Clergy-Laity Congress panel confronts disability and belonging in the Church
The “Equipping and Building Accessible and Whole Communities” panel at the 2026 Clergy-Laity Congress in Cleveland offered practical guidance for parishes to become more welcoming and supportive of people with disabilities and their families. Speakers
She almost stopped coming. Now she leads her parish’s autism ministry
On Sunday mornings, Abby Vlahos’s day begins before most people are awake. She rises with her nine-year-old son, Cosmas, who wakes at dawn. Then it’s full speed–active play, movement, conversation, a walk–before most people have
Orthodox Christian Deaf Association to showcase new ASL signs for the Divine Liturgy
The Orthodox Christian Deaf Association (OCDA) will host its second annual conference, The Word Made Flesh, April 17–19, 2026, at St. John of the Ladder in Greenville, South Carolina. The conference welcomes Orthodox Deaf, Hard
GOARCH ministries collaborate to address vulnerabilities of children with disabilities
The FREEDOM National Ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America partnered with the Department of Marriage & Family Ministry to record a powerful new podcast episode examining a critical issue: What makes children with
Center for Family Care recaps disability awareness campaign
Over the course of October, the Archdiocese and its Center for Family Care recognized National Disability Employment Awareness Month by highlighting the experiences and contributions of Orthodox Christians with disabilities and by spreading awareness of
GOARCH Center for Family Care launches October disability awareness campaign
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month in the U.S., and many subcategories of disabilities, syndromes, and conditions are featured particularly in October, including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Blind (White Cane Day), Deaf,
Center for Family Care’s Pres. Melanie DiStefano Discusses Disability Access with OCN
What do we fail to understand about the lived experienced of disabled Christians in our parishes? What changes can we make to include them fully in the life of the Church?
Center for Family Care: Quarterly Milestones, On Behalf of All
Representatives from the twelve OBOA pilot parishes received initial training toward implementing best practices for accessibility.
OCN Interviews Center for Family Care’s Pres. Melanie DiStefano
Presvytera Melanie DiStefano and Rachael Giannis join Fr. Chris Metropulos from Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) to discuss existing barriers for disabled individuals in parish life, and how these problems are being, and can be, addressed.
