The 2026 Disability Ministry Conference

If you know a family facing the challenges of someone with a disability, then you probably already know the frustrations that many of these families face with trying to find a church home. All too often our churches are ill-equipped to adequately welcome and care for families and family members with disabilities. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Training and resources are available to help church leaders build a strong ministry to these invaluable families and individuals.

One of those resources is The 2026 Disability Ministry Conference, happening September 18 and 19 in San Diego, California. The annual gathering is designed for ministry leaders, pastors, children’s ministry directors, volunteers, advocates, and parents of children with disabilities. Attendees from churches will spend two days learning practical strategies for disability inclusion, connecting with peers from other ministries and gathering tools and resources their teams can put to work right away.

According to UNICEF, 240 million children around the world live with disabilities. In the United States, families of children with disabilities still report feeling unseen, unwelcome, or unsupported by their local churches. The 2026 Disability Ministry Conference exists to help change that, equipping ministries to become places where every family knows they belong.

“For too long, families with a child who has a disability have quietly stepped away from church because no one knew how to welcome them well,” said Linda Martin, Founder and CEO of Miracle 139 International. “Pastors and volunteers don’t need more guilt about that gap. They need real, practical training and a community of people walking the same path. That’s exactly what these two days are about.”

Conference highlights will include biblical teaching, breakout sessions led by experienced practitioners, peer networking, an exhibitor hall featuring disability ministry resources, and an international showcase highlighting inclusion work happening around the world. A buddy bag packing event will give attendees the chance to pack supply bags for partner churches and ministries internationally.

Registration is now open at DisabilityMinistryConference.com, with ticket prices ranging from Early Bird at $169 to Regular Admission at $199. Group Rate tickets for groups of 5 or more are $150 per person. Optional Thursday intensive sessions on September 17 will offer the opportunity to dive deeper into some of the topics most impacting disability ministry today.

If you’re a church leader who wants to strengthen your church’s ministry to the disabled, click here for more information about The 2026 Disability Ministry Conference.