Church & Organization Partnerships
Building Inclusive Communities Together
SOAR Special Needs partners with churches, schools, businesses, and community organizations to create welcoming environments for individuals with disabilities. Whether you're a faith community or secular organization, we provide the expertise, resources, and support you need.
The Challenge: Only 11% of churches welcome families with disabilities. 28% of the population has a disability, yet 90% of these families don't attend any church.
The Opportunity: The disability community is the largest unmet people group in the country. SOAR has assisted over 800 churches in 26 countries and is on track to assist 1,000+ organizations in the next couple years.
Church Partnerships
Why Partner with SOAR?
Doc Hunsley started a disability ministry with 3 individuals and 20 volunteers. Eight years later, they served 800 families (3,600 people) with 2,500 volunteers. Disability ministry is both a biblical command (Luke 14) and a pathway to church growth.
Free One-Hour Consultation
Every church is different. We'll learn about your dynamics, challenges, and goals, then work together to build a disability ministry unique to your church.
Sensory Room Design
Doc provides multiple design levels (budget to premium) customized to your space and needs. No matter how small your space, we'll maximize it for sensory ministry.
Ongoing Church Coaching
One-on-one coaching sessions with Doc Hunsley, available individually or in packages:
Volunteer recruitment and retention
Sensory room development
Creating respite programs and camps
Welcoming students and adults with disabilities
Student apprentice programs
Training Programs
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Learn about disability and how to appropriately serve through real-life case scenarios. Recommended for all staff and volunteers in special needs, children, students, hospitality, and security teams.
Format: In-person or virtual
Duration: 2.5 hours -
Two-day intensive training on managing challenging behaviors.
What You'll Learn:
Preventative strategies
De-escalation skills
Crisis communication
Physical intervention techniques (when necessary)
Recommended for: Ministry leadership, coordinators, security teams
Certification: Valid for 2 years
Special Rate: Available for SOAR Disability Ministry Network members -
Doc observes your ministry in action (1-2 hours), then provides a 1-hour debrief with actionable recommendations for improvement.
Partnership Opportunities
Attend SOAR Summer Camp as a Mission Trip
Your youth or college ministry volunteers at SOAR Camp (8 hours/day, Monday-Friday), then enjoys Kansas City evenings together.
Camp Dates: First and third weeks of July
Volunteer Roles: Buddy, games, crafts, music, food service, setup/teardown
Host a SOAR Respite Event
Partner with SOAR to host a 3-4 hour respite event at your church. SOAR brings a 24-foot trailer with all supplies, recruits families and volunteers, provides medical and behavioral teams, and handles background checks and training.
Your Church Provides:
Free venue
Dinner costs (if applicable)
Volunteer recruitment support
AV/tech support
Help promoting the event
Your Church Gains:
Learn to host your own respites
New volunteers and families visit your church
Training ground for Sunday disability ministry volunteers
Raised awareness about disability ministry
Fulfilled biblical mandate (Luke 14)
❊ Join Us
SOAR DISABILITY MINISTRY NETWORK
Free monthly Zoom meetings for ministry leaders nationwide to discuss any aspect of disability ministry.
Schedule:
Odd months: 6:30-8:30 PM CST
Even months: 12:30-2:30 PM CST
Join the Facebook group to connect with other churches, share best practices, and find resources.
Secular Partnerships
SOAR's expertise benefits any organization committed to inclusion, regardless of faith foundation.
Schools & Educational Institutions
Training for teachers and staff on disability awareness, inclusive practices, behavior management, sensory accommodations, and creating welcoming environments.
Businesses & Employers
Customized training on workplace accessibility, hiring individuals with disabilities, reasonable accommodations, and inclusive workplace culture.
Community Organizations
Support for community centers, recreation programs, libraries, museums, and public-serving organizations to improve accessibility and inclusion.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Doc Hunsley is available to speak at conferences, churches, schools, and community events. As a pediatrician, military veteran, and ministry leader, he provides balanced, impactful expertise on disability inclusion. Doc is also a powerful motivational speaker.
To Book Doc: press@SOARspecialneeds.org or (816) 782-SOAR (7627)
2026 Speaking Schedule:
KidzMatter Conference – Evansville, IN – Oct 6-8, 2026
Metro Disability Conference - Plano, TX - Oct 19-22, 2026
Disability & the Church Tourstop – Scottsdale, AZ – Nov 11-12, 2026
Children's Pastors Conference – Orlando, FL – Jan 5-7, 2027
Disability & the Church Conference – Houston, TX – Mar 8-12, 2027
D6 Southeast Conference – Nashville, TN – Apr 22-24, 2027
Made To Belong Mental Health Symposium – Garden City, KS, – May 1, 2027
❊ Further Support
Additional Resources
Resource Library
Videos, PDFs, training materials, volunteer job descriptions.
Questions? Contact info@SOARspecialneeds.org or call 816.782.SOAR (7627).