God’s Heart and Purpose for People with Disabilities
My work in this area is rooted in my doctoral dissertation which was focused on family quality of life for those impacted by disability and emphasized the transformative power of relationships—both vertical (with God) and horizontal (with others)—to promote quality of life and mutual flourishing.
My research found that:
Strength of religious faith and engagement in religious practices significantly predict higher family quality of life, reflecting the importance of relational intimacy with God. There is transformational power in loving God!
Strength of social relationships also significantly predict higher family quality of life, highlighting the role of deep connections with others. There is transformational power in loving others.
These two findings, while empirically innovative, merely reflect and affirm the wisdom of God. They align directly with the Great Commandments to love God and love others.
“The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
I believe that following these divine instructions can yield powerful transformation to improve quality of life and promote human flourishing!
This disability engagement strand of my work, however, extends beyond focusing solely on individuals with disabilities or their families. Instead, it emphasizes the transformational impact of inclusive community, where people with and without disabilities live, learn, and love together in environments where belonging for all is the norm. I am thus compelled by the conviction that inclusive community fosters mutual flourishing and benefits everyone involved–not just those impacted by disability.
Additionally, disability engagement is not my primary focus. My primary focus is honoring God with all the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart!
“May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable before You,
ADONAI, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
In my disabilityengagement work, I frame flourishing and quality of life as penultimate goals, with the ultimate goal being the glory of God. When human love is enacted in inclusive communities—through belonging, relational engagement, and mutual support—God is glorified, reflecting His heart and purpose for all people.
My work also reveals a profound insight: studying disability doesn’t just highlight unique needs but amplifies universal human needs for belonging and relational connection with God and others. These relational needs are not special needs. They are human needs. While individuals and families impacted by disability may have specific and unique support needs, the principles of flourishing through relationships are foundational for everyone.
Check out two initiatives that extend the reach of this disabilityengagement work.
