Disability & The Church

Disability & The Church national disability ministry conference, hosted by Key Ministry, will be in Orlando, FL May 1-3, 2024. Our venue is Calvary Orlando.

The Schedule

We know you are excited to learn more about what to expect at Disability & The Church 2024 taking place at Calvary Orlando on May 1-3. We'll announce our speaker lineup next month, but here's the preliminary schedule so that you can start planning your time in Orlando. Early bird registration will open in mid-January.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 

11:30am – 1:00pm: Early Check-In 

1:00pm – 4:30pm: optional Ministry Intensives (registration required; additional fee) 

THURSDAY, MAY 2 

7:30am – 8:30am: Check-In 

8:30am – 9:15am: DATC2024 officially begins with All Conference Gathering 

9:45am – 11:00am: Block #1

11:30am – 12:45pm: Block #2 

12:45pm – 2:00pm: Block #3 (lunch & community conversations; boxed lunch included) 

2:15pm – 3:00pm: Block #4 

3:30pm – 4:45pm: Block #5 

5:00pm – 5:45pm: All Conference Gathering 

5:45pm – 7:00pm: optional Community Conversation (registration required, no additional fee; appetizers included)

FRIDAY, MAY 3 

8:30am – 9:15am: All Conference Gathering 

9:45am – 11:00am: Block #6 

11:30am – 12:45pm: Block #7 

12:45pm – 2:00pm: Block #8 (lunch & community conversations; boxed lunch included) 

2:15pm – 3:00pm: Block #9 

3:30pm – 4:15pm: Block #10 

4:30pm – 5:15pm: DATC2024 officially ends with All Conference Gathering 

Friday evening: optional “Behind the Scenes at Make ‘m Smile” networking event with Nathaniel’s Hope at Lake Eola Park (registration required, no additional fee). And, stick around Orlando on Saturday, May 4 for Make 'm Smile.

As a bonus to their conference time in Orlando, Disability & The Church 2024 attendees will have a very special opportunity to experience an event hosted by our friends in ministry, Nathaniel's Hope. On Saturday, May 4, the morning after DATC2024 ends, Nathaniel's Hope 22nd Annual Make 'm Smile event will take place at Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando. It's a big party celebrating kids and adults with all types of disabilities -- VIPs -- and it draws crowds of over 30,000 each year. Make 'm Smile started as a way to remember the birthday of Nathaniel's Hope founders' (Tim & Marie Kuck) son, Nathaniel. It features family entertainment, games, characters, petting zoos, food, helpful resources from the community, a friendship walk, and lots of smiles! 

On Saturday, come as a VIP and be an honored guest or join as a Buddy and participate in the friendship stroll.

Interested in seeing what it takes to get ready for Make ‘m Smile? Join us Friday evening, May 3rd, for a private tour of what setting up for this event looks like. You’ll have a chance to experience beautiful Lake Eola Park, located in the heart of downtown Orlando and see the systems that have been put in place that allows a team of over 100 volunteers prep the space for the thousands of VIPs and their families coming to Make ‘m Smile! Space is limited; DATC2024 registrants will be provided a link to reserve their spot at the Friday night behind-the-scenes private tour.