News and notes from AMD, 18 December 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links. 

• Bishop's Blog: Believe
  
• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• AMD Annual Meeting, January 14-16, 2021

We do not expect to publish on December 25 or January 1. We may get something out in between those two days, but if not, we'll see y'all's on January 8. A blessed Christmas and new year to all!
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AMD

• Poplarville First UMC: Pastor Pridmore's Ponderings
• Random Acts of Expression: Advent 6, Root of Jesse
• Random Acts of Expression: Christmas Blues
• Julian Way: Hope and aging with a disability
• OhCorrica: The End of Productivity
  

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DHM/UMCD

• Conway UMC: Signs from Heaven musical
• Bethany McKinney Fox: Captioning on Zoom
• National Association for Music Education: The Gift of Musical (sign) Language
• ELDA: Bible Stories for the Deaf
• Strong Black Lead: How to Sign in BASL
• A reminder that our web site has a list of services in ASL or with captioning

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DMC

• Western PA Conference: Advent devotion
• Greater NJ Conference: Pandemic needs
• Kevin Timpe: Ableism lurks, The Lamb
• Lansing State Journal: Disability-friendly Santa comes to UMC in Williamston
• Western PA Conference: Advent devotion
• ADN: A Paradox of Joy
• Reid Temple AME Church Disability ministry
  

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MHM

• Rabbi J. Sacks
• Christian Citizen: Observing Advent and Christmas this year
• They were the big things
• Trust the Journey
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 11 December 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links. 

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Be A Disciple: Disability courses
• AMD Annual Meeting, January 14-16, 2021
  

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AMD

• Random Acts of Expression: Advent week 5 (extended calendar)
• Sharon McCart: Finding a way to Jesus
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Let's Talk About Cats
• Flying Kitty Monster: Musical Cast(e)
  

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DHM/UMCD

• In memoriam: Gwendolyn Maxine Mix
• Deaf in hospital
  
• Baltimore-Washington Conference: ASL for the holidays
• Deaf Link: International day of persons with disabilities
• Gallaudet University: Happy birthday
  

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DMC

• Western Pennsylvania Advent: Pandemic
• Faith & Leadership: Helping Christians with mental health issues starts with better language
• Christian Citizen: Why we light those candles
• A Day in the Life: Don't tell me what to do
• Western Pennsylvania Advent: healing
• UMCom: Scriptural reflections for mental wellness
• Faith & Leadership: Isolation, mental illness and a thriving community
• Drake Music: Understanding disability
  

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MHM

• UMCom: Faith and Mental Health
  
• Love at holidays
• With my prayers
• Love replaces hate
• Hanukkah
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 4 November 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links. 

• Bishop's Blog: Advent rejoicing
• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Be A Disciple: Disability courses
  
• Signing for the Holidays - December 5
• Disrupting Ableism - December 7
  
• Supporting People Throughout the Holidays - December 8
  

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AMD

• Random Acts of Expression: Advent week 3
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Thanksgiving offering
• Flying Kitty Monster: Doorkins, the Book
• Random Acts of Expression: Thanksgiving
• OhCorrica: Daily ways to fill your Advent with joy
• Random Acts of Expression: Advent week 4 (long calendar)
• Guthrie First UMC worship
• Crip Pastor: No End
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Lost in Christmas Wonderland
  

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DHM/UMCD

• DHM Committee seeking members
• L. Friedmann: captions
  
• The Arbiter: Accessibility to all: the importance of ASL
• Living with Hearing Loss: Happy holidays, virtual hearing loss style
• Deaf Link: New club
• Living with Hearing Loss: NPR on need for captions
  
• Deaf Link: Deaf artists
  

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DMC

• A day in the life: People, not tools
• B Kinschner, One Mind: Blue Christmas
  
• Andrew Pulrang for Forbes: Plain Language Writing
• UCC MHN: Love One Another
• Western Pennsylvania Advent: Just This
• Anabaptist Disabilities Network: Finding Hope in Hard Times
• Western Pennsylvania Advent: Light
• Microsoft: welcoming and DMC, Ways to Welcome All
  

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MHM

• Joy
• Hope
• Thank you
• Hugs
  
• Ministering with families in the pandemic
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.             

News and notes from AMD, 20 November 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links. We do not expect to publish again until December 4--a blessed Thanksgiving to all.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Abilities Expo online - November 20-22
  
• Signing for the Holidays - December 5
  

AMD

• Random Acts of Expression: Advent 2
• Kintsugi Pastor: Hypnotize You
• Oh Corrica: Advent Prayers
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Be ready to wait
• Oh Corrica: Blessed are the feminists
• Julian Way: Reality Check
• Flying Kitty Monster: A caste for casts
  

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DHM/UMCD

• Giving Tuesday, December 1
• Lovers Lane: Help, Thanks, Wow
• UM News: Church cares for the Deaf amid pandemic
• Deaf Link: Together we can do more
• Real Simple: 9 Clear face masks
• Daily Princetonian: Linguistic ableism
• WJLA: ASL at White House Covid briefing
  

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DMC

• Giving Tuesday, December 1
• North UMC: Care and Nurture: Living in the COVID Era
• NDI: Costs of living with a disability
• Cal-Pac Conference: Love lives here for and by people with disabilities
• Facts and Trends: A group your church might unintentionally exclude (Photosensitive epilepsy)
• Institute on Theology & Disability: Help plan 2021
• Heumann Perspective: Black Disabled Lives Matter
• Microsoft: inclusion series and DMC: Wesleyan disability theology 
  

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MHM

• Return to normal
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 13 November 2020

Hoping that your triskaidekaphobia is under control today, here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Nov. 15, Jewish Ritual and Activism for Racial Justice
  

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AMD

• Zoom gathering will be Nov. 20
• Random Acts of Expression: Seven-week Advent
• Random Acts of Expression: Advent 1, Wisdom
• Justin: Making friends with our vulnerability
• Random Acts of Expression: Armistice Day of Remembrance
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Blue Skies
  

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DHM/UMCD

• DHM: November newsletter
• Hearing Like Me: Listening Fatigue
• Christ Deaf UMC: Nov. 8 worship
• Deaf Bible Society: ASL Bible
• Deaf History - Kristallnacht commemoration days: A Jewish DeafBlind Survivor Shares Her Story
• Nov 14, HLAA virtual meeting, Surviving the Holidays
  

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DMC

• DMC: Giving Tuesday 2020 bulletin insert and large print version
  
• RespectAbility: Study shows lack of people with disabilities on staff
• Ruderman Foundation: Autistic accessibility for on-line meetings
• Microsoft: disability is a strength. Wesleyan theology draws on Biblical passages with an emphasis on equality
• L'Arche: Hope News
  

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MHM

• Holiday 2020 Spotlight
  
• Journey or destination?
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 6 November 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
  

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AMD

• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Feast of All Saints
• Oh Corrica: Prayers for November
• Random Acts of Expression: Prayers for election day
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Presentation to Pennsylvania Council of the Blind
• Guthrie First UMC: Worship service
• Random Acts of Expression: In times of awaiting
  

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DHM/UMCD

• Nov 17: NDC, Does auto captioning accommodate?
• Deaf Link: At home
• Lovers Lane: Deaf Worship, Nov. 1
• Mashable: Zoom captions
• Physics World: The disability is there, but I belong
• Estero: blessings on Deaf community
• AI Media: Deaf artist and ASL
  

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DMC

• Nov. 10: Banquet Network, How to become a disability advocate
• Seven Days: Pandemic has opened life to Vermonters with disabilities
• The Mighty: Small changes to help anxiety
• WCC: From lamentation to transformation: Persons with disabilities and Covid-19
• YouTube: Animated explanation of autism
• Microsoft: Accept each person as a human first
  

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MHM

• Hope
• Fred Rogers
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.             

News and notes from AMD, 30 November 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Oct 31, 6 p.m., Boston U School of Theology Cross-disability club, A service of lament and hope
  

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AMD

• Poplarville First UMC: Pastor Pridmore Ponderings
• Random Acts of Expression: A bead and a prayer--sadness
• Julian Way: Tell me what life is about
• Random Acts of Expression: All Saints prayers
• Flying Kitty Monster: Doorkins Magnificat: Maybe I am welcome too
  

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DHM/UMCD

• AI Media: The business case for closed captions
• Disability Rights Advocates: California case to proceed
• Cleveland Clinic: How to communicate clearly wearing a mask
• Sentinel-Record: (Arkansas) Habitat build and ASL
• The Lily: Black Deaf women missing from "Deaf U"
• Fast Company: Zoom call while Deaf
• Bishop's Blog: Do No Harm
  

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DMC

• The Voice, Fall 2020
• L'Arche: Friendship
• Presbyterian Disability Concerns: My Daddy Takes His Legs Off (book)
• Andrew Pulrang for Forbes: Words Matter - exploring the meaning of ableism
• UMC: Helping our kids through stressful times
• Andrew Pulrang for Forbes: Plain language writing and DMC: Etiquette and Communication
• NYDIS: Disasters and Religions app
• The Miracle Project: Of One Breath
  

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MHM

• Simon's Cat: Ways to look after your mental health
• Barbara Meyers, Held: Showing Up for Each Other's Mental Health
• B. Hunter: Struggles
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 23 October 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Bishop's Blog: Don't forget to V.O.T.E.
• Tom Hudspeth: social media and Mark 8.36
  
• AAIDD webinar series, Black Lives with IDD and their Faith Communites
  

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AMD

• Poplarville First UMC: Pastor Pridmore's Ponderings
• Pearisburg First UMC: The Robot Vacuum
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Secret Diary of a Landlord
• Random Acts of Expression: A bead and a prayer--disability
• Flying Kitty Monster: About Us
  

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DHM/UMCD

• Hearing Health & Technology: Faceshields and masks muffle speech
• Magothy Church: Luke 1
  
• Trinity UMC: October 18 worship
• Living with hearing loss: Hearing loss in the workplace, handling a virtual meeting
• New Life UMC: October 18 worship
  

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DMC

• Neurodiverse Learning: Dyslexia
• L'Arche: Peace Prayer
• UMN: Self-advocacy help me learn to be brave
• NBC: Meet the Black woman advocating for greater disability visibility
• AFB: Flatten Inaccessiblity: impact of Covid-19 on blind and visually impaired adults
• SAWS: Youth ramp building project
• Microsoft: Follow our lead and DMC: Understanding ableism
  

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MHM

• Happy Things
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 16 October 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• Oct. 21, Black Disabled and Deaf Art History
  

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AMD

• Random Acts of Expression: Bead and prayer circle
• Kintsugi Pastor: Moving forward
• OhCorrica: Covid-19 recovery
• Julian Way: Voting and faith
• OhCorrica: Simple ways to do good
  

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DHM/UMCD

• Brookeville Salem UMC: Vocation
• Inside Higher Ed: Unmasking my Deaf experience
• Deaf History: October 13, 1939
• Esther Choi: The heart of God is mercy
• Thurrott: Android sound notifications
• California School for the Deaf: Don't Touch My Hair
• Christina Hartmann: My deafness was never a tragedy
• Hearing Journal: Emotional challenges of hearing loss
  

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DMC

• Day in the life of a PWD: Ableism
• Ability Access: Adam Pearson
• New York Times: If you're in a wheelchair, segregation lives
• Heather Turner: When my fellow Christians tell me...
• Dave Barnhart: Changing our attitudes toward mental health
• Ohio DV: Masks and trauma
• Microsoft: Accessible work and DMC, Using technology
  
• JStor: Rise of disability stigma

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MHM

• World Mental Health Day
• Enjoy the moment
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 9 October 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• October 12, Be A Disciple: IFDC 1240, Ministry with people with disabilities
• October 14, National Disability Institute: webinar, The Extra Costs of Living with a Disability
  

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AMD

• Poplarville First UMC: Jars
• Hamilton UMC: "Green Book" sermon (captioned)
• Random Acts of Expression: Beads, inclusive version
• Justin Hancock: Disability pride in parenting (auto caption)
• UCL Press: Ableism in Academia (PDF free download)
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Eternal Forever
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Reformed Dreamer
  

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DHM/UMCD

• NIH: How loud is too loud?
• Washingtonian: Netflix "Deaf U"
• UMTV: Interpreters Raise Church Voices
• Zoom: new features include pinning ASL terp
• Deaf Link: Children's day
• gal-dem: Deafness and mental health
• Esther Choi: The benefits of obedience 2
• UMNS: Mask with hearing aid and glasses
  
• The Correspondent: Deaf historian says we must end obsession with cures
• Deaf News: birthday of Mary Lippit
• ELDA newsletter
• AI media: Sign language alphabets around the world
  

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DMC

• Day in life of a PWD: Etiquette
• L'Arche: Faith
• Andrew Pulrang for Forbes: Disability language
• Jessica Brown for Faith & Leadership: Who cares for the shepherds?
• Andrew Pulrang for Forbes: Three things that influence views about disability
• Sojourners: Covid exposed Christian ableism
• Faith & Leadership: Dealing with conflict during pandemic
• Microsoft: Be yourself and DMC Etiquette and Communication
  

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MHM

• Mental Illness Awareness Week
• Looking for sunshine
• The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Awareness Recovery and Understanding
• National Depression Screening Day
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 2 October 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• October 6, University of Arizona, Ableism 101 Workshop Series
  
• October 12, Be A Disciple: IFDC 1240, Ministry with people with disabilities
  

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AMD

• Pitts Chapel UMC: thank you
• Rev. Rebecca Writes: Summer of Madness
• OhCorrica: Prayers for the month
• Random Acts of Expression: A bead and a prayer
• Beckie Writes: World Communion Sunday
  

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DHM/UMCD

• KPIX: Los Altos UMC woman making masks
• UM Disability blog: ASL Bible
• ECD: Fall newsletter
• Esther Choi: The benefits of obedience, 1
• Bishop's Blog: Say the name
• HLAA: Hearing loop guide
• Gallaudet University: Face mask advice
  

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DMC

• AI Media: Assistance dogs
• Conversation Again: Pandemic pastoring
• ADN: My daughter with Down Syndrome helped me understand racism
• Breaking Barriers: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Vogue: Race and inclusion--you can't leave out the disability community
• Christian Century: Trauma-informed ministry
• Psychology Today: Homelessness and intellectual disability
  

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MHM

• Reach In
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

News and notes from AMD, 25 September 2020

Here are the highlights of posts 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. Please note that many posts have additional comments and discussion which will not be reflected in these links.

• Covid-19 list of inclusion resources
• September 30, Covid and the Disability Community
  
• October 12, Be A Disciple: IFDC 1240, Ministry with people with disabilities
  

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AMD

• UMW: Donna Fado Ivery's book on reading list
• Chapel of the Valley UMC: disabilities discussion sermon
• Hamilton UMC: "Green Book"
• Pitts Chapel UMC: closing prayer at community ceremony
• Flying Kitty Monster: Holy envy, Batman!
  

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DHM/UMCD

• ECAC: Deaf Awareness Month
• DEAF Inc: Training video for police officers
• Emmanuel UMC worship
• Delaware Hands and Voices: Deaf ID cards
• KOTV: Tulsa signer
• Bishop's Blog: Ground-breaker
• Deaf Link
• Grace UMC: Deaf defensive driving course
  

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DMC

• Mourning loss of James McIntire
• Teen Vogue: Black girls with disabilities disproportionately criminalized
• DREDF: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and disabilities
• San Diego Union-Tribune: People with disabilities should lead discussions
• Faith & Leadershp: Life is holy, not disposable
• The Mighty: Little Annoyances
  

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MHM

• Addiction: How congregations can respond
• Fred Rogers, The best we can
• Fall
  

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Click here for a list of events of interest to people in disability ministry.

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.

ASL Bible Now Available

By Rev. Leo Yates, Jr.

The internet has brought new options in accessibility for e-books to phones and tablets for people who prefer the option. A new option is now fully available for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people through Deaf Missions. This non-profit Christian organization provides support, advocacy, and resources for Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing people. They have recently released the ASL Bible. Named ASLV (American Sign Language Version), this video-accessible version offers Deaf and hard-of-hearing users the option to view the Bible, as opposed to reading it, in their own language. This not only better encourages Deaf and hard-of-hearing to engage in studying Scripture, it reduces misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

The ASLV project was created with the assistance of 53 Deaf translators over a period of thirty-eight years. Similar to the online Bible text, the ASLV video library is available online on the Deaf Mission website and via an app. And it’s free!

Billy Deters, the president of the United Methodist Congress of the Deaf, a caucus representing and supporting Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and Deafblind persons, shared his excitement that the ASLV is now complete and feels it will better invite Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons to know the Bible. Deaf missionary and member of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church Esther Choi shared, “Deaf people need access in their own language, because for many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people, English is their second language. An ASL version helps them to better understand the Word of God.” Alma Andrews, a Deaf mother and member of Magothy United Methodist Church of the Deaf, who comes from an all-Deaf family (Deaf parents and Deaf siblings) says, “this will help both Deaf families and others, for whom ASL is their primary language, better understand the Bible.” Deaf advocate and trainer in human services, Cindy Blair explains, “I have to read the sentences over and over in order to absorb Scripture where viewing it in my first language helps me to better understand it right away.” “Seeing the body language, facial expressions and signs of ASL, this helps Deaf people to comprehend it better,” says Bryan Branson, president of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries Committee of Global Ministries.

The ASLV will be welcomed by some sign language interpreters who are new to interpreting in faith settings. Preparation is the norm for interpreters, wherein they read, analyze and practice signing the Scripture (and other parts of the service) before worship. Many interpreters shy away from interpreting worship because they do not wish to sign God’s Word incorrectly. By having immediate access to an ASL version of the Bible may provide them with confidence for how to sign/interpret Scripture. Bishop Peggy Johnson, former pastor of Christ Church of the Deaf, wishes she had this thirty years ago. “I remember Deaf people weeping when they first began viewing the videos (on VHS). It sure made Bible study way more interesting! What a gift. I’m so glad it’s completed.”

The ASLV raises Deaf awareness even further. In fact, Forbes magazine indicated that ASL is the third most-studied language being outnumbered only by Spanish and French. With the ASLV, what a great option to raise interest in ASL by showing the ASL version of Scripture during worship, especially for many churches who are currently live-streaming their worship services. The videos can be downloaded as well.

• Download the app here.
• Access to the ASLV here.

Rev. Leo Yates, Jr. is a deacon serving in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. He can be reached at RevYates@eumclaurel.org for more information.