I had the privilege of teaming with The Reverend Benno Pattison, Mary Lou Vergara and Ana Martin to present a workshop during Ministry Fair 2010 for the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta. The title of the workshop was “The Changing Face of Disability in our Parishes.” It is my intent to write about some of the insights and resources I gained from the conversation over the next week or so.

Mary Lou Vergara from the Atlanta Regional Commission came to present about issues facing older adults in our congregations. I was reminded about how issues of accessibility and welcome are central in keeping elders engaged in the work of the community. I was also struck by the idea that congregations often plan events and outreach to elders without consulting them about their needs and desires.

Mary Lou shared some resources with participants to help them enter into thought and conversation regarding including the voices, experiences, needs, and dreams of elders. Here are some examples:

Aging & Disability Resource Connection:One Call to open doors to resources for community based programs and supports for elders and people with disabilities. (404) 463-3333.

Resources from the United Methodist Church’s Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries

I was reminded of something I heard from Dr. John Banja from the Ethics Center at Emory a number of years ago. He said, “life is a journey from disability and dependence toward independence and then back towards disability and dependence.” This begs the question then, who are people with disabilities? I believe the answer might be each of us is a person with a disability eventually. Given this reality it is important to plan congregations that are accessible to and welcoming of the people we will become.

I would love to know what your congregation/faith group is doing to plan for the presence and participation of peole as they age?

The Summer edition of Making A Difference Magazine from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities features five articles about the power congregations have to be places of inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities and their families.

Making A Difference Magazine Summer 2009

Thank you to Reverend Bill Gaventa, Ginny Thornburgh, Imam Furqan Muhammad, Pastor Devin Strong, Rabbi Harvey Winokur, Reverend Denny and Varion Spear, Pat Nobbie and many others for their work in lifting the profile of this important issue.

Thank you to The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities for shining a light on religious leaders and congregations who actively engaging people with disabilities in worship, study, service and leadershi.

This year’s Atlanta Magazine’s High School Essay Contest asked students to respond to the question: What is the most pressing civil/human rights issue of your generation? Harrison Saylor, a junior at Flowery Branch High School answered the question with his essay titled: People First: Rethinking how we think of people with disabilities.

I am grateful for Harrison’s contribution and his involvement in the lives of people with disabilities at his high school. I am thankful for the people at Atlanta Magazine for shining a light on this important issue.

The Georgia Aquarium is hosting it’s 1st Abilities celebration. The event will take place February 4-7, 2009. The Abilities Celebration will feature a variety of performers with disabilities, as well as meet & greet sessions with notable individuals with disabilities.

It is wonderful that the aquarium is offering this opportunity. You can get additional information here.

Jewish Family & Career Services will host The Larry Bregman Educational Conference on February 28th & March 1st, 2009. The keynote speaker for the event is Reverend Al Mead and if you heard Al at the 2008 Interfaith Disability Connection Conference you know he will be GREAT!

I have volunteered at the Bregman Conference in the past and it is a wonderful conference. The conference offers a track for self-advocates (people with disabilities) and a track for family members. Both tracks offer education and fun to participants. The workshop lineup looks great!

You can download the Registration form for 2009 Larry Bregman Conference and you can view the website for the conference here.

I got the news from PatriciaEBauer.com

I had the amazing experience of planning a retreat that Jean led here in Atlanta in the summer of 2002. I count my time at that retreat as one of the privileges of my life. I found Vanier to be one of the most grace-full people I have met.

The work of L’Arche is an important sign of life for which I am grateful. i am especially grateful for the way L’Arche has become a multi-faith proposition in the last 5 years.

Vanier’s work on behalf fo L’Arche and his writing are significant because they envision disability in profound ways. I am most grateful for Vanier’s insights around relationship building and peace-making. These insights are significant to me because they spring directly from his experience of befriending people with disabilities.

I am thankful to Jean Vanier for his lifetime of service to G-D, to people with disabilities and to our broken world. I am also grateful for awards like the Nation Builder of the Year because they give the world an opportunity to learn about this great servant-leader.

Sunday morning is usually a time for Sunday school and worship in my congregation. This past Sunday I found myself at the conference of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta. I heard no hymns sung and there was no sermon preached ,to my knowledge, but I left feeling empowered and changed by an encounter with something sacred.

I had the privledge or moderating a panel discussion between a really fabulous young woman with Down Syndrome and the father of a young man with Down Syndrome.

The presenters told stories of connections made and missed. They told stories of G_d’s people reaching out and and failing to do so. The young woman and the father told stories that painted pictures of both exclusion and embrace. It was heart breaking an uplifting in turns.

The stories of both of the families repesented on the panel ended on this day in ways that offer me hope that we can all find communities where we can be welcomed, loved and challeged to become out best selves.

I encountered G-d in the stories of connections made and opportunities afforded. I am so thankful that I was invited to be a part of this extraordinary conversation.

Thank you to the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta and to the two amazing conversation partners I had on Sunday.

It is my hope that we cultivate many more opportunities to hear and tell truth that arises out of lives lived in families with people with disabilities. I pray that each time I am challenged to sit and listen that I will have the opportunity to worship in unconventional places like the Down Syndrome Association conference.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter recently became a congregational member of the Interfaith Disability Connection. We are grateful for their commitment to building congregations where acceptance, inclusion and belonging are at the heart of what it means to be community. If you are not familiar with the story of Holy Comforter you can read about it here.

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter operates the Friendship Center, Which is a day program for people with mental Illness and other disabilities.

The Work of Our Hands hosts an artist Market. The funds raised by the Artist Market are used to support the work of the Friendship Center and Emmaus House 

Please consider visiting the artist maket to support this vital work and whole you’re at it, pick up some wonderful gifts for the holidays.

Work of Our Hands Artist Market 2008

Are you looking to have some fun with with the whole family on Saturday? Check this out!

 For the month of September, Ramps for Champs, will be building handicap ramps FREE OF CHARGE for Cobb County residents who need a ramp at their residence.  Ramps for Champs is a group of retired AT&T employees.  The ramps are built according to GA and Federal standards.            

 Please let your church members know of this opportunity.  For more information contact Billy Griffith at 770-435-1082.