Disability Concerns

This page is a resource for persons with disabilities, their families, friends, caretakers, congregations and clergy. For further information, please contact the Disability Concerns Chair:

Terry Endsley
58 Norma Lane
Sugar Tree, TN 38380
731-847-4650

Resources- Please click on the link.

 

The United Methodist Book of Discipline (2008)

  • Disability Concerns, Conference Committee, ¶ 653

  • Disability Awareness Sunday, ¶ 265.4, ¶ 1806.12

  • Nondiscrimination Policies, ¶ 716

  • Rights, Social Principles, ¶ 162I

  • Annual Conference location accessibility, ¶ 603.4

  • Agency Meetings accommodating, ¶ 715.2

  • Clergy, ¶ 1421.4g

  • Discipleship Board responsibility for training in ministry for, ¶ 630.1c

Official expressions from the United Methodist Church can be found in The United Methodist Book of Resolutions, 2008.  Resolutions 3001 through 3009 deal with Accessibility/Equal Access. 

 

 

Home Modification Resources

 

 

Other Links of Interest

The Access Ministry of McLean Bible Church offers downloadable resources for churches seeking to engage persons with disabilities of all sorts.  A good starting place is "Welcoming Those with Disabilities: A Brochure for Church Staff, Ushers, and Volunteers", a PDF document available at http://www.mbctysons.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=105972. 

Friendship is an inter-denominational ministry (including United Methodist), whose mission is "to share God's love with people with intellectual disabilities and to enable them to become an active part of God's family."  Their website, http://www.friendship.org/, has information about how to start a Friendship Program at your church, as well as a variety of curriculum series available for purchase for classes for youth and/or adults with intellectual disabilities.
 
 
Disability Law Lowdown Website - provides  podcasts of up-to-date information on the Americans with Disabilities Act and related disability laws.

Lift Disability Network - is the place where the disability community comes together

Home Wheelchair Ramp Project
 
ADA Home Page
 
A Place to Call Home - Addressing Opposition to Homes for People with Disabilities
 
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
 
Fair Housing Accessibility FIRST
  
 
Disability and Housing Discrimination and Sensory Impairment
 
 
 
 

 Beatitudes For Friends of People with Disabilities:

Blessed are you who take the time to listen to difficult speech, for you help me to know that if I persevere I can be understood.

Blessed are you who never bid me to “hurry up” and take my tasks from me and do them for me, for I often need time rather than help.

Blessed are you who stand beside me as I enter new and untried ventures, for my failures will be outweighed by the times I surprise myself and you.

Blessed are you who asked for my help, for my greatest need is to be needed.

Blessed are you who understand that it is difficult for me to put my thoughts into words.

Blessed are you who, with a smile, encourage me to try once more.

Blessed are you who never remind me that today I asked the same question two times.

Blessed are you who respect me and love me as I am, and not like you wish I were.