HEALTHY FAMILIES FOR ETERNITY

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Although, people with disabilities comprise a significant group in society, we still tend to think it is an uncommon occurrence or we are uncomfortable with the notion. Of course there is a precedent for such thinking in society in general and in the church. Individuals with disabilities can be traced back to ancient civilizations (i.e. Egypt, Sparta, Rome, China, and the early Christian world), however, documentation of history spans only the last 300 years. Historically in society, people with disabilities have been viewed as weak, outcast and stigmatized. During Bible times people with disabilities were often thought to have committed a great sin, seen as demon-possessed or “unclean”, needing to be separated from other humanity (Treloar 2000). Today, however, a socio-political perspective for disability emphasizes creating a more adaptive environment that is suitable for people with disabilities. Religious organizations, primarily the church, are well poised to establish such an environment for those who live with disabilities. SEMINAR Small Group Activity (10-15 minutes) Note: Facilitator can do one or both activities (Language impaired or Hearing Impaired) as time permits. “CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?” (Hearing Impaired Activity) Materials Needed: • Disposable Foam Ear Plugs • 3x5 Note Cards • Pencils/Pens Activity: Facilitator distributes a set of ear plugs, note cards, pencils or pens to participants. Participants are asked to put earplugs in ears. Facilitator turns away from participants and reads a list of 10 words for participants to write on notecards. Facilitator asks participants how many words they wrote on their cards. List of words: • Base • Mess • Cause • Mop • Good • Luck • Wag • Rain • Love • Knock 55 Debrief: Participants share how they felt and what they experienced during the activity. Imagine how someone who is hearing impaired may feel during the worship service. “WALKING IN EXCEPTIONAL SHOES” (Activity for Language Impairment or Learning Disabilities) Activity: • Write your name in cursive for 1 min. • Now switch and write your name for 1 min with the opposite hand. • How many times did you write your name legibly. • Now look at the next slide* and read the words on the slide, now read them as fast as possible. • Now look at the same slide and read the color that the word is written in. What can we do? • What do we know about working with individuals with disabilities? • They communicate differently. • They learn differently. • They see things differently. • They cope differently. • Be careful. • Expectations are everything-just because individuals have a disability does not mean that they are disabled. Note: Facilitator can access the slide :“Walking in their shoes Small Group Activity” in the disc provided with this Planbook. CREATING AWARENESS OF MEMBERS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY
HEALTHY FAMILIES FOR ETERNITY REACH THE WORLD 56 “Walking” In The Shoes of the people with disabilities — From Awareness to Compassion In Luke 5:18,19, we see men finding a way to bring a paralyzed man to hear messages of hope being shared by Jesus. Several things come to mind when we read this text. First, the compassion and concern the men showed towards the disabled man. They seemingly put aside any negative stigma of associating with one who may have been seen as “unclean” or demon possessed and how it would compromise their social status. We also see incredible faith being displayed, on the part of the men and the paralytic man, “and when He [Jesus] saw their faith” Small Group Activity (10-15 minutes) “WE ARE THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT” Materials Needed: • Ball of Yarn • Scissors (v. 20), he forgave them their sins and healed the paralytic man. Perhaps these men had already heard one of Jesus’ messages and were so transformed, they believed that Jesus could do the same for the paralyzed man. Their excitement must have been so palpable that a man who had been paralyzed, perhaps since birth, was given hope of the possibility of being healed. But the emphasis here in this seminar, is not solely on the faith and the healing of the paralytic, but the compassion shown by these men. As soon as we accept Jesus, we are called to be disciples, and the evidence of our faith is seen in our works—our love for one another (John 13:35). Divide participants into groups of 8-10 people and each group forms a circle. Facilitator holds ball of yarn and wraps one end of yarn around index and middle fingers. Instruct participants to give name and share a few things about self (eg. My name is Sally and I am from Singapore. I have been married for 20 years and have two daughters, etc.)—facilitator shares first. If another participant hears something that is the same as the speaker’s experience, they call out “me too” and the speaker throws the ball of yarn to that person (if two or more people respond choose one to throw yarn to). When the next person catches the ball of yarn, they tie the yarn around two fingers and then share name and experience. Continue until everyone in circle has shared at least once, but as time permits, participants could share a few times. At the end there should be a web of yarn connecting all the participants to one another. Have participants pull back on their end of the web or string and feel how connected they are to one another. Have participants move a few steps inside the circle in see how web is loosened or weakened. Debrief possible themes: • We are all connected in some way • We are more alike than we are different • We don’t need to be afraid of our differences—we are still united despite our differences • Our connections make us more aware of our different needs • We are stronger as a community when we recognize our responsibility to one another • The community is weaker when we are not committed to one another Note: If there are participants who are disabled and unable to participate without assistance, the facilitator can assign another participant to be a “buddy” or helper.
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2016 PLANBOOK REACH THE WORLD HEALT
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HEALTHY FAMILIES FOR ETERNITY

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