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Prepared by Mark Crenshaw of the Interfaith Disabilities Network, a
program of the Atlanta Alliance on Developmental Disabilities
Every one of us wants to worship in a place that they can call “home.” Home
is the place you go where you are called by welcomed, called by name, and
invited to step aside from the weariness of your life. We all want to think
of our houses of worship as just such a place, but often people with
disabilities experience that they are strangers in a strange land when they
seek hospitality from their congregations of choice. Many communities
representing a multitude of faith perspectives are now in the process of
educating themselves about the amazing gifts of people with disabilities. As
churches, synagogues, temples and mosques seek to begin the work of full
inclusion of people with disabilities, there are many new resources for
entering into this important conversation. The list of internet resources
that follows is an attempt to put some useful and powerful information at
your fingertips. We dream of a world were ALL people are invited to come
“home” to their chosen communities of faith to use their gifts in worship,
study, service and leadership. We work for this day because we know when it
is we will be on our way toward the healing and transformation of our world.
May it be so.
Interfaith Disabilities Network (IDN)
http://www.aadd.org/html/idn.htm
The IDN educates and engages faith communities in cultivating mutually
beneficial relationships with people with disabilities. IDN focuses on
working with individuals and communities in metropolitan Atlanta. The IDN
website includes a list of congregations that welcome people with
disabilities. The site also has contact information for individuals,
congregations and organizations that want to help congregations learn to
provide hospitality to people with disabilities.
Religion and Disability Program of the National Organization on
Disability
http://www.nod.org/religion/index.cfm
This program works with congregation to remove the barriers to the full
participation of people with disabilities. They have a number of award
winning publications, including, That All May Worship, From Barriers To
Bridges, and Loving Justice. All of these guides are multi-faith and
they provide practical suggestions about removing the barriers that people
with disabilities face when they seek to share their gifts with their faith
community of choice. You can also get information about attending or hosting
a That All May Worship conference in your area.
The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD)
http://www.ncpd.org/
The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) was established in
1982 to foster implementation of the Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic
Bishops on People with Disabilities. Passed unanimously on November 16,
1978, this prophetic document calls for welcome of the now over fourteen
million Catholics who are disabled. It states that these persons must be
able to participate in the celebrations and obligations of their faith, and
advocates for their inclusion "within the total fabric of society."
Accessibility Committee of United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism
http://www.uscj.org/accessibility/
This page provides resources for members in Conservative Jewish Synagogues
to begin to educate and engage members of their communities to remove the
barriers to the full participation of people with disabilities.
The Christian Council on Persons with Disabilities (CCPD)
http://www.ccpd.org
The Christian Council on Persons with Disabilities is a consortium of
Christian organizations working with people with disabilities. CCPD provides
a platform for you to communicate and interact with leaders interested in
promoting the spiritual well being of people who have physical, mental, or
emotional disabilities.
The Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities— Inclusive
Ministries Project
http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/projects/comm_sup_4.htm
Inclusive Ministries are a variety of activities and projects either led or
supported by The Boggs Center that encourage congregations to include and
support people with disabilities and their families.
Presbyterians for Disabilities Concerns
http://www.pcusa.org/phewa/pdc.htm
This is a collection of resources for people in ministry with people with
disabilities in the Presbyterian Church-USA. This site has consultants that
can be contacted in order to receive feedback about how to respond to people
with specific disabilities. Here is the link for information about the
consultants
http://www.pcusa.org/phewa/consult.htm
That All May Be Welcome- The Unitarian Universalist Association
http://www.uua.org/programs/justice/accessibility/
The Unitarian Universalist Association has committed itself to the removal
of all barriers -attitudinal, physical, and programmatic - that prevent the
full participation of persons with disabilities in the life of our
Association. Unitarian Universalism calls its members to begin the task of
removing both the physical and attitudinal barriers to persons with
disabilities in our congregations, so that all may share their gifts and
talents in our religious communities.
The National Jewish Council for Disabilities
http://www.njcd.org/
This is a site contains good resources for education about inclusion of
people with disabilities in Jewish life.
United Methodist Church- Disabilities Concerns
http://gbgm-umc.org/DISC/
Disabilities Concerns is for persons living with physically or mentally
challenging conditions, their friends, families, caretakers, lay associates,
and clergy. We offer information related to disability concerns, yet add the
dimension of spiritual care. We have material on developmental disabilities,
mental illness, creative writing by or related to persons with disabilities,
and resources in the area of disability ministry for both individuals and
faith communities on our web site and e-mail list.
Jewish Family Concerns- LEHIYOT: Special Needs
http://urj.org/jfc/disability/
Access to Judaism has been a hallmark of the Reform movement since our first
congregation began seating women and men together over 120 years ago. Today,
access involves such things as large-print prayer books, sign interpretation
at services, bar and bat mitzvah training for children with special needs,
and increasing sensitivity to the scope of needs within each community. The
Department of Jewish Family Concerns helps congregations create and enhance
inclusive environments and accessible spaces to ensure that everyone is
included. Every congregant has a right to a rich Jewish life in a welcoming
environment.
Joni and Friends
http://www.joniandfriends.org
Founded by Joni Eareckson Tada in 1979, Joni and Friends exists to
communicate the gospel and equip Christ-honoring churches worldwide to
evangelize and disciple people affected by disability.
Episcopal Disability Network
http://edn4ministry.org
The Episcopal Disability Network exists to enable each child of God
regardless of the severity of his or her disability to be an integral member
of the Body of Christ, to participate in the sacraments of the church, and
to discern and live out his or her calling as a Christian.
Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services
http://www.blhs.org/resources/
The National Christian Resoure Center, located in Watertown, Wisconsin, is a
service provided through Bethesda Lutheran Homes and Services. They provide
services worldwide to families of people with developmental disabilities,
pastors, volunteers and professionals who work with people with
developmental disabilities.
Muslim Resources: Hajj in A Wheelchair
http://www.beliefnet.com/story/69/story_6926_1.html
This is a story written by a woman from Atlanta, GA. She discusses the joys
and challenges of completing one of the most important journeys a Muslim can
make.
Parent to Parent of Georgia
www.parenttoparentofga.org/database.htm
or call 1-800-229-2038
Parent to Parent of Georgia Special Needs Database is an information and
referral service for families caring for children with special needs. You
can search the database for information on local Religious Programs.
There are indeed many faith communities who are coming to terms with the
obligations of their traditions that instruct them to create hospitality to
people with disabilities. It is my hope that the resources contained here
have been helpful. We are all gifted people! May we continue on this journey
to build a world without barriers. May we welcome the gifts of people with
disabilities because our faith communities with be more whole when we do.
May we create communities that are “Home” for all of God’s people.
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There is an
energy in us which makes things happen when the paths of other persons touch
ours.
from the Monks of Weston Priory
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