It often surprises people when they hear that my partner is disabled. Often, even amongst our friends, he isn't taken seriously. By looking at him, it seems he just has sore knees. That's cause he pushes himself. When I look at him, I can see the constant pain he's in. The way that he walks akwardly to relieve his pain. I know about the drawer of pills he's tried that long ago stopped making a difference.
Do you think having a Developmental or Neurological Disability or a Mental Illness Makes You a bad person? Are stroke survivors, people living with Autism, FAS, MS, head injuries, and other neurological differences, less than human?
Is it Ok to call people "retards", "crazy" "mentally ill" "stupid" "a moron" and so on when you disagree with them.
I am thinking of Ryan tonight, the anniversary of his last night. He was a hero to me. From the moment he was refused admittance to school, he has been an inspiration to me.
I am also thinking of his family.
I am also remembering all the people I have been privileged to be with on their last night. I am still grieving.
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, 19 and that the time of the Lord's favour has come.
In the Abilities Church we like to quote the last line of this text, “when I am weak then I am strong”. After all, the core message of the Abilities church is that those with disabilities have something vital to contribute to the Church. This is an important message and something I affirm, but we need to understand the context and where our strength comes from.
I am asking for people who know the Old and New Testaments to help me.
I have a web site www.accessiblechurch.ca that is about helping your Church become accessible, by bringing down barriers to church and inside churches.
The number one key words that bring people to my site from search engines are bible verses, diversity, disability and inclusion.
