About Sandra

image: Sandra accepting the Outstanding Young Alumni award from Hardin-Simmons University in 2021

Sandra Peoples (M. Div, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is one of the leading voices in the special-needs community. She is the author of three books, including her most recent release, Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family (Bethany House, 2018). Sandra also cohosts the popular podcast, Self-Care and Soul Care for the Caregiver where she and Lauren D. Crow provide weekly encouragement to special-needs moms and other caregivers.

Sandra and her husband Lee have two sons—David and James. James has level 3 autism. Sandra also has a sister with Down syndrome, which gives her a life-long perspective on being in a special-needs family. She lives outside of Houston, TX where Lee is a pastor and Sandra serves their church as the inclusion coordinator for special needs families.

Sandra serves the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention as their special-needs ministry consultant helping churches around the state start and strengthen their disability ministries. She enjoys traveling around the country to encourage special-needs parents and support disability ministry leaders at conferences where she has spoken including Wonderfully Made in Kansas City, Inclusion Fusion Live in Cleveland, Ohio, and All Access, a conference she co-hosts in the Houston area.

Sandra’s writing has been featured by the following sites and publications:

Lifeway Research
The ERLC (the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the SBC)
The Gospel Coalition (and here)
Christianity Today
Everyday Faith Magazine from DaySpring
CrossWalk
Outreach Magazine
Key Ministry, where she was the former editor and many of her articles about special-needs ministry can be found
Million Praying Moms

Sandra also enjoys reading (and talking about books with her book club friends), gardening (especially growing cucumbers and making pickles), cooking (her family’s favorite meal right now is Greek chicken pitas with tzatziki sauce), and watching her son David in his theatre performances.