Disability Concerns

Central Texas Conference Chair, Joan Gaspard,  817/284-8372, 399-2715 – tenniep@yahoo.com

2008 Discipline ¶653.1 – The responsibilities of this committee are to be aware and advocate for the role of persons with disabilities in ministry; to be a resource for local churches; to advocate for and help develop programs that meet the needs of persons with disabilities; to be informed about current ministries within the annual conference; to develop ways to sensitize persons in leadership positions; to foster cooperation among ministries within the annual conference that focus on specific disabilities; to promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the life of the local church and the annual conference; and to participate in accessibility associations in the sharing of knowledge and resources. 

A Place for All: Faith and Community for People with Disabilities will be broadcast nationwide over the next two weeks.  You can link to broadcast times, and view a trailer @ http://www.interfaithbroadcasting.com/onair.aspx?PID=327

Grants

DEAL (Disability Education and Awareness Leadership)
A goal of the Conference Disability Concerns is education and awareness of handicapping conditions and issues facing an individual having a handicapping condition, i.e., attitudinal, environmental, or communicative.  Because of this goal, CDC is awarding two grants to an upper classman or returning United Methodist college student.  One grant is to be awarded to a student that has a handicapping condition and a second grant to a student that has a declared major in assisting individuals with handicapping conditions, i.e., special education, speech pathology, hearing and visual impairment, social work, counseling, physical and/or occupational therapies.  Both grants will be awarded in May 2011 and be presented at the Central Texas Annual Conference in June, 2011.  See attached for eligibility requirements and application.

ACCESSIBILITY PROJECTS
see attached for grant criteria and application

Disability Access Improves Access For All more....

General Board Of Global Ministries Disability Concerns Website http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/health/disc/

What Do You Call People with Disabilities? 
Friends, neighbors, coworkers, dad, grandma, Joe's sister, my big brother, our cousin, Mrs. Morris, Jeremy, husband, wife, colleague, employee, boss, reporter, driver, dancer, mechanic, lawyer, judge, student, educator, home owner, renter, man, woman, adult, child, partner, participant, member, voter, citizen, amigo or any other word you would use for a person.

People First Language
People First Language recognizes that individuals with disabilities are - first and foremost - people.  It emphasizes each person's value, individuality, dignity and capabilities.  

Examples:

       Try saying:                                            Instead of:

  • people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
    he/she has a cognitive impairment
    a person who has Down syndrome
  • the mentally retarded; retarded people
    he/she is retarded; the retarded
    he/she's a Downs kid; a Mongoloid; a Mongol

 
  • a person who uses a wheelchair
    people who have a mobility impairment
    a person who walks with crutches
  • a person who is wheelchair bound
    a person who is confined to a wheelchair
    a cripple