This story comes from East Bruswick, New Jersey!

Click here to check it out.

I especially appreciate her discussion of tools that she and her nephew can employ when they experience vulnerability.

It seems to me that this post provides the seeds of a larger conversation about self-advocacy.

I am grateful for the writing and story-telling that I have come to expect from Wheelie Catholic.

One of the “must read” blogs that shows up in my feed reader is written by a man named Reverend Gordon Atkinson. The blog is title Real Live Preacher. I read the blog because it is consistently thoughtful and well written.

When I opened my feed reader this morning I encountered this wonderful post on CCblogs by Gordon titled:3D Miracle. The reason I mention the post here is because it has a great deal to say about perceptions of disability.

The post begins with a father’s grief about what has been lost. It continues through an understanding about the reality of a child who literally and figuratively sees the world differently. From there something ordinary like going to see a 3D movie provides a common context from which to experience life together. Finally Gordon’s daughter tells him that she prefers her world the way it is.

There are many angles to approach this story from. I will just say that having experiences that open us to each others realities from time to time really is the stuff of everyday miracle. When we have experiences where the “light bulb goes on” and we perceive
reality in new way those are indeed holy moments.

I would love to know what you think?

Imagine the transformation that could occur if we all joined together in achieving the common goal of including people with disabilities in our Jewish organizations and communities.  Imagine the opportunities that would arise if we simultaneously endeavored to raise awareness, increase educational and spiritual growth, and accept every individual in every aspect of the Jewish community.    As the issue of inclusion has been brought towards the forefront of Jewish life and more synagogues, Jewish schools, camps and JCCâ??s have begun to welcome people with disabilities and provide programming to include all.  The Jewish Special Education International Consortium (JSEIC) has proposed that a unified commitment across the religious spectrum be made to designate the month of February as a national month of recognition and commitment to inclusion. To-date the following national organizations have joined our cause. 

• Jewish Special Education International Consortium
• Council for the Jewish Disabled
• Union for Reform Judaism
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
• United Jewish Communities
• Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies

Tremendous strides have been made in communities that have set aside specific time to focus on inclusion in a Jewish context. In several communities across the country congregations designate a special time each year in order to recognize the importance of inclusion.  In some cases, this is marked by a designated weekend devoted to increasing awareness of this critical issue, and in others it takes the shape of a month-long initiative.  In all cases, it has brought much-needed focus to issues of inclusion, and has connected people to the Jewish community who previously had been left to watch others experience Jewish living opportunities that were not accessible to them.    We are very proud to say that The Amit Program is a member of JSEIC and is helping to coordinate this international day of awareness.  If you would like information on ways to recognize the month of February as Jewish Disability Month please contact our office at: info@amitatlanta.org or 404-961-9966. You can also find many more resources at: www.jsped.org.

Christian Century offers and article written by Dr. Brian Volck. He reviews 3 contemporary contributions concerning Christian Theology and Disability and he discusses the ways that each book contributes to the discussion about how people with and without disabilities are called to live in community together. The books Volck considers are :

Theology and Down Syndrome: Reimagining Disability in Late Modernity
by Amos Yong

Spirit and the Politics of Disablement
by Sharon V. Betcher

Vulnerable Communion: A Theology of Disability and Hospitality
by Thomas E. Reynolds

Volck does a good job pointing out the strengths of each of the contributions and he also discusses the points of each text that Christians should consider.

I would love to hear what you think about the article and the texts under consideration?