncomfortable chair will only
allow you to focus on howuncomfortable the chair is, but
if you can sit in a rockingchair or a chair that might spin
a little bit, or even on anexercise ball that might allow
your body to move.
You can access some sensorymovement that provides feedback
(08:26):
to your body, that allows it tocalm so that you can listen.
Also, like I said, providingcomfortable space into doing
that.
I mean think about in an officespace.
Today, it is not uncommon tofind people who are using the
(08:47):
standing desks okay, even to theextreme of those who maybe work
from home and you now have atreadmill with a desk attached
to it.
Now, don't get me wrong.
I do understand that those arehealth-based purposes, right,
you don't want to be sitting allday, you want to get some
movement in.
But it's also scientificallyproven that people are more
(09:11):
productive in those kinds ofways.
Why?
Because we're receiving andwe're taking in information in
better ways.
Also, understanding that whenwe're delivering information,
that we can break tasks downinto smaller pieces and parts
and they're easier to receive.
Providing other supports likefidget tools or maybe an ability
(09:37):
to write down or draw or doodlewhile you're listening to
someone speaking.
Again, we go back to thehands-on participation, all that
kind of stuff that will bringpositivity and excitement and
participation, which is reallythe most important.
(09:58):
In that sense, we don't wantthe information, especially in
the church.
We don't want necessarily theinformation to come across in an
authoritative type way.
We love that.
We serve a God who gives uschoices, gives us free will.
Yes, that free will candefinitely get us in a whole lot
of trouble, but he does notforce his hand.
(10:21):
The door is always open, thereis always access.
But choosing to follow him,choosing to dive into his word
and to memorize scripture and tomake it a part of the daily
life, all of that kind of stuffis a free choice to us and we
want to make sure that as wedeliver that to people, we are
(10:43):
helping them to see that, arehelping them to see that I think
that goes back to years andyears of you know the black and
white yes, and no kind ofoutlook into everything.
And I'm not saying that Goddoes not.
God is, he is firm and he knowswhat he's.
You know he's not ambiguousabout the things that he has
(11:07):
communicated to us.
I'm not saying that at all.
Please don't take that that way.
But what I'm saying is that,yes, god gives us commands, he
gives us directives, ways tolive and follow that, but he
also gives us a choice and hegives us a choice and he
(11:37):
recognizes that choice andrewards that choice.
But it is not a standing oversomeone wagging your finger kind
of look, the Holy Spiritconvicts us, speaks to us right
where we need it, directs us howwe need it.
And so we want to do that,especially in this community of
people with disabilities.
And the reason why is becauseso often failure is experienced.
(12:01):
Ok, so many people withdisabilities struggle to do the
things, maybe that the personnext to them does not, and so
you're already experiencingthose negative type things.
And so we want to make surethat our delivery and our
excitement of the word isdelivered and shared in a way
(12:24):
that encourages, that lifts oneanother up, that we can be the
iron sharpens iron.
That doesn't mean we can't saythe hard things, but we say it
in relationship and care andlove the way that the Holy
Spirit speaks to us.
I want to remind you this is areally great kind of picture
(12:46):
into Jesus.
Okay, so let's talk about Jesusand the Lord's Supper.
Taking the Lord's Supper theway that it is explained in
scripture is a full-on sensoryexperience.
Perfect example for us In theBible.
He set up a way to remember mein communion.
He involved the five senses,the whole sensory systems, are
(13:10):
in process.
He's increasing the likelihoodthat we will remember it all.
Partaking in the Lord's Supperis something that we can see,
touch, taste, smell and, whencombined with God's instructions
in scripture, we can also hearit.
And really, in scripture we canalso hear it.
And really, and this is whatBarbara Newman says she said
(13:30):
that God set the gold standardfor us in remembering, taking in
information.
The last thing that I want toshare with you today is about
how does information get out?
Okay, so we're talking abouthow information is taken in, how
it's processed once it's inthere, and then also how do we
respond, how do we utilize theinformation that we have?
(13:53):
How do we communicate withsomeone about the information
that we received?
Please know that we want tohave open doors for this,
whether it is through verbalcommunication, whether it is
through visual communication,whether you know cards, drawing,
any of that kind of stuff.
Maybe it's actual written words, maybe it's through sign
(14:17):
language.
Also, be aware that, dependingupon the person's abilities and
tendencies and characteristics,they may be a repeater of words.
So just because they repeat thewords doesn't mean they
understand them.
So we have to be aware of howthat is being utilized.
(14:37):
And again, gestures.
Gestures are huge.
If you think about yourcommunications that you've had
all day long, how you have madeyour face, smiled at someone
moved your hand, pointed, any ofthose kinds of things those can
be a direct mode ofcommunication in a world of
(15:08):
technology, and that has broughtgreat opportunities for
communication, whether it is invoice texting, whether it is in
being able to type, whether it'sin using visual communication
systems.
In technology there are so manyoptions.
There are the ability to typein and then make your device
speak for you and say what youhave inputted in it.
(15:30):
So the doors open wide, but weneed to be aware of how people
take information in, how we'redelivering it, how they process
it once they've received it, andalso how are they responding
through their modes ofcommunication that work best for
(15:50):
them.
This opens doors for greatrelationship building, for
incredible discipleshipopportunities and not only that,
the return of co-laborers whocan then repeat the discipleship
process, because they took itin, they understood it and they
(16:12):
know how to communicate it inthe way that works best for them
.
So give it a try.
I hope these tips help you Do.
I know everything aboutdisability ministry.
Do I have all the answers?
Have I done everythingperfectly?
I have absolutely not, but weare going to continue this
(16:34):
conversation so that people ofall abilities can have the
opportunity to know Christ, growin Him and serve Him with the
gifts that he has given them.
For deeper dives into thesetopics and more, check out
indispensablepeoplecom and visitAmazon to purchase the books
the Indispensable Kid and Gospel, accessibility and the
Indispensable People.
Hi, my name is Tracy Correll, and welcome to
Indispensable People.
I'm a wife, mom, teacher,pastor and missionary, and I
believe that every person shouldhave the opportunity to know
Christ, grow in Him and serveHim with the gifts that he has
given, no matter their ability.
Over 65 million Americans havea disability that's 25% of the
(00:26):
population.
However, over 80% of them arenot inside the walls of our
church.
Let's dive into those hardtopics biblical foundations,
perceptions and world-changingideas.
Hey, hey, welcome to thisepisode of Indispensable People,
(00:50):
where we're talking aboutinformation how does it get in,
how does a person process it andhow does it get out?
This is going to impact greatlyhow we interact with people in
ministry spaces and reallyanywhere beyond, and so I am
going to share a lot with youtoday, particularly from a book
(01:14):
called Accessible GospelInclusive Worship, and it is
written by Barbara Newman, soplease understand that a lot of
this information is coming fromher book, and it's brand new to
me.
I'm just getting into it.
So I'm excited about continuingto broaden the ideas and the
(01:35):
thoughts and the perceptionsthat we have when we work with
people with disabilities, and weneed to continually be growing
in our understanding andattempting to see what we can do
to better bridge the gap in ourministry spaces.
And so in this book it goes intotalking.
(02:00):
First of all, one of the thingssays asking the right questions
.
What can the individual do?
So first, I want to just kindof make some comments about that
.
A lot of times when we considerthose with disabilities, we
really tend to focus heavily onwhat they can't do, and we do
(02:22):
that.
I don't think that'snecessarily a bad thing to
identify the things they can'tdo, and we do that.
I don't think that'snecessarily a bad thing to
identify the things they can'tdo, right, because in knowing
and understanding that it helpsour response and our way to
reach out.
But we cannot go against or notrecognize what they can do,
because that is an even biggerfield to open up access for
(02:47):
communication, for understanding, for relationship building, for
all of those kinds of things.
And so the next question in thebook says how does the
individual take information in?
And Barbara Newman explains thatoftentimes pastors, ministers,
volunteers, those who tend to becomfortable speaking and
(03:10):
sharing a message, they do thatorally.
Right, we're speaking, we'restanding on a stage with a
microphone in our hands, all ofthat kind of stuff and that
becomes the way that wecommunicate.
But what happens in thatprocess is that there is an
assumption that that is howeveryone else receives I'm
(03:33):
speaking, so they're receiving,but that's not necessarily the
case, right?
I've said this time and timeagain.
This is not new information,but we need to be aware that
people in our presence,regardless of their ability,
learn in different ways.
I am a visual, hands-on learner.
(03:54):
If you just stand and speak atme, I will be in my head forever
laying out my to-do list, mygrocery list, what I have to do
when I get home, which kid has agame this week, all of that
kind of stuff.
I am a multitasking person.
(04:14):
That's just my way of being andmy way of doing, and to solely
just focus only in one sense isreally difficult for me, and so
many of us want to have thattangible thing, whether it's
(04:38):
smell, touch, taste, you knowany of that kind of thing.
I've always said if you can usethe five senses, then the brain
is going to receive it morereadily and it's going to retain
it more readily.
That is just brain science.
That's how the brain works, andit is incredibly important to
know that and identify that,especially if you're in
(04:59):
children's ministry, because ourchildren need desire, that
connection with the senses whenyou're providing information to
them.
Don't forget things likeproviding communication in
different ways, such as signlanguage or braille or large
print materials.
(05:20):
We want to make sure that we'reconsidering all the different
ways that information can betaken in and we want to
capitalize on that.
And that might sound a bitoverwhelming to you, but I've
said this before and I willcontinue to say it again
Anything you do for someone witha disability will only benefit
(05:42):
everybody else in the room,because the strategies that we
provide you with are brainscience.
It is the way that the brainlearns and so, therefore,
everybody else in the room isgoing to learn.
So the next step in the processthat we talk about information
right, we're already discussinghow information is taken in and
(06:04):
we want to deliver it throughthe senses, the best way that we
can.
But let's talk about how aperson processes the information
, okay, so they see it, theyhear it, they smell it, they
taste it, they touch it.
Right, we're using all the fivesenses to bring in that
(06:24):
information, but also listen,adding rhythm or movement to
information, think aboutespecially younger kids and
doing like a memory verse,whether it's to motions or to a
song, so much of scripture thatis easily retained can be found
(06:47):
in music.
And also knowing that whenwe're processing information, we
want to boil it down, we wantto simplify it as much as
possible, maybe deliver it inpoints, very simple points, and
if you can get one main thingokay, like what's the big idea,
(07:10):
what's the main point?
This is what you want to walkout with understanding today.
That's going to be ideal forthose that are processing
information.
The other thing that you'regoing to highlight on that
process information by givingthem the five senses.
But also I want you to considerthat the ability to process
(07:37):
information, take information in, has a lot to do with how we
can pay attention.
If I can't pay attention toreceive the information, then
it's likely I won't retain anyof it.
I may not even hear it, I won'tknow what to do with it.
So some very simple things toconsider in that respect is
(08:00):
providing optional seating.
Sometimes a reallyuncomfortable chair will only
allow you to focus on howuncomfortable the chair is, but
if you can sit in a rockingchair or a chair that might spin
a little bit, or even on anexercise ball that might allow
your body to move.
You can access some sensorymovement that provides feedback
(08:26):
to your body, that allows it tocalm so that you can listen.
Also, like I said, providingcomfortable space into doing
that.
I mean think about in an officespace.
Today, it is not uncommon tofind people who are using the
(08:47):
standing desks okay, even to theextreme of those who maybe work
from home and you now have atreadmill with a desk attached
to it.
Now, don't get me wrong.
I do understand that those arehealth-based purposes, right,
you don't want to be sitting allday, you want to get some
movement in.
But it's also scientificallyproven that people are more
(09:11):
productive in those kinds ofways.
Why?
Because we're receiving andwe're taking in information in
better ways.
Also, understanding that whenwe're delivering information,
that we can break tasks downinto smaller pieces and parts
and they're easier to receive.
Providing other supports likefidget tools or maybe an ability
(09:37):
to write down or draw or doodlewhile you're listening to
someone speaking.
Again, we go back to thehands-on participation, all that
kind of stuff that will bringpositivity and excitement and
participation, which is reallythe most important.
(09:58):
In that sense, we don't wantthe information, especially in
the church.
We don't want necessarily theinformation to come across in an
authoritative type way.
We love that.
We serve a God who gives uschoices, gives us free will.
Yes, that free will candefinitely get us in a whole lot
of trouble, but he does notforce his hand.
(10:21):
The door is always open, thereis always access.
But choosing to follow him,choosing to dive into his word
and to memorize scripture and tomake it a part of the daily
life, all of that kind of stuffis a free choice to us and we
want to make sure that as wedeliver that to people, we are
(10:43):
helping them to see that, arehelping them to see that I think
that goes back to years andyears of you know the black and
white yes, and no kind ofoutlook into everything.
And I'm not saying that Goddoes not.
God is, he is firm and he knowswhat he's.
You know he's not ambiguousabout the things that he has
(11:07):
communicated to us.
I'm not saying that at all.
Please don't take that that way.
But what I'm saying is that,yes, god gives us commands, he
gives us directives, ways tolive and follow that, but he
also gives us a choice and hegives us a choice and he
(11:37):
recognizes that choice andrewards that choice.
But it is not a standing oversomeone wagging your finger kind
of look, the Holy Spiritconvicts us, speaks to us right
where we need it, directs us howwe need it.
And so we want to do that,especially in this community of
people with disabilities.
And the reason why is becauseso often failure is experienced.
(12:01):
Ok, so many people withdisabilities struggle to do the
things, maybe that the personnext to them does not, and so
you're already experiencingthose negative type things.
And so we want to make surethat our delivery and our
excitement of the word isdelivered and shared in a way
(12:24):
that encourages, that lifts oneanother up, that we can be the
iron sharpens iron.
That doesn't mean we can't saythe hard things, but we say it
in relationship and care andlove the way that the Holy
Spirit speaks to us.
I want to remind you this is areally great kind of picture
(12:46):
into Jesus.
Okay, so let's talk about Jesusand the Lord's Supper.
Taking the Lord's Supper theway that it is explained in
scripture is a full-on sensoryexperience.
Perfect example for us In theBible.
He set up a way to remember mein communion.
He involved the five senses,the whole sensory systems, are
(13:10):
in process.
He's increasing the likelihoodthat we will remember it all.
Partaking in the Lord's Supperis something that we can see,
touch, taste, smell and, whencombined with God's instructions
in scripture, we can also hearit.
And really, in scripture we canalso hear it.
And really, and this is whatBarbara Newman says she said
(13:30):
that God set the gold standardfor us in remembering, taking in
information.
The last thing that I want toshare with you today is about
how does information get out?
Okay, so we're talking abouthow information is taken in, how
it's processed once it's inthere, and then also how do we
respond, how do we utilize theinformation that we have?
(13:53):
How do we communicate withsomeone about the information
that we received?
Please know that we want tohave open doors for this,
whether it is through verbalcommunication, whether it is
through visual communication,whether you know cards, drawing,
any of that kind of stuff.
Maybe it's actual written words, maybe it's through sign
(14:17):
language.
Also, be aware that, dependingupon the person's abilities and
tendencies and characteristics,they may be a repeater of words.
So just because they repeat thewords doesn't mean they
understand them.
So we have to be aware of howthat is being utilized.
(14:37):
And again, gestures.
Gestures are huge.
If you think about yourcommunications that you've had
all day long, how you have madeyour face, smiled at someone
moved your hand, pointed, any ofthose kinds of things those can
be a direct mode ofcommunication in a world of
(15:08):
technology, and that has broughtgreat opportunities for
communication, whether it is invoice texting, whether it is in
being able to type, whether it'sin using visual communication
systems.
In technology there are so manyoptions.
There are the ability to typein and then make your device
speak for you and say what youhave inputted in it.
(15:30):
So the doors open wide, but weneed to be aware of how people
take information in, how we'redelivering it, how they process
it once they've received it, andalso how are they responding
through their modes ofcommunication that work best for
(15:50):
them.
This opens doors for greatrelationship building, for
incredible discipleshipopportunities and not only that,
the return of co-laborers whocan then repeat the discipleship
process, because they took itin, they understood it and they
(16:12):
know how to communicate it inthe way that works best for them
.
So give it a try.
I hope these tips help you Do.
I know everything aboutdisability ministry.
Do I have all the answers?
Have I done everythingperfectly?
I have absolutely not, but weare going to continue this
(16:34):
conversation so that people ofall abilities can have the
opportunity to know Christ, growin Him and serve Him with the
gifts that he has given them.
For deeper dives into thesetopics and more, check out
indispensablepeoplecom and visitAmazon to purchase the books
the Indispensable Kid and Gospel, accessibility and the
Indispensable People.
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