North American Division of Seventh-Day Adventist: Disabilities Ministries

The mission of the Disabilities Ministries Department (DMD) is in keeping with the instruction given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20. Our mandate is to GO and spread the message of Jesus Christ to the entire world. The DMD is one of the agencies to fulfill this assignment. The mission is accomplished by focusing on four major areas. Hence, the NAD Commission for People with Disabilities outlines the following four goals:

to ensure that churches in the NAD come into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
to encourage the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the programs and services of the SDA churches with NAD.

to promote the accommodation of people with disabilities by providing services such as transportation to regular church and evangelistic meetings.
to encourage churches to conduct surveys to determine and provide for special needs of people with disabilities.

to promote the development and utilization of people with disabilities in all aspects of church life, such as in volunteer service positions and on church boards and other committees of the local church and local conference.
to encourage pastors and members to be sensitive to the needs of people with disabilities who are members and visitors of the local church.
to develop recreational activities that will enhance the interaction of members including members and visitors with disabilities.

to encourage employing organizations of church entities to give fair and equal opportunities for employment to members with disabilities.
to encourage local conferences to include in their job skill bank the names of qualified members with disabilities.