A Common Critique Of Disabilities Ministry

Individuals with disabilities have a long, hard history. In early times children born with disabilities were seen as weak and helpless, often resulting in them being hidden away or even killed. Due to not having the knowledge on the level of which we have today about disabilities in the past, people did not know what caused it. Sometimes giving birth to a child with a disability would be blamed on sins of family members, often leading to feelings of shame and guilt by the parents and/or other family members. The view on people with disabilities progressed positively into the 1900’s, but society was still not informed on how to treat those with disabilities. Instead of treating them like people, feelings of pity were commonly evoked in others. The arrival of disabled veterans after World War II and the civil rights fights of women and racial minorities had an immense impact on the changing perspectives on disability in the United States. With this changing perspective came the view of how inaccessible environments and the attitudes of others affected the disabled, bringing forth that access to programs and services was a civil right. This led to legislation which included the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (later updated and renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). These and other laws entitle people

Having a disability can be very complex and hard to understand. Disability is an individual performing which includes physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual mental illness impairments, and various types of chronic diseases. Living with a long lasting health condition presents many challenges and learning how to meet those challenges is a process that doesn 't happen right away. In the except P.H.*reaks: The Hidden History of People with Disabilities, the playwrights recapitulates on characters who all face some type of disability and it demonstrates perceptions towards disability that have varied significantly from one period of time to another. However, disability is not the impairment itself, but rather attitudes and environmental barriers that result in disability.

Disability is one of the many social issues that social workers address and advocate for daily. While some may argue that there has been great development on this topic as compared to previous years, what stood out for me was the fact that many of the new developments that are normally perceived as non-oppressive, are the main reasons for the struggles, limitations and exclusions persons with disabilities experience in society. Also, for an issue that affect the lives of many around the world, I want to argue, then, that our world has failed and continue to by not being grounded in supporting people with disability. In countries were access to medical and social services are near to impossible, the battles for survival are even greater for

This chapter explained the different perspectives of the issues of disability, how people without disabilities view people with disability and how people with disabilities are impacted medically, socially and economically. The medical model views disability as an abnormality or deficit that requires professional management. Within this model, disability was considered a personal impairment and the solution was to fix the disabled person. The economic model views disabled persons as unable to be self-sufficient and productive; requires economic and social support. The last model is a societal perspective that views people with a disability negatively and in many different images such as malevolent deviant and victims of a personal tragedy. The goal of disabilities studies is to change the way society views disability and correct the assumptions about people with disabilities. Disabilities study also sort to change the notion of disability being only an internal problem within the individual to looking at the issues from a environmental barrier perspective, and to make the issue of disability a civil rights issue.

L’Arche provides homes and workplaces where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and work together as peers. Her expectionations had been forged by Henri Nouwen who participated for ten years in the L’Arche community. Henri’s

According to her, people with disabilities are contented with the image of God as an image of a physically perfect being. But they are concern with the use of physical actions to perform religious rituals. They believed that rituals and other actions that symbolize faith should be tailored for both the able and the disabled. She recommended the use of political actions, must be applied to solve these concerns. By doing this, it will increase the authority and the role of disabled believers in church, and in faith. Using this political action will provide unity and harmony among both the able, and disabled followers that has common intent to serve God.

“Violence, Disability, & the Politics of Healing”, Julia Watts Belser argues that while healing isn’t necessarily negative, it is the “imperative” to be healed which can be a form of violence and imperialism. Pastorally, how do ministers interact with families who ask the church for healing, particularly healing for a child or family member with a disability? Is there a difference in praying for healing between those who were born with disabilities, and those who develop them through accidents (for example, through a work accident, a man at my church is potentially blind for life)?

These are all very bleak images of disability. Especially, I thought, since it was 2006. They painted a very meager, maybe worthless, existence. Although I had not heard of the term until just recently, it was very clear to me that night that to those in the room, to be someone with a disability meant to be a Tiny Tim. That is the term (named after the character in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol) disability advocates coined to articulate society 's view that people with disabilities (PWDs) are "childlike, dependant, and in need of charity or pity" (Shapiro, 1994 p. 14).

As they initiated this six-week experiment, the experimenters started first with a two-week baseline test. Then two weeks when they adjusted the sound of the classroom and finally another two weeks when they adjusted the lighting. As they conduct this experiment they used the same children and monitored them throughout each class day. The experimenters also took responses from the students about how they felt after each adjustment. During the first sessions without any adjustment made in the classroom, several students reported discomfort due to the lights and the sound that was emitted from the classroom. After they took their responses and collected all their data they went into the classroom and installed, sound-absorbing walls and then halogen lighting. After the experimenters installed the needed modifications for the students they instantly noticed a difference. The children's attentiveness and their overall ability to

In 2010, 19% of the U.S. population had a disability (“Nearly 1 in 5 People Have a Disability in the U.S., Census Bureau Reports”) and there is no doubt that today, in 2017, that number has increased. The first act that protected the civil rights of people with disabilities was not passed until 1973 (“What U.S. federal legislation protects the rights of students with disabilities?”). In 2015, there were 26,968 disability cases received by the EEOC (“EEOC Releases Fiscal Year 2015 Enforcement and Litigation Data”). Although there are many acts and laws in place protecting the rights of disabled people, there needs to be harsher punishments and violation fines in order

Historically, society has relied heavily on institutions to care for individuals with disabilities. The idea that individuals with disabilities could not -- and should not -- be cared for in their communities perpetuated the stigma

Throughout the world the majority of people identified with disabilities have been overlooked, hidden and ridiculed in the community (AHRC, 2013). Australian history demonstrates that in ‘dealing’ with this issue many individuals with disabilities have been placed in institutions and/or prisons and by sterilising many young girls (AHRC, 2013). The recent concern presented by Federal disability commissioner Graeme Inns, of the rise in sterilisation in young girls with disabilities begs the question of if the rights of these young girls are being adhered to (ABC, 2012). This case study will examine the legal and ethical issues whilst also discussing the rights of an individual with a disability. By analysing the Australian Common and Family

People go to church for prayers and healing, and because people with disabilities are known to be healers in very unique ways, this makes the congregation stronger.

When faced with the obstacle of a child with disabilities, as humans, we tend to ask the question, “Why God”, however, at some point the question will have to be rephrased, “What do You want me to do now”? Different religions have inconsistent approaches and attitudes to disabilities. These approaches range from acceptance as a gift from god(s) and therefore special, to total rejection as looked upon as a punishment from god(s). This approach varies by the religion, family, and even by the type of disability. Although faith and spirituality can offer positive support, one extensive literature review indicates that “…while faith and spirituality can offer positive support to people with disabilities, their experience within religious or spiritual communities continue to be of exclusion and marginalization and many

lEvery child, including those with disabilities, deserves a quality education that respects and promotes his or her right to dignity and the development of their full potential. Access to a quality education is a fundamental right that should be provided to all human beings. In the past education for children with disabilities was provided by private institutions, if it was even provided at all. Children with disabilities throughout the world have been excluded from mainstream society. In many countries, children with disabilities were, and still are, sent away and isolated from society. Many countries have their children with profound disabilities attend separate schools instead of their local community school. The education of children with diverse backgrounds and abilities continues to be a global challenge. Inequality for children with special needs remains a matter of concern for all societies. Despite the improvements that have been made, discrimination and exclusion continue.