"Some End-of-the-Week Thoughts"
There seems to have been a spate of suicides in the last few weeks, most especially in that most vulnerable of age groups, teenagers and young adults. A very talented young woman committed a very public suicide, just last week at the University of Washington. Those closest to her are still having a hard time understanding why.
The United States military is experiencing an explosion of suicides amongst personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, far beyond what has been considered "normal" in such wartime situations. In the last few weeks, several teenagers have ended their promising young lives, as a result of "cyber-bullying" - that instant proliferation of vicious "text assault" by their peers.
Do I have solutions? Well, just like you, I have ideas. I am convinced that a short-term "band-aid" approach can only offer short-term help. What is needed is an early intervention approach. It starts with teaching our children, at the earliest of ages, to value and respect each other. Parents, grandparents, older siblings - it is our responsibility to help guide those younger citizens in what is acceptable behavior. More than that, it is our accountability to teach them how to "play nice in the sandbox" with each other.
And, I believe, we are accountable to get outside of ourselves and pay attention to those around us. If we take the time to stop, watch and listen, I believe we will raise our own awareness of those who are silently screaming for help, and be able to offer an uplifting word, or some kind, gentle attention.
The downward spiral is an early-warning system, and early recognition can provide the opportunity to stop the slide, and work to bring yourself back to the "surface," perhaps avoiding a full-blown depression. This early detection also gives you the opportunity to get help from someone with professional experience.
Life is precious, and as far as I can tell, we only get one shot at it here on earth. We all have contributions to make. The talents you possess have a purpose for being here on earth.
And so do you.
Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute
www.thepacificinstitute.com
The effects of The Pacific Institute's education are reverberating around the world. For weekly updates, go to www.TPIGlobalNews.com
The Pacific Institute, Inc. copyrights 1997-2010. All rights reserved.
Winner's Circle Network with Lou Tice (WCN) is a registered trademark of The Pacific Institute.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
30 Things You Can Do to Be Hospitable to People with Disabilities
30 Things You Can Do to Be Hospitable to People with Disabilities
by Lindsay Wieland Capel
1. When talking with someone who has a disability, look at that person—not at the interpreter or companion.
2. When hosting someone for a meal, ask if they have any food allergies or diet restrictions.
3. Use person-first language such as “a person who has schizophrenia” or “Mary uses a wheelchair.”
4. Avoid using such words/phrases as retarded, wheelchair-bound, suffers from, handicapped, able-bodied, victim, defect.
5. Don’t lean on someone’s wheelchair.
6. When talking to someone in a wheelchair, take a seat to position yourself at the person’s eye level.
7. Don’t interact with a guide dog.
8. When interacting with someone who has a visual disability, say who you are when you approach and announce when you leave.
9. Be flexible when people in the congregation or their medical devices make additional noise.
10. Label foods at potlucks, especially when they contain nuts or gluten.
11. Seek permission and instructions before assisting someone.
12. If anyone in your congregation has a disability or a child with a disability that requires costly accommodations, consider how your church might offer to assist in paying for such costs.
13. Offer respite care to a spouse or parent of someone who has a disability or long-term illness.
14. When talking with someone who has an intellectual disability, speak in your normal tone.
15. When listening to someone who has difficulty speaking, be patient and ask him to repeat what you did not understand instead of pretending that you understood.
16. Avoid calling people with disabilities kids or addressing them with words like honey; address them as you would anyone else.
17. Invite an adult or child with disabilities to your home or on an outing and find out in advance about the person’s preferences and needs.
18. As a way to provide relief to parents, offer to sit one time each month during worship with their child who has a disability.
19. Explore websites that offer education about disability issues, such as www.crcna.org/disability, www.rca.org/disabilities, and www.clcnetwork.org/church_services.
20. Buy and read a book such as Vulnerable Communion: A Theology of Disability and Hospitality by Thomas Reynolds or Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities by Barbara J. Newman. Then donate it to your church library.
21. Sit near people with disabilities during worship.
22. Offer transportation (to church, medical appointments, etc.) to someone who has a disability.
23. Just say hi.
24. Volunteer with or consider starting a Friendship ministry at your church (www.friendship.org).
25. Teach your children how to interact with people in their lives who have a disability.
26. When assisting a person with visual impairments, allow her to hold on to you, rather than you holding on to her.
27. Do not gossip about someone who is socially awkward or different.
28. Encourage your kids to befriend kids who have disabilities.
29. Send a note of encouragement to someone with a disability or to his or her caregiver.
30. Offer to pick up supplies or prescriptions for someone with a disability or his family.
These ideas were gathered from the Christian Reformed Church Handbook for Disability Advocates and from interviews with individuals. The CRC and the Reformed Church in America collaborated to produce this resource. Additional copies can be printed to hang in your church at www.crcna.org/disability.
Author
Lindsay Wieland Capel
Lindsay Wieland Capel is a mental health social worker in Chicago. She is a member of LaSalle Street Church, Chicago, and an associate member of LaGrave Avenue CRC, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Copyright © 2005-2010, Faith Alive Christian Resources. All rights reserved.
by Lindsay Wieland Capel
1. When talking with someone who has a disability, look at that person—not at the interpreter or companion.
2. When hosting someone for a meal, ask if they have any food allergies or diet restrictions.
3. Use person-first language such as “a person who has schizophrenia” or “Mary uses a wheelchair.”
4. Avoid using such words/phrases as retarded, wheelchair-bound, suffers from, handicapped, able-bodied, victim, defect.
5. Don’t lean on someone’s wheelchair.
6. When talking to someone in a wheelchair, take a seat to position yourself at the person’s eye level.
7. Don’t interact with a guide dog.
8. When interacting with someone who has a visual disability, say who you are when you approach and announce when you leave.
9. Be flexible when people in the congregation or their medical devices make additional noise.
10. Label foods at potlucks, especially when they contain nuts or gluten.
11. Seek permission and instructions before assisting someone.
12. If anyone in your congregation has a disability or a child with a disability that requires costly accommodations, consider how your church might offer to assist in paying for such costs.
13. Offer respite care to a spouse or parent of someone who has a disability or long-term illness.
14. When talking with someone who has an intellectual disability, speak in your normal tone.
15. When listening to someone who has difficulty speaking, be patient and ask him to repeat what you did not understand instead of pretending that you understood.
16. Avoid calling people with disabilities kids or addressing them with words like honey; address them as you would anyone else.
17. Invite an adult or child with disabilities to your home or on an outing and find out in advance about the person’s preferences and needs.
18. As a way to provide relief to parents, offer to sit one time each month during worship with their child who has a disability.
19. Explore websites that offer education about disability issues, such as www.crcna.org/disability, www.rca.org/disabilities, and www.clcnetwork.org/church_services.
20. Buy and read a book such as Vulnerable Communion: A Theology of Disability and Hospitality by Thomas Reynolds or Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities by Barbara J. Newman. Then donate it to your church library.
21. Sit near people with disabilities during worship.
22. Offer transportation (to church, medical appointments, etc.) to someone who has a disability.
23. Just say hi.
24. Volunteer with or consider starting a Friendship ministry at your church (www.friendship.org).
25. Teach your children how to interact with people in their lives who have a disability.
26. When assisting a person with visual impairments, allow her to hold on to you, rather than you holding on to her.
27. Do not gossip about someone who is socially awkward or different.
28. Encourage your kids to befriend kids who have disabilities.
29. Send a note of encouragement to someone with a disability or to his or her caregiver.
30. Offer to pick up supplies or prescriptions for someone with a disability or his family.
These ideas were gathered from the Christian Reformed Church Handbook for Disability Advocates and from interviews with individuals. The CRC and the Reformed Church in America collaborated to produce this resource. Additional copies can be printed to hang in your church at www.crcna.org/disability.
Author
Lindsay Wieland Capel
Lindsay Wieland Capel is a mental health social worker in Chicago. She is a member of LaSalle Street Church, Chicago, and an associate member of LaGrave Avenue CRC, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Copyright © 2005-2010, Faith Alive Christian Resources. All rights reserved.
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