‘One Body, Many Parts’: Independence or Interdependence?
Disability Awareness Sunday 2026
‘One Body, Many Parts’ (1 Corinthians 12) is the theme of this year’s Disability Awareness Sunday on 27th September 2026. Young autistic Christian author, Triona Brading, is encouraging all churches to ‘save the date'!
Triona is one of the authors of a new book: ‘Belonging without Barriers’, a much-needed resource on disability inclusion as a gospel issue, due out on 20 March 2026. Also by Triona Brading is ‘In His Image’, a colourful children’s book on what it means to be neurodivergent.
For Disability Awareness Sunday, Triona is teaming up with charity Through the Roof on a new free resource for churches, due out in April, exploring how all types of people are needed in God’s Church – including those who are disabled or neurodivergent.
In a video to accompany the resource, Triona will share her story of discovering, aged 21, that she is autistic. She is passionate about sharing the truth that being ‘different’ (in how your body or brain works) does not stop you being part of God’s family or using your gifts to strengthen it. ‘You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.’ (1 Cor. 12:27).
What is ‘Interdependence’?
Interdependence is depending on each other and on God to support our needs. The world encourages us to depend on no-one but ourselves. But Jesus encouraged true community and interdependence.
The beauty of an interdependent church is the opportunity to bless and serve each other, bringing our unique gifts, skills, experiences, strengths and weaknesses for God to use to build his kingdom.
Triona herself explains how she sees God’s family, the Church, as interdependent:
‘Every part is needed: [1 Cor. 12] verse 21 gives quite a funny visual to imagine... (As an autistic person, I might chuckle to myself because I will imagine it literally happening!) “The eye can’t say to the hand ‘I don’t need you’. The head can’t say to the feet ‘I don’t need you’. In fact, it’s quite the opposite”.
Can you imagine it?! Body parts going rogue and breaking free of the body, hopping away and trying to live independently of one another? … That’s the thing about us as the Body of Christ. We need one another!’
Tim Wood, CEO of Through the Roof, who wrote the Foreword to the book ‘Belonging Without Barriers’, says:
‘At its core, accessibility is a theological issue. The Church is the Body of Christ and every member is an indispensable part of it (1 Cor 12). … Scripture teaches about inclusion, dignity and (one of Through the Roof's core values) interdependence. In a world that often prioritises independence and perfection, the gospel offers a different vision: interdependence and grace. Interdependence recognises that we are dependent on God and interdependent upon one another. Arguably it is modelled by God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.’
Join us to celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday
Celebrate Disability Awareness Sunday on 27 September 2026 or on any Sunday!
It is a chance for churches across the UK to begin or deepen conversations about inclusion of disabled and neurodivergent people. It’s about being God’s family, journeying together.
Download the free resources to show Triona’s video, involve disabled people in worship, and take a step toward a church where every person belongs and can play an active part.
📥 Get a copy the free resources (in English or Welsh) at:
throughtheroof.org/forchurches/disability-awareness-sunday
🙏 Be part of the movement. Let’s transform lives together.
Through the Roof is a UK Christian disability charity, named after the original ‘Roofbreakers’ who lowered the paralysed man through the roof to Jesus (Luke 5).
Their mission: transforming lives through Jesus with disabled people.
The charity resources volunteer Roofbreakers – local disability champions who help guide their churches on a journey of Access, Belonging, and Commission.
Follow Through the Roof on socials @TTRChangesLives or visit www.throughtheroof.org
Find Triona on Instagram @triona.creative.discipleship