Mark Stephenson

Wendy's concern about language is a good one. I'm sure Steve meant no offense. Helping people to learn to use appropriate language is one of the things we keep working on. For those who are interested in reading further, Kathie Snow has written a lot of good stuff about "people first" language (and much more about having an appropriate perspective about people with disabilities) on her web site: www.disabilityisnatural.com.

Update on Jeremy Lin: concerned about the degree and ways in which Jeremy Lin and Asians in general have been stereotyped with his recent notoriety, the Asian American Journalists Association has released guidelines for coverage. In addition, according to Fox News, an ESPN writer was fired and a commentator suspended for 30 days for using a particular racial slur about Lin. I suspect other writers and commentators will sit up and take notice, and a good thing too. The language we use about other people is not about being "politically correct," but about respect. As this is true for people of various ethnic backgrounds, so it is true of people with disabilities.

Benjamin and Doug, thanks for your comments. One would hope, as Benjamin argues, that articles like the JME article would sway people against abortion, seeing it as ending of the same human life that would happen if one waited till the child was born then killing her.

Doug, if you would like to see something about this in the Banner, I encourage you to send them a note as a News Tip or a Letter to the Editor.

My pleasure. It's helpful when you aren't interested in sending a letter to the editor but want to get in touch with the staff.

Terry, interesting story. It's ironic that the program this "large-membership church" created to enhance their ministry got in the way of ministry. I wonder how many people with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities were involved in developing this program for "handling" the visitors who have disabilities. Mark

Whether or not people can read the slides also contributes to, or detracts from, effectiveness. Obviously, if slides are projected when the congregation is invited to stand, then a printed alternative needs to be provided for people who cannot stand. Also, text on the slide needs to be accessible for people with visual impairments. Dr. John Frank wrote some excellent guidelines for using technology in an accessible way.