Disability Concerns

The late Prof. Nancy Eiesland wrote a thought-provoking reflection on Luke 24:36-39, the passage which describes Jesus' revelation of himself to the frightened disciples after he rose from the dead.

The author of this article, Carol Levine, had been caring for her disabled husband for 17 years when she wrote this article. She polled fellow caregivers and condensed the results to these 10 items not to say to someone who provides long-term care to a loved one.

This article by Beccy Adams touches on a variety of practical and loving ways to connect to people dealing with mental health issues including the importance of gentle curiosity and ideas like, "Relate, but don’t over-relate: Get in touch with your own mental health short comings."

People who use wheelchairs are not "wheelchair bound." People aren't "bound" by wheelchairs, they "use" wheelchairs. With that out of the way, here are 10 more things not to say to people who use wheelchairs.

Depression is the second-leading cause of disability, with slightly more than 4 percent of the world's population diagnosed with it. The map shows how much of the population in each country has received a diagnosis of clinical depression.

The creator of Sibshops, Don Meyer, has started a website for grandparents of kids with special needs.

In this seven and one-half minute video, 35 people with intellectual disabilities answer the same one question: If you can change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, provides solid medical information about various disabilities including mental illnesses.

This is an outstanding article on ministry with people with mental illnesses written by a woman whose mother has schizophrenia with solid facts on mental illness and churches.

Parade Magazine's article, "Unlocking the Silent Prison" describes research that has shown that people with dementia find written communication much more useful/memorable than spoken communication.

This journal from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota tackles a challenging topic. Articles are not necessarily presented from a Christian perspective; please read with discernment.

This Focus on the Family article series describes itself like this: "Amid these stories from other parents, you'll find tips and tools in the areas of schooling, church, balancing the needs of your disabled child and the needs of your other children, coping when your circumstances have become too hard and encouragement in developing friendships."