Cite
Carter, Erik W. Including People With Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, & Congregations. Baltimore, Md: Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co, 2007.
Jeremy
Synth
Contribution::
Related::
Md
FirstAuthor:: Carter, Erik W.
~
Title:: Including People With Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, & Congregations
Year:: 2007
Citekey:: carterIncludingPeopleDisabilities2007
itemType:: book
Publisher:: Paul H. Brookes Pub. Co
Location:: Baltimore, Md
ISBN:: 978-1-55766-743-4
LINK
.
Abstract
.
Notes
# Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, & Congregations
by Erik W. Carter
1: Lives of Faith
2
Unfortunately, too many people with disabilities do not experience the same opportunities as others to grow spiritually, enjoy community, and experience relationships. Conversations with faith community leaders, congregational members, families, and service providers often reveal an uncertainty about how to address the spiritual needs of children and adults with developmental disabilities.
3
Although labels usually highlight differences, people with and without developmental disabilities share almost everything in common.
4
As with public education, legislation has played an important role in increasing access to meaningful employment for people with developmental disabilities.
- People fear punishment until they see the good in something
5
Although greater numbers of people with developmental disabilities are participating in school, work, and community life, the vision of true membership remains yet unrealized for too many.
7
The likelihood that people with disabilities and their families attend a congregation certainly is influenced by the extent to which they are welcomed and supported.
10
People who can participate in only a small fraction of congregational activities are unlikely to ever feel like full members of the community, nor are they likely to continue returning for very long.
10
Efforts that begin and end with ramps, pew cuts, automatic doors, and designated parking spots will fall far short of what is needed to communicate welcome.
10
Unfortunately, people of faith not always transcended the attitudinal barriers that persist throughout society; they often share many of the same prejudices and fears. Most barriers attitude are inadvertent, rather than overt; subtle, but sometimes deeply entrenched.
After encountering unwelcoming attitudes, most people will move on to another congregation; others will decide to give up on congregations altogether.
11
People with disabilities and their families sometimes encounter words and actions-most likely well-intentioned - that they perceive to be demeaning, condescending, or paternalistic. People with disabilities often attributed exceptional faith, described only as inspirational or a divine blessing, offered excessive attention or praise, extended charity place of justice, or viewed primarily as the objects of ministry. Such responses fail to affirm the individual gifts, needs, and contributions that every person has to offer and receive from the community of believers.
13
Although many congregations do an exceptional job of marketing all of the services, ministries, and supports that they have to they rarely invest time to discover what people with developmental disabilities might have to offer to them. Such listening, of course, takes time and a willingness to invest deeply in the lives of people.
14
Many adults with disabilities do not attend worship services, small groups, potlucks, and other congregational activities simply because they cannot get there.
14
A history of exclusion or inhospitable attitudes can have a wounding effect on people with developmental disabilities and their families. After repeatedly encountering fear, rejection, isolation, or neglect, these individuals may no longer want to make the effort to become involved in a faith community.
15
An invitation can hardly be considered to have been extended if it was never actually received.
15
Professionals often partition the of the children and adults they serve into separate domains (e.g., educational, physical, social, vocational). However, such discrete divisions make sense when it comes to spiritual needs. A person’s life cannot be neatly partitioned into the sacred and secular; spirituality is inextricably woven throughout every dimension of a person’s life. Yet, service providers often compartmentalize a person’s spiritual needs, leaving them someone else to address. When people have few relationships beyond service providers, no one else may be available to support them in important aspect of their lives.
16
Although religious communities have long played a leadership role in providing care and services to people with disabilities throughout history, many congregations currently struggle to welcome people with disabilities into congregational life.
- change is hard, especially when it is institutionalized
17
It is not enough for congregations to simply mirror the rest of society when it comes to including people with disabilities. Rather, they are called to be leaders in transforming the culture-to graciously, lovingly, and actively influence their communities. When congregations push toward a higher standard than the rest of society; when they demonstrate leadership, rather than lagging behind; and when their efforts stand in stark contrast to those of others in their community, it sends powerful message. When a welcome is compelled by deep love and a sacred call, rather than by legal decree, it speaks powerfully to a watching world provides strong evidence of one’s faith commitment.
- be better…for Christ’s sake!
18
It is more than a “nice idea” to include people with disabilities in your congregation. People of faith are called to view people with disabilities as integral to the well-being of their community; every member should be regarded as indispensable. When an entire segment of the population remains absent from the body of believers, that community not only remains less than it could be, it remains less than it was intended to be. Wholeness will always remain elusive to a community when the gifts and contributions of a whole segment of people are missing. Indeed, it is the community that becomes “handicapped” when people with developmental disabilities and their families are not present.
18
Congregations must do than passively affirm the rights of people with disabilities, but should also advocate for changes in society to ensure those rights are supported. Such actions might include encouraging passage of favorable laws, standing up against ineffective or oppressive service systems that stifle community participation, or advocating on behalf of people whose voice often is not heard.
22
one important indicator of the quality of human services is the extent to which people with developmental disabilities are participating actively in the school, work, and community settings as their classmates, co-workers, and neighbors without disabilities.
23
To support self determination, people with disabilities must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to make important choices arid be provided opportunities to act on their decisions in meaningful ways.
25
The concept of quality of life has become a guiding principle for service delivery for people with disabilities. Increasingly, agencies and organizations are examining, the extent to which the services supports they deliver truly improve the life satisfaction of those whom they serve.
- It’s like customer service 101. A very different mindset from service provide.
2: A Welcoming Congregation
29
Although an accessible building is essential, it is through interactions and relationships with others that welcome is truly communicated. Hospitality an be demonstrated in simple ways: extending a greeting, remembering a name, noticing a new haircut, or asking bout someone’s week. _ But an inclusive congregation is known for more than just easy hospitality: Its members invite people to lunch, spend time really get to know them, celebrate their successes, and stand alongside them in difficult times. Gestures must have authenticity and substance; they must offer much more than just the of welcome. A congregation can say all of the right things, but still to nurture close relationships and fall short of addressing people’s felt needs.
31
Welcoming congregations have learned to think ahead about emerging future needs. They prayerfully anticipate the needs of people in their community who have not yet come through their doors. They recognize that if someone cannot enter in or is not welcomed the very first time, there unlikely to be a second chance to welcome him or her back. If you wait until a person arrives at your door to begin thinking about how you will welcome him or her, you have simply waited too long.
33-34
Movement of relationships
-
Apart from people
-
To (serving) people
-
With people
-
By people
-
We together
51
A welcoming congregation is more than a place where people with disabilities attend, but do not participate; arrive, but are not welcomed; receive, but do not serve. Becoming a congregation that is inclusive of people with developmental disabilities and their families requires an intentional and continuous commitment.
3: Welcoming, Including, and Connecting
53
Even when present, people with disabilities are often found only on the peripheries of congregational life. Is your congregation truly a place of welcome and belonging? The architectural, attitudinal, programmatic, and other barriers that may push people away from your congregation are not insurmountable, but they will not disappear without intentional efforts.
54
Once all of the parents, siblings, relatives, and friends of people with disabilities are considered, it becomes clear that the opportunity for affecting numerous lives is substantial. It is quite likely that people with developmental disabilities are connected in some way to your congregation, even if you are not aware of it.
57
In many congregations, it is the leadership who determines the issues and priorities set before the congregation. A simple acknowledgement from the pulpit-whether through an announcement, prayer, sermon, or special message-that people with disabilities are absolutely integral to the mission of the congregation can have a profound impact, breaking the silence that often exists in congregations around disabilities.
67
One of the best outcomes of your awareness efforts would be that people would be less focused on disability labels. Awareness efforts should help people to understand the importance of hospitality and embolden them to learn more about particular people, not simply increase their knowledge of disability conditions.
67
Remind congregants of what they do not need training for when welcoming people with disabilities just about everything. Simple gestures of welcoming and hospitality do not require specialized training, university coursework, or an advanced degree. In most cases do not need training to invite individuals out for dinner, ask how week has been, pray with them, invite them to be part of a small group, bring them a meal, or just be their friend. Often, the most important gestures occur outside of formal ministry programs; it is rough everyday interactions that you communicate most clearly worth you attach to someone. In some situations, it may be helpful talk with a caregiver or support provider about the individual’s specific needs, preferences, and situation if you were going to take person out alone or make your relationship more long-term and regular.
69
Rather than creating a separate anything just for people with developmental disabilities, explore how you can include everyone in existing activities. Focus on one person at a time and devise thoughtful plans for weaving each individual into all your congregation already has to offer.
79
People with and without developmental disabilities should worship alongside each other. A congregation is enriched by the presence and participation of people with disabilities.
83-84
Everyone has something unique to offer and so it is important to avoid making assumptions that people with developmental disabilities should all serve in particular ways, whereas people without disabilities should serve in others. Opportunities to serve should be aligned with people’s gifts and passions, not allocated according to one’s disability label.
85
t? Let your first response be to seek out and address the possible causes of the behavior rather than simply to ask a person not to attend your congregation anymore. Often, solutions become much clearer when these triggers are identified.
- be curious, not judgemental
86
Congregations should also consider whether their expectations for behavior are too narrow. There always will be people whose behaviors diverge from what is typical-a child who repeatedly flaps his hands, an adult who greets even strangers with a bear hug, a teenager who occasionally talks aloud to himself. Is there room within your congregation for such people? Are you willing to make room?
4: DESIGNING INCLUSIVE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS
118
A wonderful opportunity awaits your congregation when it commits to opening its doors and hearts to every child. Communicate boldly that people with disabilities are integral to the life of your community. However, Your commitment must be much more than a symbolic one. Strive to be known by what you do and how you do it; rather than by a well-worded mission statement that has found no place in members’ hearts
5: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families
145
Numerous opportunities await congregations desiring to make a real difference in the lives of people with disabilities and their families. As you explore new avenues of hospitality and ministry, be assured that the benefits will be mutual; as people share their gifts with people with disabilities they rarely emerge unchanged…When you do encounter needs that you can address on your own, partner with other congregations to craft a meaningful response. If other congregations already offering supports that you are unable to provide, make sure you are directing people with disabilities and their families to those communities. However, be careful your only ministry is not solely one of referral; your congregation is called to respond personally.
6: The Contributions of Service Providers
170
The service and supports provided by agencies and organizations play a prominent role in the lives of many people with developmental disabilities and their families.
7: Launching Community wide Efforts
172
Community wide efforts are essential for ensuring that the religious and spiritual preferences of every person with developmental disabilities is honored and supported. Establishing a community network, engaging in community mapping, and hosting a gathering on congregational inclusion represent three avenues for initiating and sustaining efforts throughout your community.
173
sharing information, experiences, strategies, connections, and expertise increases the capacity of every congregation, agency, and organization to be more responsive and more supportive. Put simply, community networks multiply the resources available to everyone, enabling each to accomplish more than they would have otherwise been able to do on their own.
174
It is wise to develop a network that includes more than just congregational partners. As emphasized in Chapter 1, barriers to congregation participation often exist throughout communities. A constellation of people can affect whether people with developmental disabilities are able participate fully in congregational life.
179
community mapping is strength based. Rather than pointing fingers at where a community (or segments of the community) has fallen short in the past, it is designed to identify the good work that is already happening, the opportunities that are just merging, and the capacities that still await untapped.
187
Working together, communities have the ability to completely transform the landscape for people with developmental disabilities and their families. Community networks, asset mapping, and disability gatherings each might serve as a catalyst for bringing scattered efforts to a common focus. Each approach will demand much work and passion, but the community will be stronger for your efforts.
# Jeremy’s Review of Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities
This is a very practical book. It blends the theoretical with the practical. It does so in a way that is not overbearing or overwhelming. Small steps can make a big difference. The book is very easy to read, broken into sections and designed in a way that can be understood easily. Many of the steps pertain to religious activities specifically, but can be adapted for many other community based organizations.