Friday, July 27, 2018

News and notes from AMD, 27 July 2018



News


Here are the highlights of postings this week from the Association of Ministers with Disabilities, Disability Ministries Committee, Mental Health Ministries, Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Ministries Committee, and UM Congress of the Deaf:
-
Be heard on Social Principles revisions
https://umdisability.blogspot.com/2018/07/social-principles-revisions-about.html
-
Minding your pastor's mental health
https://www.thebanner.org/departments/2016/12/minding-your-pastor-s-mental-health
-
Deaf women and human trafficking
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-day-slavery/201709/the-underrecognized-victims-trafficking-deaf-women
-
Rest
https://mhn-ucc.blogspot.com/2018/07/rest-by-rachael-keefe.html
-
Webinar from PRC: Sept. 20, Lifesaving Church
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4134452182936984833
-
Would you sit with me awhile?
http://www.adnetonline.org/Blog/Pages/2018/Would-you-sit-with-me-awhile.aspx
-
ADA 28th anniversary
https://www.diversityinc.com/the-ada-28-years-of-opportunity-unrealized
-

Events


Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.
-
UMAMD Meeting and Academy, August 1-3
Registration is at capacity. E-mail to be placed on waiting list.
https://www.umdisabledministers.org/meeting/2018.html
-
Northeastern Jurisdiction Deaf Ministry Conference, November 9-10
https://www.umcd.org/newsnej/1811info.pdf
-
-
-
UMAMD logo with the UM Cross and Flame and several
          disability symbols
This newsletter is generally issued weekly by the
United Methodist Association of Ministers with Disabilities,
a caucus of the United Methodist Church.

Click here to join this e-mail list.
This newsletter is also published on the UM Disability Blog
Visit us on the web or Facebook.

Friday, July 20, 2018

News and notes from AMD, 20 July 2018



News


Here are the highlights of postings this week from the Association of Ministers with Disabilities, Disability Ministries Committee, Mental Health Ministries, Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Ministries Committee, and UM Congress of the Deaf:
-
Be heard on social principles revisions:
http://umdisability.blogspot.com/2018/07/social-principles-revisions-about.html
-
MHM: Theological comfort and the suicide crisis
https://pres-outlook.org/2018/07/my-mom-and-me-theological-comfort-and-the-suicide-crisis/
-
A sad good-bye, a teachable moment
https://mhn-ucc.blogspot.com/2018/07/a-sad-good-bye-becomes-teachable-moment.html
-
Language and mental illness
http://amysimpson.com/2018/07/when-it-comes-to-mental-illness-watch-your-language/
-
Chair can lift people who have fallen
https://www.facebook.com/Insiderinventions/videos/1365033010298906/
https://www.facebook.com/DisAbilityMinistriesUM/posts/1664395376992641
-
Sexual assault and disability
https://nomore.org/two-advocates-talk-about-the-sexual-assault-epidemic-affecting-people-with-disabilities-how-we-can-all-help/
-
Princeton seminary ASL welcoming video, passing the peace
https://www.facebook.com/princetonseminary/videos/1739605086074674/?fref=mentions
-
Disabled and healthy
https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/disabled-and-healthy/
-
Being Befriended: Formation in L'Arche's Theological Imagination
http://www.disabilityandfaith.org/being-befriended-formation-in-larches-theological-imagination/
-

Events


Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.
-
UMCD, DHM, ELDA, ECD joint meeting in Las Vegas, July 22-29
https://www.umcd.org/
-
UMAMD Meeting and Academy, August 1-3
Registration is at capacity. E-mail to be placed on waiting list.
https://www.umdisabledministers.org/meeting/2018.html
-
Northeastern Jurisdiction Deaf Ministry Conference, November 9-10
https://www.umcd.org/newsnej/1811info.pdf
-UMAMD logo with the UM Cross and Flame and several
          disability symbols
This newsletter is generally issued weekly by the
United Methodist Association of Ministers with Disabilities,
a caucus of the United Methodist Church.

Click here to join this e-mail list.
This newsletter is also published on the UM Disability Blog
Visit us on the web or Facebook.

Monday, July 16, 2018

Social Principles revisions about disability -- Jackson Day

"Nothing about us, without us"--here is your opportunity to be heard!

As many of our readers will know, the Social Principles of the UMC include statements about disability equality and inclusion. Over the last year, the General Board of Church and Society has been examining the principles, seeking to keep them up-to-date. Thus, we have a request for input.

Disability is mentioned in the Preface, where it is included as one of the groups which  "we deplore acts of hate or violence against." 

There are more detailed statements in the main body. The first, on page 11, is focused on inclusion:

C. Full Inclusion of Differently-Abled PersonsScripture says, God looked out over creation and God declared that it was “very good.” We
affirm that all persons are created in the image of God with the uniqueness of their
distinctive mental, physical, developmental, or psychological abilities. These differences
should not impede full inclusion in the family of God. Too often the contributions of
differently-abled persons are dismissed or undervalued, both in Church and society; yet,
persons with diverse abilities are uniquely gifted members of the Body of Christ (I
Corinthians 12:4-26). We commit ourselves to listening to, learning from, partnering with
and advocating for differently-abled persons, in order that the full blessing God intends for
the world through them, might be received.
  

As part of the church's stance on healthcare, disability is included on page 16:

Healthcare, as a basic human right, includes care for persons with neurological conditions,
and physical disabilities. Persons living with these challenges must be afforded the same
access to healthcare as all other persons in our communities.
We believe it is unjust to construct and perpetuate barriers to physical or mental
wholeness and full participation in community. We therefore believe, it is the responsibility
of governments and society to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare is available to
all. 
And finally, inclusion in the social community and an affirmation of full humanity, on page 18:

E. Persons with DisabilitiesWe recognize and affirm the full humanity and personhood of all individuals with mental,
physical, developmental, neurological, and psychological conditions or disabilities as full
members of the family of God. We urge the Church and society to recognize and receive the
gifts of person with disabilities as full participants in the life of the church and
communities.
We call for the protection of the rights of all persons with disabilities including healthcare,
employment, education, housing, and transportation and freedom from discrimination. 

From many perspectives the statements are very positive and commendable.  But we join with others in wishing that these statements were not framed with an underlying “us and they” format, in which the basic premise is that “we who are able” should take it upon ourselves to do the following wonderful things for “those others who are not able.” 

We are calling at this point for suggestions to re-word these paragraphs so that the issue goes away. 

The proposed revision is available as a PDF file here, and at the bottom of the page is a survey for general feedback. Suggestions are being accepted until the end of August, at which point the team will take them and do more re-writing.  The proposed revision will be brought before General Conference in 2020.

So please read, please take the survey, and please offer your suggested improvements!


Friday, July 13, 2018

News and notes from AMD, 13 July 2018



News


Here are the highlights of postings this week from the Association of Ministers with Disabilities, Disability Ministries Committee, Mental Health Ministries, Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Ministries Committee, and UM Congress of the Deaf:
-
Ask, don't assume about disabilities
https://news.virginia.edu/content/autistic-people-do-want-socialize-they-may-just-show-it-differently
-
Autism-friendly bulletin
https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/pt-0618-advocates/
-
God's perspective
https://sns360.org/blog/my-story-viewing-disability-from-gods-perspective/
-
Deaf autism camp, supported by DHM grant
https://www.umdeaf.org/fund/deafautismcamp18.html
-
A theology of fullness for all of God's people
https://www.missionalwisdom.com/julian360/2018/6/24/a-theology-of-fullness-for-all-of-gods-people
-
A vision for the church: stigma-free zone
http://amysimpson.com/2018/06/a-vision-for-the-church-a-stigma-free-zone/
-
I don't pray for my daughter's disability
https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-44688094
-
Out of the Ashes: Transforming Trauma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cngubLeFfBU
-
UM Disability blog: Waiting for grace
http://umdisability.blogspot.com/2018/07/waiting-for-grace-tim-vermande.html
-

Events


Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.
-
UMCD, DHM, ELDA, ECD joint meeting in Las Vegas, July 22-29
https://www.umcd.org/
-
UMAMD Meeting and Academy, August 1-3
Registration is at capacity. E-mail to be placed on waiting list.
https://www.umdisabledministers.org/meeting/2018.html
-
Northeastern Jurisdiction Deaf Ministry Conference, November 9-10
https://www.umcd.org/newsnej/1811info.pdf
-
UMAMD logo with the UM Cross and Flame and several
          disability symbols
This newsletter is generally issued weekly by the
United Methodist Association of Ministers with Disabilities,
a caucus of the United Methodist Church.

Click here to join this e-mail list.
This newsletter is also published on the UM Disability Blog
Visit us on the web or Facebook.

Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Waiting for grace - Tim Vermande


God is often found to speak in the ebb and flow of life. Do we honor God, and others of any status, with our attitudes and social structures? A couple of weeks ago, my friend Justin wrote in his blog about the fallout from an error at Medicaid, which started me on this chain of thought. 

Shortly after that, I read a report from Kansas City about problems of the paratransit system.  One common thread in both: the time of disabled people seems to be taken for granted. The attitude often seems to be that we don’t do anything productive, so why worry?

Then along came a discussion about the value of disability simulations. In such a simulation, able-bodied people are given various devices to force them to go around a setting as if they had a disability. Some may be blindfolded, others have a limb splinted or made immobile, or are given ear plugs, or must navigate in a wheelchair. Such an experience can be revealing, but one critique of such simulations, which generally last for a few hours at most, is that they do not give any feeling for the long-term effects of living with disability: the day-in, day-out experience.  

And then, my long-simmering application for paratransit service came through from administrative processing. In our area, there is a reasonably extensive public transit system, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Living near a busy street without sidewalks, and inaccessible bus stops, I had started the paperwork. And now, to continue the process, was the need for an evaluation. 

In some ways, this is like a trip to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You get to travel to some obscure location, talk to people in a noisy location, and get a photo taken. You also have a huge pile of papers, signatures from medical professionals (not always part of the examination fee and never covered by insurance), and lengthy questions.

And you get to use the system to get to the evaluation. The day I was scheduled, there was an unusually late-season snowstorm and everything was running late. Since I was not yet in the dispatch system, the dispatcher couldn’t call me, so I ended up waiting for more than an hour, needing to be ready to leave on a moment's notice. I was already late for the evaluation before the ride arrived, so the office called to ask where I was. The bus finally arrived, and, in keeping with the promise of a “shared” service, we promptly took off in the wrong direction to pick up another rider, and then leave her (now going in the right direction) about halfway to the evaluation center. So we had a rushed evaluation session, conducted in the lobby in case my return trip came in the meantime.

Thankfully, everyone was nice and understanding of the circumstances. As with so many things, a little kindness all around helps a lot. These are the people who speak the Gospel to me, and honor God’s diversity in creation by their acceptance and accommodation. 

But a 15 minute meeting took 4 hours of my day. This is about the normal. Trips must also be scheduled in advance, both ways. In a couple of weeks, I have an appointment with my physiatrist. It’s at 9:00. It will probably take all day: on the way at 7:00, and can’t begin to think about a return trip pick up before 11:00, let alone the time to get back. Pack well for the urban exploration! 

Do you ever wonder why people with disabilities seem to be tired so often? Think about doing this day after day. So a reminder: be God’s voice of kindness. You never know where someone has been. Finally--speak up when politicians or others spout off about things they don’t know anything about!