https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:35:57 +0000 Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/physical-disabilities/get-hearing-loop Note: Juliette Sterkens and David Myers led a Hearing Loop Workshop which can be found on youtube.com/@disabilityconcerns. Juliette Sterkens https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/physical-disabilities/get-hearing-loop Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/facilities/universal-design-church-0 Monroe Community Church (CRC) in downtown Grand Rapids, MI, had the unique opportunity of renovating a 17,400 sf, uninsulated, raw, 1963 industrial building into their new church home. Steve Fridsma https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/facilities/universal-design-church-0 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/leadership-development/crcna-leaders-learn-about-ableism Recently, as part of their diversity goals, the Office of General Secretary staff at the Christian Reformed Church in North America joined together to read and discuss Amy Kenny’s book Ashley Medendorp https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/leadership-development/crcna-leaders-learn-about-ableism Mon, 22 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/new-disability-concerns-contact-rca Rev. Jeremy Simpson is the new Director of Diversity and Belonging for the Reformed Church in America.  As an advocate for multi-ethnic and cross-cultural ministry, he’s lived a life of welcome and hospitality. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/new-disability-concerns-contact-rca Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/terry-deyoungs-retirement-reflections I’ve been overthinking retirement for several years, so for that reason alone it’s a relief to finally put a period at the end of a very long, convoluted, confusing, run-on sentence. Terry DeYoung https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/terry-deyoungs-retirement-reflections Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/facilities/hearing-loop-training-churches Calling all church audio/visual technicians! What type of audio system do you have in your church for people living with hearing loss?  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/facilities/hearing-loop-training-churches Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/hearing-word I write from Scotland, where 23 years ago I had an ear-opening experience while worshiping at the Iona Abbey. The spoken word, after reverberating off its stone walls, was an inaccessible fog to my hard-of-hearing ears. David G. Myers https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/hearing-word Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/physical-disabilities/breaking-barriers-fall-2022-notes In my "pre-stroke" life, I was a professional musician, playing and teaching flute and piccolo. All of that changed for me in the middle of the night on February 15, 2010. I suffered a major stroke, losing function on the left side of my body. Rae Terpenning https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/physical-disabilities/breaking-barriers-fall-2022-notes Wed, 16 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/hearing/breaking-barriers-fall-2022-editorial-adapting As someone who was born with a physical disability that became noticeable when I started walking, disability has been baked into my identity for as long as I can remember. Terry A. DeYoung https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/hearing/breaking-barriers-fall-2022-editorial-adapting Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/happy-anniversary-ada-plus-4-disability On July 26, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 turned 32. This important civil rights law created more access to public places. In honor of the ADA's anniversary, I'd like to share my top 4 disability etiquette tips for public interactions. Laura C. Robb https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/happy-anniversary-ada-plus-4-disability Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:45:20 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/attitudes/disability-concerns-canada-summer-2022 This article in a part of our Disability Concerns Canada Spring 2022 newsletter. You can find the rest here: DC Canada Spring 2022 Newsletter. Our Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/attitudes/disability-concerns-canada-summer-2022 Thu, 21 Jul 2022 13:31:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/attitudes/join-us-ableism-training-august This article in a part of our Disability Concerns Canada Summer 2022 newsletter. You can find the rest here:  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/attitudes/join-us-ableism-training-august Thu, 21 Jul 2022 13:25:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/breaking-barriers/rca-crc-disability-concerns-wins-4 Stories are powerful tools for connecting with each other. Breaking Barriers uses the power of stories—especially stories written by people living with disabilities—to provide us an important opportunity for connection, for learning, and for discipleship. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/breaking-barriers/rca-crc-disability-concerns-wins-4 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 14:22:07 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/facilities/visit-inclusion-coffeehouse "I was taken by the power that savoring a simple cup of coffee can have to connect people and create community." Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks Becky Jones https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/facilities/visit-inclusion-coffeehouse Thu, 09 Jun 2022 12:54:51 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/reflections-leading-disability-concerns-ministry Announcing one’s retirement date from CRC staff bears risk of delay, it seems. Colin Watson and John Bolt both proved that, and now I have as well. Mark Stephenson https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/reflections-leading-disability-concerns-ministry Mon, 25 Oct 2021 12:58:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/communication/have-you-turned-closed Recently, I was on a zoom call with a number of participants I did not know well. As we started the meeting, the host welcomed us to the gathering. I was participating alongside my boss, the director of CRC Disability Concerns, and he asked the host to enable closed captioning. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/communication/have-you-turned-closed Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:03:17 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/power-hospitality-mutuality-and I was born two months premature and later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. My awareness, from a very young age, that my survival was very unlikely due to health complications helped me understand that God protected my life for a purpose. Chantal Huinink https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/power-hospitality-mutuality-and Thu, 14 Oct 2021 05:50:55 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/disability-concerns-leadership-event-2021 People under 30 today expect public spaces and institutions to be accessible in every way, yet many churches are not. We want this to change! Over the next year we will be focusing on the crucial question, “Who’s missing in my church?”  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/accessibility/disability-concerns-leadership-event-2021 Tue, 20 Jul 2021 12:31:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/how-do-we-help-people-disabilities "But, how do we help people with disabilities?” Christine asks. Allison Waters https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/how-do-we-help-people-disabilities Tue, 13 Jul 2021 15:35:38 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/reflection-mark-stephensons-leadership-director In May, Mark Stephenson announced that he will retire from full time work with the CRC at the end of 2021. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/reflection-mark-stephensons-leadership-director Tue, 06 Jul 2021 12:59:10 +0000