Breaking Barriers Issue 69 - Winter 2006
In this issue: Depression, doubt, dignity, and more.
Here you'll find resources posted by individuals, churches, and ministries. Add comments, give a 'thumbs up', or post your own. Can't find something? Use the chat box to let us know.
In this issue: Depression, doubt, dignity, and more.
In this issue: Suffering, skydiving, multiple sclerosis, and more.
In this issue: Tsunami relief, schizophrenia, and more.
In this issue: Autism Spectrum, mental illness, Hope Centre, and more.
In this issue: A preacher loses his voice, hidden disability, and more.
In this issue: A blind musician, church membership for Julianne who has severe cognitive impairment, and more.
In this issue: Alzheimer's, mental illness, church planting with Friendship, and more.
In this issue: Stuttering, learning disability, and more.
In this issue: Housing issues, cancer, and more.
Rompiendo Barreras un Ministerio del Christian Reformed Disability Concerns
En este número pondremos atención en La salud mental. El plazo para entregar escritos para la edición de invierno acerca de la hospitalidad, es el 15 de Octubre, 2009.
Enfrentando el desastre: Una guía para las familias y aquellos que apoyan a los adultos con discapacidad mental.
The Christian Reformed Church made an express commitment at the 1985 meeting of the Synod to break down barriers and work for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the congregation. The following is the wording of that commitment.
Suggested policy statement on disability for churches to adopt and implement.
As many grains are gathered into one loaf, partaking of the elements binds God’s people together into one. Ironically, when church leaders ignore the unique needs of worshipers with disabilities, some are excluded from the sacrament whose very name includes the word union.
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.
Our calling as disability advocates 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.
The medical, educational, and social service communities give labels to people such as “autism,” “cerebral palsy,” “dementia,” and “macular degeneration.” As advocates for people with disabilities, we must encourage people in our churches to focus on people and relationships and not be overly concerned with labels.
Looking for some practical ideas to make your congregation more accessible? Find 57 of them here from the Episcopal Disability Network.
For all who want their church to be a healthy, vibrant community where everybody belongs and everybody serves, here are some ideas.
Ever wonder what it's like to live with autism, or have a child with autism. Here's a "humanizing article" as my friend calls it: The Anti-Socialite: Life with an Asperger's Child.
The US Dept. of Justice released results of a first-ever study of crimes against people with disabilities. The sad and not-surprising finding is that people with disabilities are one and one half times as likely to be victims of crime as people without disabilities.