Comments on: Faith Communities and Disability

By: Abdul Latif Coleman

Abdul Latif Coleman — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:47:10 +0000

There is a hadith related to children in the Masjid, basically it says we should be not only tolerate, but happy to see them there. As for people with impairments; they are human beings and should be treated as such. In fact perhaps our encounters with those who are diferent are but a test from Allah(God)

By: Safiyyah Amina Muhammad

Safiyyah Amina Muhammad — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:49:04 +0000

I am SO humbled beyond words to have been a part of this endeavor, a prat of this message to mankind that there is something greater than our desire to appear perfect; OUR PURPOSE.
Thank you to everyone that had the confidence, the faith in my family to participate. You are greatly appreciated. Thank you to Sufyaan for reminding me of the importance of unconditional love. You are our blessing.

By: jacquelyn

jacquelyn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:28:21 +0000

thank you, as a mother of a 38 yr old down’s syndrome son and a minister, i have not always
found welcoming situations but as time progresses and people are more exposed to differntly abled
people, I pray that things will get better.
all challenges are not the same just as all people
are not the same; right now i am recovering from
knee replacement surger and in my own church i will not be able to attend because i cannot climb
the many stairs,. awareness is the first step, helping families not to feel alienated is another
being patient with one another, learning to think
and respond outside of tradition, is that not what
Jesus, Moses and The Prophet all did.

By: William White

William White — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:37:19 +0000

I have not run into a problem with any of the churches I have attended. Even as part of the volunteer staff on a few of the churches we made sure that all felt welcomed. No matter what the disablity is we welcome them. I have in the past be attending Four Square Churches and now I attend Spring Lake United Methodist Church. I can’t speak for the other churches in your report.

By: IDC Blog » Faith Communities & Disability from Religion & Ethics News Weekly

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:28:12 +0000

[...] out the most recent episode of PBS’ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. The episode features Reverend Bill Gaventa and people with disabilities and their families from [...]

By: MB Walsh

MB Walsh — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:08:03 +0000

Great story! It would be nice to include some Catholic resources as well. Take a look at the following:
National Catholic Partnership on Disability: http://www.ncpd.org/
Diocese of Pittsburgh: http://www.diopitt.org/education/opmrre.htm
Diocese of Newark: http://www.rcan.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=96

By: Eileen Sabel

Eileen Sabel — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:23:46 +0000

If Iand,does hevan have a ramp?? hear”god will heal your broken body” ONCE MORE….GRRR..I’M NOT BROKEN!!or how I must’ve “sinned” EXASCSE ME?!and does hevan have a ramp?or is god bigited too??!
DISABLED AND PROUD OF IT,Mrs.Sabel

By: frank soriano

frank soriano — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:03:45 +0000

There is no arguing that houses of worship should be physiccally accessible to all worshippers. The next problem is how to integrate those whose behavior, through no fault of their own, disrupts the services. A non-disbled worshipper (child or adult) who disrupts a service would and should be removed, the latter to the enclosed children’s room if available. The same standard should be applied to the mentally disabled. Also just as children leave some services at the scripture readings and sermons for an age appropriate presentation and then return, the same should be done for the disbled if necessary.

By: Joan Walsh

Joan Walsh — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:07:28 +0000

The program was wonderful. I would underline Bill Gaventa’s comment that people with disabilities be included in regular services as opposed to having special services just for them.
Why in your list of groups to contact was there no mention of any Roman Catholic sources? My own diocese of Newark, NJ has a special office for people with disabilities. Much work has been done.My daughter, who has a son with autism, has worked with the archdiocese, has worked to have her son receive his First Communion and has co-edited a book with Bill Gaventa to help congregations to welcome people with disabilities.Your lack of mention of Catholic sources implies that there aren’t any.

By: F soriano

F soriano — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:12:43 +0000

As a certificated teacher of the handicapped who worked with the full range of disabilities, I applaud the efforts of religious congregations to meet the needs of disabled congregants. The program showed the extremes of the mentally disabled, who are the real challenge. Downs citizens our more than able to engage in worship but the autistic and the psychotic are problematic and the final comment of the program recognizes this. How do we assess who is capable of religious comprehension? A parent’s hopes are not enough unless they can provide evidence. If integrated in the congregation on the whole, some who were profiled would innocently disrupt the service. Perhaps for them, the Childrens Room found in many churches is a compromise. Should we eliminate those rooms them because they discriminate against infants and toddlers?