Disabilities Ministry is committed to opening doors and building bridges in the Church of the Brethren and beyond, so that all may worship, serve, be served, learn and grow in the presence of God as a valued member of our Christian community.
How Accessible is Your Congregation?
Church of the Brethren congregations will be asked to more closely evaluate their level of accessibility before completing the congregational survey form for the denomination's Yearbook. To help congregations with this self-evaluation, the Disabilities Ministries has sampled several self-assessment tools and formed a "Congregational Accessibility." This document offers a check list and further explanations about what it means to indicate that your congregation is accessible. Click here to go directly to the self-assessment tool.
Visit the National Organization on Disability's Congregational Self-Assessment Tool
The National Organization on Disability has a new self-assessment tool titled "Journey of a Congregation: A Self-Assessment and Learning Tool of the Accessible Congregations Campaign." This tool helps congregations determine how accessible it is toward people with disabilities. Click here to go directly to the self-assessment tool.
Annual Conference Delegates Approve New ADA Resolution
Delegates at the 2006 Annual Conference approved the new resolution regarding the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) to Annual Conference delegates. The ABC Board had approved the statement during its board meetings, held March 24-26 at the General Offices in Elgin, and moved it forward to the Annual Conference for consideration. The statement calls for congregations to recommit themselves to the goals of the ADA.
The resolution, titled “Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusion Resolution,” urges congregations, agencies and gatherings of the Church of the Brethren to enable all activities to be accessible so that “all may worship, serve, be served, learn and grow in the presence of God as valued members of the Christian community.” It encourages these same groups to examine physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully; to make a commitment that all existing and future denominational offices be modified or designed to follow the guidelines of the ADA; and to request that ABC continue to make resources available to assist in fulfilling these commitments.
To view the resolution, click here.
During the 2006 Annual Conference, delegates requested more information about Christian education resources for disabilities. Click here to view a list of recommendations from members of the Disabilities Ministry.
Disaster Preparedness Planning for People with Disabilities
The National Organization on Disabilities has produced a new resource titled "Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities." Other resources for congregations to use for members with disabilities are also available at this website. These resources can be accessed by visiting the NOD site, click here.
Messenger Focuses on Disabilities
The November 2005 issue of the Messenger focuses on the church and disabilities with its theme of "Is the welcome mat out for those with special needs?"Long-time disabilities advocate Janet Stroup relates the first-person stories of some disabled Brethren and others. David S. Young shares observations he made of congregational hospitality while traveling with his language-impaired son. Other articles look at one’s district’s vision for ministry to the disabled, the difficulties a church can face in knowing how to respond, and the tests of faith that can come with watching a family member face a disabling condition. A study guide is provided for congregations and groups to utilize this issue of Messenger, as they discuss these important issues. In addition, the Association of Brethren Caregivers has extra copies of this issue. To request copies, contact Nancy Miner.
What We Do
Through a volunteer committee, this ministry plans awareness raising events and provides services for people interested in Disabilities Ministry. Activities in recent years include:
- Establishing an annual award, entitled the "Open Roof Award," to recognize districts and congregations that are making great strides in Disability Ministry.
- Creating an electronic listserve so that individuals from across the denomination who are interested in disability ministry can discuss common concerns, share resources and network.
- Providing Messenger-On-Tape, a monthly audiotaped reading of Messenger for people who are visually impaired. This is offered on a subscription basis of $10 for subscribers who return the tapes after each issue and $25 for subscribers who keep the tapes. Contact ABC to subscribe.
- Presenting informational insight sessions and workshops at denominational conferences such as Annual Conference, Caring Ministries Assembly, National Older Adult Conference and others.
- Providing the Buddy System at Annual Conference. The Buddy System connects families with disabilities to volunteers that provide help at meals, accompaniment services during business session. It also provides large print bulletins at all worship events.
Volunteer Committee Members
Pat Challenger – Pat recently retired after 32 years in public education. During that time, she spent 24 years in the special education field gaining a wealth of experience. When prompted by the church, Pat gladly joined Disabilities Ministry. bchallengr@aol.com
Heddie Sumner – Heddie is a registered nurse who has worked in the aging services field for 16 years. She has worked as a geriatric care manager, director of adult day and dementia services, as well as education director, with an emphasis on advanced dementia care. She serves on the Michigan Dementia Coalition's Hospice and Dementia Care committee, the Michigan Dementia Education Network and the Mid-Michigan Alzheimer's Association regional committee. Her personal experience includes caring for her father who had vascular dementia and her mother who has cancer. Heddie is a member of the Midland (Mich.) Church of the Brethren, where she serves as a deacon and youth Sunday School teacher. SumnerFam@aol.com
Karen Walters – Karen is a tax accountant and has served on the Tempe (Ariz.) Commission on Disability Concerns for 10 years, coordinated a high school district's Special Olympics program for 6 years, served on an elementary school district's Special Needs Advisory Council. She was secretary/board member of The Arc of Tempe for 6 years. Karen has a developmentally disabled son. Her late father-in-law had mobility issues resulting from post polio and her father had Alzheimer's disease for 12 years. Karen is a member and licensed minister at Papago Buttes Church of the Brethren in Scottsdale, Ariz. kwalters@aceweb.com
Brett Winchester – Brett came to the Church of the Brethren while in High school through youth outreach. His mother had been a member of the Eden Valley Church of the Brethren in Kansas as a young woman. Blind since birth, Brett has developed a great deal of experience coping with blindness and low vision. He shares this experience with his employer, the Idaho Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and community. He is also working to show his faith in Christ as well through the statement "...as you have done it to the least of these, you also have done it to me..." He is also involved in numerous advocacy efforts on behalf of persons who are blind or visually impaired. Bwinches@icbvi.state.id.us
Kathy Reid (ABC staff representative) – Kathy is executive director of ABC and represents the Wellness Ministry and Denominational Deacon Ministries. kreid_abc@brethren.org
History
Disabilities Ministries was created at the 1981 Annual Conference and was the first task group formed under the auspices of the Association of Brethren Caregivers. From the beginning, this ministry's focus has been to address concerns of advocacy, awareness education and accessibility.
