Differentiation in Disability Ministry

I sat down on my first teacher workday as a special education teacher with a huge stack of folders on my desk, each representing one of my new students.  As I looked through each folder, trying to learn about the child whose IEP I was reading and whose academic history I was attempting to piece together, I had one thought: How in the world was I supposed to teach all of these students the same material in the same classroom when they were on such different academic levels and had such diverse needs? It felt impossible and overwhelming. 

If you serve in disability ministry, you’ve probably felt the same way at church. Wondering how in the world you could meet all of the needs and teach all the students when there is such a wide range of needs? I get it, I've been there. 

As I got to know my students as more than just an IEP folder, I eventually found ways to serve them all well. I would be teaching the same topic, but the instruction rarely looked the same for all of my students. Over time, I got better at differentiating, grouping, rotations, individualized instruction, and communicating with my teacher's assistants about what each child needed.  

I didn’t become less overwhelmed overnight, but I became more equipped, experienced, and more confident over time.

That experience shaped how I think about teaching the Bible in disability ministry. Many leaders carry the same question and anxiety I carried into my classroom: how do I teach one lesson to learners who are all on different levels?

Differentiation is the answer to that question.

But most ministry leaders aren’t trained in differentiation and special education instruction.  I want you to know that if you ever feel overwhelmed with how to do this disability thing, you're not alone. And it's ok to be overwhelmed. But don’t let that overwhelm stop you.  God is still going to use you, despite you not feeling adequate for the job.  Remember that His strength is made perfect in our weakness!

When I first started Awe & Wonder back in 2023, my goal was to provide practical tools and resources to help ministry leaders reduce that overwhelm, because ALL learners deserve access to the Gospel in a way they can understand.

What is Differentiation
and Why Does it Matter at Church?

In education, differentiation means adjusting how content is presented so learners can access the same concept at different levels.  It means removing barriers and being aware of individualized learning styles and needs so every learner can engage with the truth.

In the church, I think this is even more important.  Because our goal isn’t just to teach facts or to help students pass a test.  It’s discipleship.

My church’s mission statement is “we exist to reach people far from God and develop reproducing disciples, one life at a time.”  I especially love the phrase “one life at a time”.  Because discipleship takes time and investment in an individual person. When we see the learners in our ministries as individuals in need of Jesus or as a believer who needs someone to come alongside them and help them grow in their faith, differentiation becomes more than a “strategy”.  It becomes the avenue of eternal impact. 

How Awe & Wonder Supports Differentiation

At Awe & Wonder, we understand the challenges of meeting the needs of students with a wide range of needs. 

That’s why every monthly curriculum unit includes four differentiated levels of our Bible Story Adapted Books. And you get access to all 4 levels as a subscriber- you don’t have to pick which one works best…because what works for one student may not be the best fit for another.

These levels allow you to teach the same story while adjusting the language, complexity, and amount of visual supports.

The Four Levels of Our Adapted Books

Level C

• 1 paragraph per page with modified text based on the Scripture text.  

• 3rd-grade reading level or below

• For learners who have higher literacy/listening comprehension skills

• No symbol supports within the body text.

Great for teens, adults, and any learners with stronger reading or listening comprehension skills who still benefit from visuals and repetition found in the repeated storyline on each page.

Level B

• 1 paragraph per page with added spacing between lines

• Simplified text from Level C

• No symbol supports within the body text

Great for independent readers who benefit from shorter text or for learners with good listening comprehension but a more limited ability to attend to longer passages.

Level A

• Around 3 sentences per page

• Simplified text
  Symbol supports within the body of text

Great for non-readers or emerging readers who benefit from visual supports for comprehension, learners with shorter attention spans, and younger ages.

Level AA

• 1–2 sentences per page

• Simple text with symbol supports

• Less detailed but still communicates biblical and theological truths

Great for non-readers, emerging readers, and learners with very limited attention spans.

Bonus: Monthly Repeated Reader

Each month also includes a Repeated Reader, which is a supplemental adapted book that:

• Provides 1 page per story for the month (so 4-5 pages total in the book)

• Uses matching symbols for each page

• Simplifies each story into 1–2 sentences

• Ties all stories to the bigger monthly theme

One of the most impactful ways to differentiate is to extend discipleship beyond Sunday and empower families with tools to disciple their children at home.

Church subscribers to our curriculum have permission to share copies of our adapted books with families, either printed copies or digital.

This allows families to:

• Review the story at home

• Choose the level that fits their child best

• Revisit stories throughout the week/month

• Be equipped with resources to teach their child about Jesus!

Even if you use one level in the classroom, families can access a different level at home for more individualized support.

This is differentiation that continues all week!  

Differentiation is saying: “You matter enough for us to teach this in a way you can understand.”

That is discipleship, friends.

And it’s why we designed Awe & Wonder’s curriculum the way we did - equipping you to meet the needs of all learners in your ministry while teaching the same biblical truth.

If you are interested in learning more about our curriculum, check it out here.

(Psst..there’s SO much more than our adapted books included in each month’s unit!)

If you’re looking for some more tips about adapting curriculum for multiple levels, grab this FREE handout below!