The main theme of this book starts from the question that the author, Barbara J. Newman, has in her mind and lead her to write this book. “How can we set up an environment where persons with disabilities can connect with the gospel message and grow in relationship with Jesus Christ?” Before its start, however, one must know where it can start or what can be done first? Barbara told us that it has to be a knowledge that integrates all of the information around a person because she believes God made that person, and He wants to put that person in “an important spot in His Kingdom.”
In this book, Barbara Newman deals with the question above in two different chapters related to each other. Firstly, she wrote about “Accessible Gospel” which means
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She believes that “once we are a child of God, it’s so important to put ourselves in places where God can continue the transformation in our lives.” At the time, we may understand that the place of transforming will be different for the people with disability. Therefore, the author introduces a concept of Vertical Habits. This is 8 different stage of the year learning and practicing of the spiritual growth which could be a place of life changing of a person with areas of disability. While practicing these processes of spiritual growth, as a special educator the author said that the repetition is so important for students with experiencing areas of disability. That is why it is being called ‘habits’. The author wrote that “it helps develop worship habits that deepen their relationship with God and affect every part of their lives.”
Here are the 8 stages of Vertical Habits.
1. LOVE YOU (Praise) is mostly worship experience and an opportunity to express love to God
2. I’M SORRY (Confession) is honest and regular confession of their sins during the
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When people faced to serve a man or woman with disability at the first time, the first thing that they usually get improper perception is that they think that they give ‘help’ in direct way and the beneficiary of that help is only the man or woman. Actually, that was my case. I had totally misunderstood about the disability ministry. When I have decided to get this field as my supervised ministry, I had a kind of proud that comes from the concept in my mind that this ministry is what church must do since God wants His people “doing goods” , and I am going to do that. However, soon after I have involved this ministry I realized that there is something more, something bigger and deeper than I thought. And when I open this book I found what that is. A concept in my mind was not wrong but it is not ideal concept we supposed to have. It is only one sided concept that only thinks
Including Samuel is a film about how inclusion can be difficult, but it is important for these children and their success. This is an issue that people with developmental disabilities deal with on a daily basis, but not everyone knows this until you have seen it first-hand or lived with it. In the film, photojournalist and father, Dan Habib follows his son Samuel around and others with disabilities to show their stories and to help inform the viewers about this little known topic. The film was effective in its efforts to display how inclusion has many complexities, but we need to work at it in order for these children to have a contributing and successful life.
Ever since she was a child, Christine Enockson had a passion for education. Living in a small Wisconsin town, it was rare for there to be a child with special needs. Once Christine, or Chris as many people call her, discovered how school was different for these children, she passionately pursued a career to help those children. This passion led her to decide to be a foster parent. Throughout her life, Chris has made a difference in the lives of many children, including her own. Even though Chris has faced many hardships in her life, she continues to stay positive because of her faith. Chris’s help with special needs children and foster care have helped her faith cultivate and she is currently inspiring others to serve God and others in the
I always wondered what life would be like if I couldn’t see, or do the things I take for granted like drive a car, climb a mountain, hug my kids, tie my shoe, or even wipe my own butt. I remember, as a child, thinking what if I never got to hear my favorite song. In class, I was given the opportunity to see what it’s like to walk in the shoes of someone with a learning disability, and see firsthand what they go through on a daily basis.
In his book, An Uncomplicated Life: A Father’s Memoir of his Exceptional Daughter, Paul Daugherty recounts how his daughter, Jillian, has impacted his life, and the lives of everyone around her. He begins by explaining that his book is not about Jillian’s disability, but “about how her disability has enabled more fully her life and the lives of others,” including his own. Jillian was born with Down syndrome, a diagnosis that shocked Paul and his wife, Kerry, and forever changed their lives. Paul, a sports columnist, was far from prepared to care for and raise a child with a disability, but throughout the book, he explains his own transformation as the result of having Jillian. Kerry, on the other hand, accepted the challenge head on, and together, they set the goal of “building a better Jillian.” What happened in turn was that they were impacted beyond what they could fathom, and Jillian ended up moving those around her to “extraordinary goodness.”
Becoming Human is a short book by Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche which is a network of communities across the globe for people with physical and intellectual disabilities and those who wish to support them and learn from them. Through this ministry, Vanier has gained insight into what it means to becoming human. Becoming human is the process of setting one’s heart free from chaos and loneliness by accepting the past while being open to growth and change, which allows one to love and respect others and find a sense of belonging. The book is not necessarily about changing society for the better, but changing the lives of individuals in society for the better, which eventually changes and sculpts society for the better. Vanier shares biblical examples and personal stories from some of the people he has met through L’Arche, and further explains the process of becoming human by sharing his wisdom on topics such as loneliness, belonging, and forgiveness.
In the book, The Short Bus, Jonathan Mooney’s thesis is that there is more to people than their disabilities, it is not restricting nor is it shameful but infact it is beautiful in its own way. With a plan to travel the United States, Mooney decides to travel in a Short bus with intentions of collecting experiences from people who have overcome--or not overcome--being labeled disabled or abnormal. In this Mooney reinvents this concept that normal people suck; that a simple small message of “you’re not normal” could have a destructive and deteriorating effect. With an idea of what disabilities are, Mooney’s trip gives light to disabilities even he was not prepared to face, that he feared.
There is the world that also must be changed. There are still places that are not as advanced as others. The old ways that the advanced places once used are still intact in other areas. We find those ways wrong, but there is acceptance of the old ways where the new ways are not taught. With multitudes of people coming and going from the United States it is hard to monitor or change the ways that are brought along with others. There is never harm in trying. Little by little we can help others realize that their ways of thinking are not appropriate. A way into society could be literature, movies, and social media. I’m finding that as I read literature from different countries the amount of literature on people with disabilities or is low, even for the United States. However, it seems that the greatest changes were written on paper and passed around. My only worry is that after erasing the outdated views from society, is what will come to replace it.
One of the most striking themes of the book was do not judge a person based upon their disabilities. In the book, the case studies were very unique. However, there was some bias that the author provided, and the talents of each of the patients was overlooked. For example, many of the patients had a debilitating disorder that
needs of a child with a disability, including instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in
felt. The book addresses a range of challenges that parents of children with disabilities may face.
The majority of people in today’s world view disabled people as a misfortune or a disappointment. Contrary to popular belief, I see disabled people as God’s blessings, which he has placed on earth to remind us about the important things in life, because misfortunes can teach us very valuable lessons. Although disabled people have limitations on how they can accomplish things in life, somehow they still find a way to make you feel so loved, show you how true determination looks, and remind us how to be joyful.
The contradiction in cultural mindsets of persons with disabilities challenges us to introspectively examine our personal response to divergence. In the emerging paradigm of an inclusive society, we are confronted with 'ugliness' that pierces our own perfection bubbles created by the media. We are threatened to engage our own sense of imperfection, shattering our protective shield. We become aware that we are all an accident or illness away from a restricted dance through life. We are blinded by the norms that restrict us. What would it take to see?
My experiences also influence my social justice nature, in that by protecting the family from the supervisor’s coercive measures I would be able to use this situation as a teaching/learning opportunity with the supervisor. By adjusting value and belief systems in relation to accepting and working to improve the capacity of families with intellectual developmental disabilities’ (IDD) abilities and potentials, the social worker and supervisor could develop better strategies in coping with similar situations in the future (Clifford & Burke, 2009). This method would satisfy my socio-political goals of social change in overcoming inequalities and divisions that stem from social differences (D’Cruz et al., 2007). My socio-political goals could limit my critical thinking, causing me to be blind to my professional obligation to respect and uphold the agency and order’s policies and procedures. My personal experiences with challenges hinged to poverty (such as hunger, stigma, and social exclusion) are influencers that motivate the professional self (D’Cruz et al., 2007) to work toward strengthening the family’s support systems and ties
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2012).Teaching children with disability in inclusive settings. Reterived on March 20, 2012 from: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001829/182975e.pdf
Generally individuals with special needs continue to be the most disadvantaged and neglected in third-world countries (Charema, 2007). This paper is concerned with the moral necessity and biblical mandate of providing special education programs in Christian schools in third-world countries when society in those countries does not recognize or value people with special needs.