Getting Started
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Posted on July 21, 2011, 8:58 am
Topics: Getting Started
From the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University, this website features resources websites, and powerpoint presentations for use in training people of faith to include individuals with disabilities.
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Posted on January 31, 2011, 11:41 am | 2 comments
Topics: Getting Started
This is a two-page fact sheet that gives suggestions to people with disabilities and their families in finding an inclusive place to worship, and in making good use of all the resources that may be available there.
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Posted on December 16, 2010, 11:13 am
Topics: Getting Started
The Equally Able Foundation produced a short list of action steps for inclusion. We adapted this list and added some links to resources. While there are many things that can be done to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities, the following are steps in the right direction...
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Posted on June 21, 2010, 2:26 pm | 6 comments
Topics: Getting Started
Churches that want to break down these barriers and open ministry to and with people with disabilities need to take two paths to inclusion. Both are essential for the removal of barriers, and for moving toward full and effective participation of people with disabilities in church life. These paths are not steps, as if one must be traveled before the other. A church can start with either one, but must travel both if they are serious about including people with disabilities in their life and ministry.
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Posted on June 8, 2010, 9:34 am
Topics: Getting Started
This one-page guide from the Boggs Center gives a variety of ideas and resources to become a more inclusive congregation.
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Posted on May 4, 2010, 2:26 pm
Topics: Getting Started
"A Place for All explores the courageous stories of persons with disabilities as they succeed in making their faith communities truly inclusive." This one-hour documentary gives perspective on ministry with people with disabilities and gives many practical ideas. Examples of inclusion are given from various faith groups. It would work well during an adult education hour, or could be shown over two weeks and include time for discussion. Disability Concerns has one copy on Canada and one in the US for lending to churches.
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Posted on March 9, 2010, 9:56 am | 3 comments
Topics: Getting Started
Most people in North America over age 75 live with a disability (according to Statistics Canada and the US Census Bureau). Yet if you were to ask a group of them to raise their hand if they lived with a disability, very few of them would. My mother lives with such severe dementia that she resides in assisted living. Yet, if someone were to ask...
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Posted on January 28, 2010, 5:34 pm
Topics: Getting Started
The Christian Reformed and Reformed Church in America collaborated to produce this resource which highlights what ordinary people are already doing in their Christian Reformed or Reformed Church in America congregations. Additional copies can be printed to hang in your church...
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Posted on January 18, 2010, 3:04 pm
Topics: Getting Started
NAfIM is a nonprofit membership organization of persons with and without disabilities working together for the good of the whole Church to realize justice for persons of all abilities in the parish and in religious, social and civic life. They focus their efforts on inclusion of people with cognitive disabilities in the Roman Catholic church, and their resources can be applied to people of many faith groups (perhaps with some adaptation).
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Posted on January 18, 2010, 2:49 pm
Topics: Getting Started
Disability Concerns' website contains a variety of resources for worship, caring, accessibility, and awareness to help churches become hospitable, inclusive, and healthy communities that intentionally seek:
To end the isolation and disconnectedness of persons with disabilities and their families;
To nurture the spiritual lives of people with disabilities so that they become professing and active members of their churches; and
To encourage the gifts of people with disabilities so that they can serve God fully in their churches.
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Posted on January 18, 2010, 2:41 pm
Topics: Getting Started
NCPD is the disability voice of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, working to fully include people with disabilities in church and society. They offer a newsletter and various information resources as well as presenting Catholic perspectives on disability issues.
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Posted on January 6, 2010, 11:07 am
Topics: Getting Started
Disability Concerns strongly recommends that churches make an intentional commitment to include people with disabilities in church life by adopting a policy on disability and making this commitment well known within the congregation. Many churches have adopted the following policy; some have adapted the wording for their specific situation.
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Posted on December 30, 2009, 9:21 am
Topics: Getting Started
The idea of including people with disabilities in church life can sound overwhelming when someone doesn't know where to begin. Most of the following ideas are easily implemented and at minimal cost.
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Posted on December 30, 2009, 9:01 am
Topics: Getting Started
Jesus’ first recorded sermon proclaimed that God’s kingdom was at hand. Then he spent the rest of his public ministry on earth bringing in the kingdom. Our calling as advocates for people with disabilities is to carry on Jesus’ work so that all people, especially people with disabilities, will be welcomed to the body of Christ and encouraged to use their gifts in ministry. The Scriptures provide us with a basic foundation for this work.
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Posted on December 28, 2009, 11:59 am
Topics: Getting Started
The medical, educational, and social service communities give labels to people such as “autism,” “cerebral palsy,” “dementia,” and “macular degeneration.” These labels can be useful for understanding and helping people, but a person is not his or her label. Barbara Newman writes, "My mother-in-law was diagnosed with diabetes. It’s helpful for me to know this when she comes to my home. It helps me..."
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