Brooke Gulvas recognized for disability inclusion work in churches

Brooke Gulvas, founder of JAM Agency in Finksburg, Maryland, is being highlighted for helping churches build more accessible and welcoming spaces for families affected by disability. Her work blends faith-based advocacy, education and lived experience to move congregations from intention to action.

Why it matters: - Families affected by disability often struggle to find church communities that are accessible, understanding and supportive. - JAM Agency aims to help churches turn inclusion into a practical culture, not just a policy statement. - The work matters for faith leaders who want to welcome more families without overlooking access needs.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Brooke Gulvas as a Disability Inclusion Consultant and founder of JAM Agency. - Gulvas is based in Finksburg, Maryland. - JAM Agency was established in 2024 to support families of individuals with disabilities and help churches build more inclusive and accessible communities. - The featured profile highlights Gulvas’s work advancing faith-based inclusion through advocacy, education and lived experience.

The details: - Gulvas draws on personal experience as a sibling to a brother with autism and as a mother to a son with multiple disabilities. - Her background in elementary education helped shape her understanding of barriers families face in church settings. - Gulvas spent 15 years in education, specializing in early childhood and special needs instruction. - She also spent eight years in retail management, building leadership, operations and organizational skills. - JAM Agency offers customized training, program development and strategic consulting for churches. - One core initiative, “Jesus Accepts Me Principles,” gives congregations tools, language and frameworks for disability inclusion. - Gulvas frames inclusion as a culture that must be intentionally built and sustained. - Her work centers on advocacy, faith and community-building. - Gulvas also spends time with her family, enjoys outdoor activities and describes her life as purpose-driven service. - More information

Between the lines: - The profile positions Gulvas’s lived experience as the foundation for her consulting approach. - Her message reflects a broader shift in disability inclusion work: access alone is not enough without belonging and support. - The article also suggests churches can become a key point of transformation for families seeking community. - Gulvas cites advice from a college professor that passion should survive hard times and that losing joy in the work is a sign to move on. - She encourages young women in advocacy and consulting to follow work that aligns with their values and moral foundation. - Her comments point to one of the field’s biggest challenges: helping people move beyond comfort zones to engage with communities they do not fully understand.

What's next: - Gulvas says she will keep helping churches identify accessibility gaps and build more compassionate responses. - JAM Agency is positioned to continue expanding training and consulting for faith communities seeking deeper inclusion. - The profile suggests future growth will come from more churches adopting practical disability inclusion frameworks.

The bottom line: - Gulvas is using personal experience, education and consulting to push churches toward more meaningful disability inclusion.