Missionary Discipleship
6
Welcoming Those Living with Disabilities 19 percent of people in the USA live with disabilities, and the vast majority
of people living with disabilities in the United States are unchurched. Does that shock you? It once shocked me. But, for many years, I was engaged with the Institute on Theology and Disability, and participated in their conferences—a fascinating combination of theologians, priests, Protestant ministers, rabbis, disability activists, and other devout men and women living with different disabilities— blindness, deafness, physical impairment, intellectual disability, mental illness, and more. There I was in conversation with a Protestant minister and “church planter,” describing her latest assignment to start a faith community that was angled to spiritually support those developmentally disabled in her small city. Her description of worship made me smile—a room full of people that others may call “slow” (or worse) but the fastest to jump to their feet and praise God in song. I remarked how difficult it must have been to establish a community like that. She shook her head. “Easiest church plant ever. The need is so massive. We literally got a gym rented, put out flyers at disability support services that we would make this service disability-friendly and all were welcome—and we had 50 people the first Sunday. They told their friends and family and it easily tripled in a month. Most weren’t attending church at all because they didn’t know they would be welcome.” That has always stuck with me - her experience that these people did not feel welcome, and practically ran to church the first time someone deliberately invited them. Their hunger for God in the face of our lack of invitation and hospitality is convicting. What would it look like if our parishes actively, joyfully, publicly, confidently welcomed all people living with disabilities? If we went out and deliberately invited these folks, saying, "We have a home for you here. Come and see, taste and see…?"
Susan Windley-Daoust
Director of Missionary Discipleship swindley@dowr.org
Willing to share your story of sacramental reconciliation? The Light is On Southern Minnesota is coming March 20-21!
Susan and Alex
But just because it is not as hard as it may sound doesn’t mean that it does not require intentionality and a “rethinking” of what we do. When you are fully abled, it is very difficult to see the obstacles that prevent people living with disabilities from participation in Mass, formation, sacramental preparation and social events. Wheelchair ramps are obvious. Everything else, not so much. Think about these basic possibilities:
Beyond Access: the Difference Between Welcome and Permission
1. Does your parish have a sign with hymn numbers easy to see? I know some say “people need to pay attention and listen to the cantor announce it” but did you know 15% of the U.S. population has hearing loss? They may miss it. A few large print missalettes are helpful for these folks as well.
Church buildings are usually accessible to wheelchairs to some degree, but, as critical as that is, it is only the tip of an iceberg. If we want to be missiondriven parishes, we need a fully relational ministry to those who live with special needs - children, adults, and elderly. And relationship is key: 90% of those parenting kids with special needs said “a welcoming attitude toward people with disabilities” was the most helpful church support to them. Stephanie Hubach, author of Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability, puts it this way:
3. Where do the people in walkers and wheelchairs sit? Is it clear to a visitor? Is there room for family to sit with them? Do all hospitality greeters know how to direct people, anticipate needs? Does your confessional fit a wheelchair? If not, what do these people do?
A disability ministry isn’t so much programmatic as it is relational. ... It’s hitting the refresh button on the gospel button in church life. It’s all about the gospel, all about simply making it as accessible as possible so that the blind can see it, the deaf can hear it, the people with intellectual disabilities can understand it, and the people with physical disabilities can get into church to hear it.
February 2020 w The Courier w dowr.org
2. Likewise, announce the hymn number as well. The 3% of the U.S. population which is visually impaired thanks you. By the way, projecting those hymns on screens means people who are visually impaired can’t participate (a few printouts may help).
4. Some people have significant difficulty with sensory overload. If all your Masses are “blow out the organ pipes loud,” that makes their participation at Mass very difficult. Is there a quieter Mass they could attend? Offering noise cancellation or reduction headphones to check out can be a generous touch.
Our website and social media presence is a large part of this outreach. Do you have a story of how confession has changed your life? We'd love to hear it and, with your permission, publish it (anonymously or by name). Please see www.TheLightIsOnSouthernMn.org/reallifestories for examples, and email Susan at Swindley@dowr.org for more information.
5. Sacramental prep and religious education tends to presume developmentally typical kids. Would an interview with the parents help surface challenges before they begin?
6. Is the youth ministry meeting as inclusive as is helpful for all people of that age group? 7. In terms of evangelization: have you thought of hosting a Bible study for people with developmental disabilities, and inviting the whole town? “Nothing About Us Without Us”
There is a simple way to know what is helpful and desired: ask and include people with disabilities in this discussion. Disability can be complex, and access and welcome will look different for each person. Reach out to the folks who you know live with disabilities and ask for their input and help to make the parish more disability welcoming. In truth, they are the experts in your midst. (Second runners up: family, and people working with this population.) The disability rights movement made popular the phrase “nothing about us without us.” People living with disabilities are full members of your parish and larger community, and should lead as they are called. They are not people to be catered to, but active disciples in the Body of Christ. The best thing those of us who are abled can do is begin a conversation and listen to them. And shout from the rooftops that we welcome all those living with disabilities to commit to life in Christ! My son, the 19%, and I thank you! Contact my office for more information on how to assess your parish for hospitable welcome to those with disabilities.
