I recently tool some different lists of disability categories and tried to combine
them into a simplified list with a minimal number of categories. Categories can be
an effective way to group together certain characteristics that may (or may not)
be useful in understanding more about a person who fits into that category.
Since that attempt to categorize disability, I've thought about a more effective
way to provide useful information that may pertain to a characteristic of a disability
without unnecessarily stereotyping a person who has a specific disability with all of
the other characteristics that different persons with that same disability may have.
Perhaps a listing of characteristics to a disability category, multiple categories as
well as persons without disabilities. For example, the characteristic 'difficulty
understanding abstract concepts' is present across multiple disability categories and
as well as persons without disabilities. If this characteristic were listed in a training
manual it could then be accompanied by helpful information to provide support for a
person with that characteristic.
I just came across the website of John M. Hull and found a wealth thoughts on religion, spirituality and the overlap of the two. I especially enjoyed the link to his writings on Blindness and disability where you can find essays with the following titles: A Spirituality of Disability, Blindness and the Face of God and Open Letter from a Blind Disciple to a Sighted Savior. Not only has he written some great stuff, but he's put a lot of it online for our reading pleasure- enjoy.
This article is from the Boston Globe published earlier this year tells of a young man with Down syndrome who became a Bar Mitzvah and discusses some of the challenges that persons with disabilities face in religious organizations.From the article...
Despite the 14 years since the Americans With Disabilities Act became law, there remains a sizable religious participation gap in the United States. Experts estimate about half of the country's religious buildings, which are not subject to ADA requirements, are still not handicapped accessible. According to a 2002 survey conducted by the National Organization of Disability, 47 percent of Americans with disabilities attend religious services at least once per month, compared with 65 percent of those without disabilities.
Publisher: The Haworth Pastoral Press
Editors: William C. Gaventa, Jr., MDiv, David L. Coulter, MD
Format: Book, 182 pp.
Spirituality and Intellectual Disability: International Perspectives on the Effect of Culture and Religion on Healing Body, Mind , and Soul was co-published as an issue of the Journal of Religion, Disability & Health (Volume 5, Numbers 2/3 2001). It includes "a collection of articles on spirituality, religion, and people with intellectual disabilities which came from presentations at the 2000 Conference of the the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities" (IASSID).
That question isn't answered, but we do get to hear the perspectives of various people who discuss the role faith plays in living with a disability. The poem cited in the transcript is titled Creating God and is available on the National Organization on Disability website.
I had a very limited knowledge of Corrie ten Boom
until reading the Hiding Place the last couple of weeks and was pleasantly
surprised to learn that she was involved in her own disability
ministry. Consider this exchange (in her own words) of a conversation in a Nazi prison camp:
"Your other activities, Miss ten Boom. What would you like to tell me about them?"
"Other activities? Oh, you mean- you want to know about my church for mentally retarded people!" and I plunged into an eager account of my efforts at preaching to the feeble-minded.
The lieutenant's eyebrows rose higher and higher. "What a waste of time and energy!" he exploded at last. "If you want converts, surely one normal person is worth all the half-wits in the world!"
I stared into the man's intelligent blue-gray eyes: true National-Socialist philosophy I thought, tulip bed or no. And then to my astonishment I heard my own voice saying boldy, "May I tell you the truth, Lieutentant Rahms?"
"This hearing, Miss ten Boom, is predicated on the assumpition that you will do me that honor."
"The truth , Sir," I said, swallowing, "is that God's viewpoint is sometimes different from ours- so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things."
I knew it was madness to talk this way to a Nazi officer. But he said nothing so I plunged ahead. "In the Bible I learn that God values us not for our strength or our brains but simply because He has made us. Who knows, in His eyes a half-wit may be worth more than a watchmaker. Or- a lieutenant."
I've been up into the wee hours of the morning the last few nights install a new links directory and move all of the old links into the new system. The new system should look better and be easier to get around, find what you are looking for and suggest additional links- take a moment to look at it when you get a chance.
On a sidenote, I also posted an About the Site page for anyone who may be interested.
This recently came across a listserv in case any one is interested...
Position: Chaplain and Director of Chaplaincy Department
Location: Denton State School
3980 State School Road (P.O. Box 368, 76202)
Denton, TX
Salary Range: $32,988-37,322 plus state employee benefits package
Setting: Denton State School is a residential facility for 650 adults with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. It is located on 200 acres on the south side of Denton, Texas, north of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Denton State School is part of the Department of Aging and Disability Services for the State of Texas.
Welcome to Faithability- the humble beginnings of what I hope will eventually be an online resource center for all things related to religion, spirituality and disability. If you are interested in some of the information that is out there you can begin by visiting the directory I've started putting together. Alternatively, if you know of any resources that are not included in the directory but should be, please let me know.
If you have any thoughts on what is currently here or have any suggestions for future additions, please take a moment to leave a comment and thanks for stopping by.
I just came a cross a couple of articles written by Valerie Brew-Parrish titled The Wrong Message and The Wrong Message -- Still that explain why oft-used disability simulation exercises should be completely abolished. From the article:
Overwhelming feelings of pity well up in those who simulate a disability -- and pity does not equate with dignity. Disability simulations rob persons with disabilities of their dignity and self respect.
