Rehabilitation Gazette - Polio Place

~ ~years at the Elyria Methodirt Home for tho Aged. Formore education in the field, she then went to theMeihodlrt Thealagicai School in Ohio and trained atRiverrideWMfe Crou iiulpjtti in Coiumbur. Ah lhr hrhtwoman graduate of the new school. she war ordained asa Methodist Elder in 1964. However, a chaplaincyooiilion lhar been hard to find. Meanwhile. she has filledin toy her pastor at Cove Church in ~~k~wdod. Ohio, andfor a fnend during recovery from surgery. She has helpedwith coun~lin~. weddinos, funerals. and has accededinvitations to preach all over Ohio, in Georgia and Florida- in fact coast to coart!I myself had respiratory polio in 1952 at age four. I ama Baptist preacher's daughter and have been active inchurch all my life. except for a couple of years akerhavino ~ollo. For seven "ears I have tauriht children atand could - even coping wjth a rwm iuli of childrenuntil 1 war hoarse. muddled, and exhaurtedi For tenyears. my vocation has been writing Southern Bapllifmaierial~ promoting rtawardrhlp and mission iuppon -audio-virualr, artider, and two bookr. l warkai home, byarrignment. using a ,ypemIter my father built with aminiature, remoie keyboard.CONCLUSION I believe all the people named abovewould agree that for a disabled person coniempiafing achurch-related vocation. the first considerations should berpirltual. Religous service should no more be thought ofas "sheltered employment" for tho disabled than as arefuge irom the world for the able~bodi~d. If God calls aperson, He will help in dealing with the physical limtfa~tionr, either working around them or living with them.conrrarp to some folks notion, a Chtiraan with adirabiiav is not automatically a "ruper~saint? Neither dothe disabled need a perrand faith in Christ solely becausethey are disabled: they need It as all men do.Let ma add one more note. If you are not inwlved in achurch but want to be, don't wait for someone to findyou. Cali rams churches. Look around for a Eongrega~fion that will meet your needs, make you feel a1 home.and la you be one of the family to tho fullest extent.by F large bathroom. Each room has four comfortable(firmi beds, four dressers, and two night stands. Thereare iwo snkr in each room, and in each balhroom thereare two toilets and one bathrub ~8th shover. Beamedceilings and panelled walls create a rurtlc and cozy atmorphere.There are no steps in any of tho buildings, and thedoorways are wide. The variour buildings are joined bylevel asphalt pathways IO~ket wide, good for wheelchairraces or just wheeling with a inend.The main lodge war completed In 1975. The diningroom has a large stone fireplace on one end. providingforur for an informal lounge area. Tha main lodge has 16sleeping roomr. 10 of urhich have private baths inrplra~tion Center can house 110 campers altogether. A balconysurrounds one edge of the lodge, dowing campor. towhe-I or walk dose to the neer.The downitairs area, serviced by an eievator. in usedby the Rehabilltation Department of the Chrirtian League.but during camp seJsionr, the nail activity is alsocentered here. The rehabilitatbn center has an evaluationkitchen where campers can receive some hints onindependent living.Swimming opponuntties are provided In the indoor0001 of the CLH Occuoational Home. which ir on theramr aneage. In the summer, a flatbed "open-air taxi"by tractor transpons camperr back and forth to the~ool. An outdoor ~ ool at tho cam~rite is in lhe ~roiectedplans far the future.One of the main purposes of the Chrlnien League forthe Handicapped ir to meet tho rplrihlal need. 01phyilcally handicapped people, and therefore the chapdis a focal ootnt of ths lodoe and of its olanned oromam. .The room is simple in dersgn and has panelled walls andrurtic chandelieri, A single antique rtained~glars windowis in the bont wall.The Chdstlan League for the Handicapped i$ anon~profit comaration supported by indiuiduaiand organi~zational gins and grants. Many indivtdualr have gjvcn ofRetreat/Conference Centerby Shirley Locker''it's a dream come hue!" wrote one camps. aner rhoanended the opening in 1977 of inrpiratlan Center. theretreat and conference center owned and operaled by theChristian League for the Handicapped in routheinWfrconrin.The Ba unltr d the camp were completed in 1975 -six coaager which have two large roomr for four jdned22New onlerence ond remot center in Walworth, WisconsinREHABlLllATlON GAZETTE