Mark Stephenson

Anje, thanks for your insightful comments. In case a reader doesn't understand your reference to Holland and Italy, it comes from a story by Emily Perl Kingsley called Welcome to Holland. It's a wonderful story, but I can't agree with you more, Anje, that the story describes only the experiences of some people affected by disabilities, but surely not all.

Bill, I don't understand. Why wouldn't a person who has a disability be able to pull his/her share on a sports team if he has the abilities to perform the sport at the same level as the other athletes on the team? Mark 

Bill, you asked, "If a person is able to do everything well that is required to be done on a sports team, which requires mental, social, psychological, and physical qualities, then in what other ways might this person be "disabled?""

A blind or a deaf swimmer, or a deaf runner, or a deaf basketball player all could fit the definitions of "disabled" and "skilled athlete." We are so used to conventional ways of doing things in sports (a starting gun or a buzzer) that we can't imagine how someone with a disability such as hearing impairment could compete. But, for example, a series of flashes could be used in addition to a buzzer to start a swim event. Oscar Pistorius is a flesh and blood example; an outstanding runner who also has a disability.

My understanding of this law is not that it will force coaches to include kids without the necessary abilities to be included on a team, but that it requires organizers of the sports to rethink how to make it possible for kids who have disabilities to compete fairly with the rest of the competition. It's purpose is to reduce disability discrimination in school sports.

Lorraine, thanks for the encouragement. And thanks for spreading the good words to your youth group, and many others. I've heard many people also use similar phrases like, "He is bi-polar." A phrase like that implies that his bi-polar disorder defines everything about him. I wear glasses because I have myopia, but I would not like it if people said about me, "He is myopic." Mark

Jonny, thanks so much for the compliment. I believe firmly that our language can communicate respect or disrespect, and that means listening to how people would like to have others refer to them and respecting their preferences. So yes, the golden rule is at the heart of this post. I hope you find other helpful resources on our pages too. Here's what we're about: Disability Concerns helps churches become healthier communities that embody the whole body of Christ. Thanks for making my day and God's blessings. Mark

The resurrection will be unimaginably wonderful for all who are raised to new life in Jesus Christ. Instead of giving my thoughts about your question, it would be much better for you to ask someone who considers herself to be a member of the language and cultural group who call themselves the Deaf.

b-ver,

I agree too that the change must take place in the heart. However, change can happen in either direction. A changed heart can change what comes from our lips, and what comes from our lips can change our hearts.

Words change how we think and live. We Protestants believe that words are the most important tool for affecting change in the heart, in behavior, and in society. That's why the pulpit is the primary piece of furniture in most protestant churches, not the table or the font. Ask any dictator, revolutionary, congressperson, or MP about the words, and they will tell you that these are their primary tools. In fact, Robert Roberts is so convinced of the importance of words to human life, that he coined a term to describe the primary nature of human life, we are not herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores. We are "verbivores." Words are our primary food.

Besides the power of language to change behavior and hearts, there's another good reason to use people first language. Most people who live with disabilities prefer to be referred to using people first language. I think that when it comes to people groups, whether an ethnic group in Africa, an ethnic minority in North America, or people with disabilities, people outside the group should not decide for the members of the group how they should be referred to. Rather, members of the group should decide for themselves how they want to be referred to. Others who are outside the group should then use that particular term. It's simply a matter of respect. Why doesn't society refer to "negroes," or "colored people" anymore? It's because (most) people in society want to respect the preference of this ethic group and refer to them as (most of) them ask. So we use the term "African American." Similar, most people who have disabilities do not like the term "the disabled" (and many similar ones) because these terms identify people with their disability. Let's listen to people with disabilities, and how they ask society to refer to them by using people first language.

Help me, John. I don't recall Jesus saying anything about what our resurrected bodies will be like. In fact, Scripture as a whole is sketchy as to what the new heavens and earth will be like. Revelation 21:4 says, "‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." But it doesn't say how God will accomplish this wonderful new life. As far as I remember from Scripture, what we do know about the resurrected body is the little that is said about Jesus after he arose. And that, shockingly, is that the disciples did not recognize him at all, except in the marks of his most disabling moment, his crucifixion! (Luke 24:36-40) These marks became part of his identity which he will carry with him throughout eternity. Likewise, in some truly amazing way, God will make sure that the "old order of things has passed away," while still maintaining our identities. The late Nancy Eiesland, who lived with a congenital condition and needed to use a wheelchair, did a very interesting theological reflection on Jesus' resurrection body and her own identity and disability that you may want to read.