Untangling Oppressions:
Conversations on Women & Disability
Thursday, November 8, 7:00-9:00pm at the Georgia Tech Women’s Resource Center

This discussion will explore the unique challenges and/or needs of women living with disabilities and the impact of disability on their lives. People with and without disabilities are encouraged to attend. Facilitated by Kate Gainer of the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). This program is a collaborative effort between the Office of Diversity Issues & Programs, ADAPTS-Disability Services Office, and the WRC. Please RSVP to Tameeka Hunter at thunter@gatech.edu if would like to attend. This program will take place at the Georgia Tech’s Women’s Resource Center Conference Room, Suite 128, which is located at 353 Ferst Drive, Atlanta Georgia 30332. For directions to the building, click here: http://www.adapts.gatech.edu/contact.html.

Candice Lange publishes a blog  called Making Connections, Finding Solutions with a calendar of events for families who have members with disabilities. She updates the calendar regularly and uses the blog to let her readers know about helpful resources.

I applaud Candice for her advocacy on behalf of families with members with disabilities.

I will put a link to the blog in the sidebar. You can e-mail Candice if you are interested in getting her periodic calendar of Special Needs Events updates.

Do you know of advocates putting this information together for other parts of Georgia?

I have been reading my way through Gordon Atkinson’s book RealLivePreacher.com recently. I came across Real Live Preacher on his blog a couple of years ago. He provides must read blog content on a regular basis.

One of the stories that really had me nodding my head in agreement and remembering a similar story from my life was titled Crocodile Hunter. Please go and read the piece and spend some time with Real Live Preacher if you are so inclined.

Crocodile Hunter is a story of vulnerability and connection. The point that Gordon makes that I want to put a fine point on is that people like his friends Robert and Jonah have no choice but vulnerability. People with disabilities must ask for help to do the things we cannot do. People who do not have disabilities can hide the vulnerability to greater or lesser degrees.

Gordon seems to say that vulnerability in relationship is a gift that people like Jonah and Robert give to their communities and the rest of the world. I agree wholeheartedly.

Relationships can and do change perception like no disability awareness training can.

In a world where seventy to ninety percent of women with disabilities experience abuse vulnerability must be shared in communities of love and justice. We must do everything in our power to insure that the gift of vulnerability does not become an opportunity to take advantage of our most vulnerable citizens.

Do you know a Crocodile Hunter? Have you ever been the Crocodile Hunter? (I would have to answer “yes” to both of my questions.)
How do we respect vulnerability as a virtue to be shared and people with disabilities as givers of this gift while recognizing the dark side of this equation?

Definitely more questions to ponder today than wisdom shared.

The Living Section of today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution features a great profile of Bob Freeman, Board member at The Bobby Dodd Institute and President of the Interfaith Disability Connection Board. Please read the story and get to know Bob a little better.

I am thankful for Bob’s support and friendship over the last 5 or six years. I am also thankful for all of the ways he has chosen to participate in Tikun Olam.

Nancy Eiesland’s book The Disabled God was my introduction to theology about disability over ten years ago. The concept of the disabled God was helpful to me at that point because it really pointed to a God that was capable of identifying with the lived realities of people with disabilities. I still hold that this is one of the most important pieces of wisdom from the book 10 years down the trail.

I came across this sermon by the Reverend Thee Smith, who is on the staff at The Episcopal Cathedral of St. Phillip in Atlanta. The sermon talks about why this image of Jesus give hope and the potential of healing to non-disabled.

The Reverend Smith seems to say that Eiesland’s image of the Disabled God gives each of us permission to stop trying to be “perfect” and instead to seek after a “spirituality of im-perfection”.

I think this notion of a spirituality of im-perfection is good news for all of humanity.

Please give the sermon your consideration and let me know what you think.

I have posted here previously about the writing and work of Dave Hingsburger and his blog titled Chewing the Fat. Dave is one of the most observant bloggers. If you aren’t already a regular reader of the blog please consider adding it to your blog reader.

This post really resonated with me. I have lived this experience.

When I was in high school I had an accident that caused me to have a concussion. When my mother took me to the emergency room the doctor’s first question was about the cause of my limp. When my mom told the doctor that I had cerebral palsy the doctor assumed that my cognitive functioning was permanently impaired. My mother, who is 5 feet tall and a petite lady let the doctor know that I was quite intelligent and that he needed to find out if the accident had caused any serious brain damage.

Thank G-d for my mom and all of the other parents who fight to insure that their children with disabilities get what they need. Thank you for the ways all of you keep an eye on the possibilities.

Here’s to all of the advocates. Please keep up the good work. It matters!

What is the lesson of the healing of the ten lepers (preached in the pulpits of many Christian Churches this past Sunday) if you do not believe that the story is literally about the power of G-d to cure disability?

Reverend Scott Elliott at the Riviera United Church of Christ in Palm Bay, Florida gives an interpretation of the story that is worth reading. You can read his sermon here.

Reverend Elliott provides a model that reminds us that there are so many ways to approach these stories that provide life-giving messages to people of faith with and without disabilities.

I am grateful for the contribution to the conversation at the intersection of religion and disability.

This article from The Washington Jewish Week is about a conference recently hosted by the Religious Action Center for Reform Judaism.

The thing that stands out to me from the article is that the majority of the quotes in the piece come from people with disabilities who are talking about their experiences in synagogues.

We have already come so far in this work within congregations and there remains much to do. I am thankful for all of the people engaged in making the tent more accessible a welcoming for all of G-D’s people.

When I presented to the Religion Division of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities this past summer I had the pleasure of hear Bill Gaventa give a preview of coming attractions coming attractions He discussed Amos Yong’s new Book titled: Theology and Down Syndrome: Re-Imagining Disability in Late Modernity.

I have not read the book yet but I am going to purchase it.

Here’s what one reviewer says about Yong’s contibution:

Amos Yong says he hopes this is an edifying work on theology and Down syndrome. It is certainly that but much more. Yong has done nothing less than provide the most comprehensive analysis we have of the philosophical issues surrounding Down syndrome. But more importantly, drawing on an account of the Holy Spirit, he helps us better appreciate how focusing on disability makes us re-think fundamental theological categories. I highly commend this book not only to those concerned with disability but to anyone who wants to think better about what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. –Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School

As I read the book I am certain I will post more about it. If you have read or plan to read the book I would love to know what you think.

Disability Resources for Breast Cancer Awareness

Thursday, October 11, 7:30-9:00pm
Did you know that there are wheelchair accessible mammogram locations in the Atlanta-Metro area? Did you know that Medicare and Medicaid can pay for a mammogram screening? Did you know that October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month? The Disability Resource Group of Atlanta is doing educational outreach to people with disabilities on breast cancer. This effort will include informational sessions that are fun and interactive to help educate people with disabilities about the importance of breast cancer awareness. This presentation will include exciting door prizes, gifts, and information packets. If you have questions about this program, please contact Empish Thomas at 770-981-3673 or e-mail empish@bellsouth.net.

This important program will be held at Charis Books and More.