The 5 commandments

Today, I speak directly to congregational authority - Ministers, Board Presidents, and Directors of Religious Education (DRE).  If you are not one of these people, you may want to refer them to this blog and these 5 simple commandments for what to do when you are welcoming a person with a disability (PwD) into your congregation...

1. Do not make assumptions.  If you know one person with autism, you know one person with autism.  Do not make any decisions based on what you THINK you know.
2. Speak Directly to the person with a disability (or their parents - if they are a minor).  Get to know the PwD.  What are their likes?  What are their dislikes?  What kind of accommodations do they use in their everyday life - at school, at work, in other communities of which they are a part?  What are their pastoral care needs?  What are their needs beyond their disability?
3. Seek additional help and resources.  With the permission of the PwD (or their parents - if they are a minor), invite other's in the congregation or community to your conversation (this can be particularly helpful if the diagnosis is new).  Recruit a team of 'buddies' if needed.  And, of course, research - visit websites, read books, peruse discussion forums, etcetera.
4. Plan, Accommodate, Evaluate, Start Over.  Unfortunately, due to restraints on time and treasure, it may not be possible to make every accommodation.  However, some accommodations can always be made.  So, in partnership with the PwD (or their parents) make an accommodation plan.  Implement every and all possible accommodations that are listed in the plan.  Then, regularly evaluate the effectiveness of these accommodations.  Finally, if upon evaluation you and the PwD find the accommodations are not meeting the needs of the PwD, start over from number 1.
5. Love, respect and recognize the inherent worth and dignity of the person with a disability.  It is quite simple, regardless of a person's physical, social/emotional, or cognitive limitations, they deserve to be treated like any other human being because... They are.

So, now that you know the 5 commandments.  Here are just a few resources to get you started in your research.  Please note that this is in no way a complete list.

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)

National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA)

Spina Bifida Association (SB)

United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

Genetic Disease Foundation (GDF)

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Association of the Deaf


Is there an organization not listed here that you think should be?  Post a link in the comments.

Dreaming of inclusion,

- Meredith Plummer