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DISABILITY MINISTRIES
The Disability Ministry assists churches in an effort to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the North American Division (NAD) Guidelines for People with Disabilities.
We support local churches as they minister with persons who are mentally or physically impaired. Through innovative programs, we evangelize and develop relationships. A brief description of some common disabilities can be found below.
Mental Impairments The most frequently occurring illnesses are affective disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders), personality disorders (obsessive compulsive disorder especially), schizophrenia and identity disorders. Personal psychiatric disorders sometimes interfere with a person’s ability to concentrate. This may be due to primary symptoms of fatigue, limited ability to focus and sustain attention, internal events such as disturbing or obsessive thoughts or side effects from medication.
Physical Impairments
There are many types of orthopedic or neuromuscular impairments that can impact mobility. These include but are not limited to amputation, paralysis, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Arthritis, and spinal cord injury. Mobility impairments range from lower body impairments, which may require use of canes, walkers, or wheelchairs, to upper body impairments which may include limited or no use of the upper extremities and hands. It is impossible to generalize about the functional abilities of students with mobility impairments due to the wide variety of disabilities and specific diagnoses.
Hearing Impairments
"Communication" is the interchange of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and facts. There is a barrier to communication when the content of a message is not understood. People with hearing disabilities will use different ways to communicate by lip reading, hearing aids, and sign language. Be aware that a person with a hearing impairment may have difficulty communicating when there are two or more speakers, especially if there are many interruptions and/or background noises.
Speech Impairments
Speech impairment means it is difficult to use the body parts and muscles that make the motions or sounds needed for speech. Language impairment is different from speech impairment. It is caused by damage to the brain that makes it difficult or even impossible to use or understand words. Some babies are born with physical conditions, such as cleft lip and cleft palate that make it difficult or impossible to learn to speak. Cleft lip is an incomplete joining of the upper lip. Cleft palate is an abnormal passageway through the roof of the mouth into the airway of the nose. Because these problems are present at birth, they are called congenital.
Visual Impairments
Only 1 percent of the total population is classified as visually impaired. These
people have a severe vision problem that cannot be corrected with glassed. A
visual impairment is the result of a functional loss of vision, rather that a disorder of the eye itself. There are three (3) classifications of visual impairment which are partial,
low vision and legally blind. A person with a visual impairment may use a sighted guide, a cane, or a guide dog. If you want to be of assistance, just ask and
pay attention to the instructions given you. Remember that you do not need to try and become a "friend" to be of assistance, only "friendly". This may require a little time and conversation, so just be consistent and human.
Hidden Disabilities
The number of people in the workplace with disabilities, including hidden disabilities, has been rapidly increasing since the early 1990s. Hidden disabilities, for the purpose of this guide, include cognitive, chronic health, and psychological disabilities. Explanations for the recent increase of hidden disabilities in the workplace are many. First, advances in knowledge and assessment practices in the cognitive, medical, and psychological sciences have resulted in more diagnoses of hidden disabilities. In addition, due to increased awareness and acceptance of hidden disabilities, people who have struggled with cognitive tasks, chronic health problems, or psychological disorders all of their lives are being formally diagnosed with a disability. Most importantly, however, the establishment of the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990, which includes laws that prevent discrimination in the workplace on the basis of a disability, has contributed markedly to the number of employees who are willing to disclose their disabilities to employers. Types of hidden disabilities are cognitive, psychological, chronic, and learning. |
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