A while back I posted a story about ways that dogs were being engaged as service animals to assist people on the Autism Spectrum. It seems like quite a few organizations are doing this work now. I am impressed as I read about the training that is taking place to help these amazing animals make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

This week I learned of a blog started by a mother of a young boy with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). The family is training with their new dog as I write. I want to commend the blog to you.

The new dog that this mother writes about is being provided by an organization called 4 Paws for Ability. Check out their site and learn about the wonderful work they are doing.

The work that so many of us do to build communities with people with disabilities is happening all around us. There are amazing men, women, children and animals engaged in this community building effort. I am grateful for families and organizations that engage in this work.

I received an e-mail from a colleague about I’m Tyler…Don’t Be Surprised.  I watched the video on the web site and I was very impressed with the content and the presentation. I talk to people quite often who are searching for resources to discuss disability awareness in their congregations and communities. I’m Tyler…Don’t be Surprised does an excellent job addressing some of the myths about people with disabilities.

Here’s a description of the video from the web site:

Tyler is a typical high school student who happens to have cerebral palsy and some other challenges.  He has taken on a mission to educate the world about Ability Awareness.  He believes that what a person, any person, CAN do is much more important than what he/she can’t.  The people in Tyler’s life who have seen this and practiced Ability Awareness have made all the difference in the world to him.His mission started as an Eagle Scout Project and has grown into a dream.

If you’d like to help keep Tyler’s dream alive, please share the DVD with all who need to hear the message of Ability Awareness… Everyone!

I commend the video to you as a wonderful springboard for a conversation about people with disabilities and the gifts they bring to our schools, congregations and neighborhoods.

This article is about Baptist Churches and some resources that are available for outreach to people with disabilities and their families.

I have been thinking about posting this for a couple of days and I wasn’t sure how to put it all together. I am deeply saddened by the loss.

I read a blog post here earlier this week about a young man named Brent Martin. Brent was a young 20-something with an intellectual disability. He was allegedly beaten and killed by three young men ages 21, 17, and 16.

I have been very impressed with some of the innovative ways the story is being shared and Mr. Martin is being remembered. You can read here, here and here about some of the ways people with disabilities, their families and allies are remembering and being affected by this story and the life of Brent Martin.

The work that we do to build communities where people with disabilities and their families are welcomed in, invited to share their stories, and engaged in sharing their gifts is vital work. This is the work of speaking life into a world where too often death is prevalent.

If you wonder why it is important for your church, masjid or synagogue to welcome people with disabilities the truth is that there are too many Brent Martin’s in the world. There are too many people walking down our streets alone with no one to watch out for them.

We live in communities, religious and otherwise, together so that we can be safer, stronger, and better together than we can be alone. I don’t know whether religion was an important factor in Brent Martin’s life and it doesn’t matter to me either way practically. I believe that Brent was created in the image of G-d and G-d mourned when Brent died at the hands of bullies who hit him because he was an easy target.

It is my hope that we can continue to build communities where people are safe, warm, loved and valued for the gifts G-d has given them to share with the world. This work matters and we need each other because this can be an awfully lonely and scary place when we have to go it alone.

I pray today for Brent Martin, his family and all of the other people with disabilities that feel unsafe on the streets of our cities. May we see the world’s loss of Brent Martin as a call to continue the work of community building and community strengthening!

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Update: Dave Hingsburger’s post What Next talks about what we can do with the energy the memory of Brent Martin has generated.

Reposted From December 14th:

The schedule for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has just been released and I am glad to see that  the film Praying with Lior is on the schedule. I have heard about the film for several months. It is a documentary a boy named Lior Liebling who is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.

The filmâ??s description from the Atlanta Jewish Film Festivalâ??s web site says,

â??Ilana Trachtmanâ??s affecting documentary presents a real-world story of faith, the heart wrenching challenges of a child with disabilities, and the complex relationship Lior shares with family, friends and community.â?

A number of friends who have viewed the film have commended it to me. I will definitely go see the film during the festival.

If you live in the Atlanta area you should try to see the film. It will be shown on the following dates:

Sunday, January 20, 2008  at 11:50 AM

Tuesday, January 22,  2008 at 2:20 PM

Both showings will take place at the LeFont Theater in Sandy Springs.

You can get more information about the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival here.

Are you:

A Georgian living with a disability who is interested in learning about how to advocate for the change you want to see in the world?

You can BE That change! Start by applying to participate in Georgia Voices That Count.  Georgia Voices That Count is an advocacy training led by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.

Download an application here.  The application deadline is January 31, 2008.

If you have questions contact Linda Pogue at (404) 687-8890 x 114 or Margo Waters at (404) 687-8890 x110.

I saw this post this morning from Faith and Heath Wire.

The blogger references an article from Your Church Magazine titled Prepare the Way: Practical Ways to Make Your Church accessible to All.

The Quote from the article that really resonated with me was the following:

While new church construction frequently incorporates accessibility features such as single-level architecture, elevators, and no steps, leaders of older churches face the more difficult task of increasing the accessibility of their structures. But leaders of any church who want to remove physical barriers must first remove mental obstacles.

From our experience, when a senior pastor or a board starts thinking about these kinds of issues, they think, Wow, what is this going to cost?’ says Bundy. We want them to start thinking first about what is already accessible. How can we minister without adding an overall financial burden to the church? Some of these methods can be done at a relatively low cost.

My experience working with congregations to make their communities more accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities has taught me much. I think it is always important to help communities recognize and celebrate the ways they have already been meeting the needs of people with disabilities.

Some examples of this might include:

1. Providing copies of sermons and/or services in audio.
2. Providing a sound system that is in good working order with properly trained people to operate it.
3. Providing adequate lighting in the worship space for people with low-vision.
4. Providing transportation to and from services and activities.
5. Using microphones efficiently and effectively so that people who are hard of hearing have an opportunity to hear and take part in the congregation’s services and activities.
6. Providing accessible parking that is close to accessible entrances.
7. Using your congregation’s web site to post audio of services, sermons, etc.
8. Posting orders of service on the your congregation’s web site so that worshipers have an opportunity to prepare to fully participate in advance of their attendance.

These are just a few idea of things that are already taking place in some congregations. If your congregation is doing any of these things now you are on the road to a more accessible an inclusive congregation.

Celebrate and be challenged to take the next step on the journey toward building a community where everyone is invited to worship, study, serve and provide leadership.

Are their other ideas of accessibility that your congregation can celebrate as it continues the journey toward full-access and inclusion?

This blog is one component of a larger suite of resources offered by the Interfaith Disability Connection at the Bobby Dodd Institute. Below find a synopsis of the program, its purpose and the tools it offers.

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Bobby Dodd Institute Offers Interfaith Disability Connection

Nonprofit Program Bridges Gap Between People with Disabilities and Atlanta Faith-Based Communities

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Do people with disabilities have full access to religious service and worship? Unfortunately, no. Although 84 percent of people with a disability state religious faith is important to them, less than half attend a religious service at least once a month.

In an effort to help faith communities create physically and socially accessible environments for people with disabilities, the Bobby Dodd Institute, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, has created the Interfaith Disability Connection (IDC). The one-of-a-kind program works to connect the disability community and congregational leadership to promote understanding and alleviate the unique challenges faced by this group, especially accessibility and inclusivity.

â??Faith serves as a vital motivation and comfort to people of all backgrounds,â? said Wayne McMillan, president and CEO of the Bobby Dodd Institute. â??Unfortunately, people with disabilities face certain physical and social barriers to religious service and worship. Through Interfaith Disability Connection, we hope to unite Americaâ??s largest minority group with their chosen faith community, establishing a culture of inclusion and support that is welcoming to people of all walks of life.â?

The IDC Solution
The IDC offers congregational leaders, people with disabilities, students and families/caregivers help in building deeper faith-based relationships and promoting understanding among diverse groups. Key components of the program include an interactive online resource center, one-on-one expert consultations and a yearly summit featuring experienced guest speakers. In addition to an ongoing interactive blog, the IDC site features tools including:

Resources for Congregational Leaders

• Accessibility Checklist â?? Offers step-by-step guidelines to help create an inviting and accommodating environment for attendees with disabilities
• Inclusion Committee How-Tos â?? Encourages organizations to commission a leadership group dedicated to monitoring the current state of affairs of members with disabilities, assessing necessary adjustments and promoting change
• Theological Forum â?? Features an online library of thought-provoking interpretations of scripture within the context of meaningful inclusion of people with disabilities
• Ask-An-Expert â?? Allows congregational leaders to ask leading experts specific questions concerning the disability community and address ways to create a more welcoming worship environment

Resources for People with Disabilities, Families and Caregivers

• WorshipLink â?? Provides an in-depth, searchable online database of religious centers and places of worship outlining available accommodations and services
• Advocacy Outreach â?? Outlines proposed public policy surrounding the disability community, encouraging legislative change
• Support Groups â?? Provides people with disabilities, families and caregivers with advice and input on forming social and emotional support networks

Become a Member Today
Are you interested in joining the IDC? Visit www.interfaithdisability.org to sign up as a friend of the IDC and gain access to tips and resources available in the nonmember portion of the Web site. Annual membership dues will be required for unlimited access to the site and its full suite of resources.

 

The Evangelical Covenant Church is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. I recently came across resources the denomination has put together to encourage their congregations to work to welcome people with disabilities in ECC Congregations. They offer a wide range of resources to connect congregations who are working to welcome people with disabilities. Check out the information the ECC has put together.

I am grateful for the commitment of the Evangelical Covenant Church to this life-giving work.