A man in a purple shirt and dark pants standing on marble floor inside a historic marble structure with large marble columns featuring cracks, overlooking a cityscape with mountains in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

Build a Culture of Belonging. Not Just Compliance.

Disability inclusion isn't a program. It's a culture. And culture takes more than a workshop.

Dan works with churches, nonprofits, Christian schools, and ministry organizations to help them understand where they actually are on the disability inclusion journey and develop a clear, honest path forward. He brings 30 years of experience, a globally-tested framework, and a perspective that comes from living with a disability himself.

FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION

Start the Conversation

How Dan Can Help

  • ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT

    Using the 5 Stages framework, Dan conducts a structured assessment of your organization's current attitudes, practices, and culture around disability. The result is a clear picture of where you are and an honest conversation about what comes next.

  • STAFF & VOLUNTEER TRAINING

    Customized training sessions that introduce the 5 Stages, build a shared vocabulary across your team, and create a foundation for ongoing change. Available in person or virtually.

  • LEADERSHIP CONSULTATION

    For senior leaders and boards who want to move disability inclusion from a program to a priority. Direct consultation on strategy, culture change, and the structural shifts that make belonging possible.

  • SPEAKING AND TRAINING PACKAGES

    Invite Dan to speak at a conference or all-staff event, then engage him for follow-up training or consultation. These packages ensure the conversation doesn't end when the event does.

WHO THIS IS FOR

Who Dan Works With

  • Churches and denominations building accessible, welcoming communities

  • Disability-focused nonprofits and ministries

  • Christian schools and universities

  • Parachurch organizations and mission agencies

  • Faith-based organizations with DEI commitments

Group of five people smiling and talking in a room with wooden walls. A woman wears a green shirt, and two men wear dark shirts. The woman has her hand on her chest, and one man has his hand on the woman's shoulder. Everyone appears cheerful and engaged.

Why Work With Dan?

  • A simple line drawing of a person with three stars below them.

    30+ YEARS

    in disability ministry and organizational development    

  • Two speech bubbles, one with the letters 'A' and the other with a Japanese character for 'a'.

    27 LANGUAGES

    The 5 Stages is available in

  • Illustration of a globe showing North and South America with a partial circular frame around it, on a black background.

    6 CONTINENTS

    reached

A middle-aged man with glasses, short gray hair, and a beard, smiling in front of a presentation screen with a chart labeled 'IGNORANCE'. The screen contains text about disabilities and awareness.
“Dan Vander Plaats’ 5 Stages of Disability Attitudes is one of the most effective tools available to help churches assess their culture of inclusion. It enables leaders to understand where their congregation is on the continuum of disability attitudes and intentionally guide people toward true belonging. Most importantly, it reinforces a powerful biblical principle: we should never do ministry for people with disabilities without doing ministry with them as valued co-laborers in Christ.”
— Jillian Palmiotto, Founder and Executive Director, Together We Care | Acworth, GA

What People Are Saying

Let's Talk About Your Organization

Every organization is at a different stage. Tell Dan a bit about where you are and what you're hoping to accomplish. He'll respond personally within a few business days.

A man smiling and sitting on a fallen log at a pond with lily pads, surrounded by trees in a forest.