Wednesday 26 August 2015

Ability, different ability, differently-abled and disability


Until a fluke accident I had never contemplated ‘disability’ or as I would much rather describe it; ‘becoming differently abled’. But here I am, now having to mobilise with two walking sticks. Though this I can only do for a for short distances as standing is so very painful, and so using an electric wheelchair and a mobility scooter are my preferred modes of getting around.


But what is ‘disability’? Well it is only when we really think about it, I mean; ‘Really’ think about it do we realise that it is a ‘dis’ word. Dis means less than, and when coupled with ‘ability’ it means less then abled. OK we may say that sounds reasonable as a definition; but No there is so much more to a person than whatever it is that has created an impairment of sight, mobility, hearing or any other functionality. So for example when I am in my wheelchair out with my wife why do people insist on talking across me and asking my wife, ‘would he like coffee or tea?’, ‘is he ready to come through and see the doctor?’, help me I think, it my back that has stopped working not everything else. Now I know that will be the same for many people reading this, it is frustration and it is an example of the lack of education we as a nation get on how to feel comfortable with every other living individual just as they are. It is time stigma was removed, perhaps it is time that we as Christians began this movement by being the forerunners, as Christ called us to be, by being there for everyone, loving everyone, just as they are.

There is no such thing as the perfect human being, let’s face it even Jesus cannot claim that; because He was also of God and it would be cheating a little in this context anyway, so theologians hold on to your ink. But if we are to take Genesis as read then God created us, and we were ‘Good’ – not perfect, but good. We are in His image but that is the Spirit the glorious self that loves, has faith in God and hopes for a better tomorrow. But today we live in bodies that are good and so are likely at times to change, to break, to age to wear out. Not only may they change but some of us may be born in a way that some would describe as ‘different’. The risen Christ came with a body that was marked and torn, God did not see the need to change, repair, and fix what the roman soldiers had done to Christ when they crucified Him. No God sent the Son as he was, and the disciples saw Him and loved Him as He was.

                What is difference? Difference is that which humans ascribe to that which falls outside of the average, or perhaps we might use a mathematical term and say the ‘mean average’. The mean average would be made up of the majority of people, and those who are ‘different’ would fall outside of this mean average. Well of course this is a man-made construct and allows for total nastiness towards those who do not fit into this ‘average’ and this is where we as a race get ‘mean’ from.

I must also speak here a little about some Christians who see fit to almost jump on people who, like myself, are clearly differently-abled, there intention being to pray for healing, they have no right without asking, and they must never, I repeat never presume that because a person is differently abled to themselves that they are in some way superior to that differently abled person. Because by their prayers for ‘healing’ to change the person who is living with whatever it is they live with they may well be insulting the person, and by so doing insulting God. This may sound rather unfair but at fifty on years of age I feel that I now do more for God’s children than I have ever done, if my condition is the price I have to pay, then I will gladly pay it and that is between me and God. If you judge that someone needs healing prayers by just looking at them, then you must go home and look in the mirror and pray for your selves my sister or brother, for unfortunately you have fallen into that mean trap. By all means pray for those who are ill and ask for prayers, heaven knows there are many people alone in need of such prayer



So back to the term disability. Unfortunately we end up using the term disability because it is the word used in law. But this should not stop us using it with great care. But it is society that decides if a person is disabled, because it is society in the form of our churches, shops, schools, theatres, sports stadia, etc. that create the facilities for people to get in and out and around. Also to use the facilities fully, or at least experience as much as can be within ‘real’ physical constraints. Now I say real. Two years ago my wife and I made it to the top of the Acropolis in Athens with the help of some wonderful guides; now if that can happen, well go figure.

So many of our places of worship need to stop and think long and hard. I am a husband and father, and son and brother, I am a priest; and oh by the way did I mention I am also mobility impaired. The last bit does not define me at all I only mention it in case I come to visit your church because sometimes  we do have to move things around a little, that’s fine.

Disabled Toilets, Disabled Access Toilets!


Disabled toilets well actually disabled access toilets is the preferable term, when we use the term disabled toilet, is actually gives the impression that the toilet no longer works, it’s broken. Whereas the term disabled access toilet tells us that the toilet in question is accessible for all people who have specific mobility related access needs. Of course the whole question of what disability means will be dealt with under numerous other blog postings.

Disabled access toilets are provided for the use of people who have specific needs. These needs are wide and various, but it is very important that we realise, that many people who need to use disabled access toilets will not always be using wheelchairs, walking sticks, or be accompanied by guide dogs. It is often been said to me by people, “I saw somebody coming out of a disabled access toilet and it was clear that there was nothing wrong with her”. Well my question always is; how do you know? And that's the point, how do we actually know? There have been many occasions where I have waited patiently outside of a disabled access toilet and the door has opened and somebody's walked out and they have looked at me and blushed or apologised, but I have never judged, I always smile and say “that’s fine”. It is quite probable that they have needed legitimate to use that facility, but they do not need to tell me why, that is private and likely embarrassing. However it maybe that they have slipped into the toilet rather than waiting, or queueing, or walking a few extra metres to the other toilets, if that is the case then shame on them. It might just be that seeing me waiting is enough of a shock to put them off doing it again.

So why is it so important that we have disabled access toilets? Disabled access toilets are designed with much more room, often with people who are using wheelchairs in mind. But of course inside of the disabled access toilet we will find other facilities such as hinged arm support by the toilet, grip bars to assist people to sit and stand to use the toilet, also other grip bars by the sink to help people to hold onto while standing to wash their hands. The mirrors are often lower as are the sinks and the hand dryers which are so placed for people in wheelchairs; of course this is something of a problem if you are a disabled person who is not using a wheelchair now that is a design error.

But now we come to the big problem of what disabled access toilets are not meant for they are not meant for storage of mops and buckets of course many people will say one mop and bucket ‘isn't going to hurt’.

“Isn't it” I ask? Yes is the answer! One mop and bucket has the habit of attracting other mops and buckets, then a broom, then more brooms, then paint tins, then a whole plethora of other gadgets and gizmos and materials that should never placed in the disabled access toilet. When I go into a disabled access toilet to find things stored in their which should not be I actually find it somewhat insulting that this is what people think of me and other people who are mobility impaired. It is a very bad message, and contradicts any other messages you are sending out about being welcoming to ‘disabled’ people, but it is so easily done, and so very common. Other things disabled access toilets are not designed for are parent and baby changing areas this is a growing problem. It may well be that a parent and baby changing facility is placed in a disabled access toilet with disabled parents in mind this would be good practice. But if it is placed in their for able-bodied parents because it is the largest space in the church or hall then this is wrong because whilst that spaces been taken up by parents using it to deal with their babies, a disabled person may be waiting to use that facility.

This leads on the last but one point in this posting, but an issue that must be noted by all providers of facilities. One of the greatest problems of making a ‘disabled’ people wait to use the disabled access facilities is that people with certain conditions may need to go to the toilets much quicker than other people. This must always be bore in mind when planning, never just plan to have a ‘disabled access toilet’ because we are supposed to; plan to have a couple because you will make people with various conditions much more at ease when visiting your church. Some people with various conditions will plan their lives around those places that offer facilities that make life easy; those places that offer such facilities are the ones that care, I trust these are our churches.

Disabled access facility should never be designated for the use transgender or transsexual people, it is both and insult and a breach of their human rights. I have only come across this on a couple of occasions but it is wrong and it is insulting. Somebody who is going through a transgender or a successfully transgendered have the right to use the facility of the gender to which they have become. Occasionally issues have arisen whereby short-term agreements have been made with the person so that they may use the disabled access facility this is by far not ideal. Because again the person is using the disabled access toilet that is dedicated for somebody who might need to use it at short notice.

To conclude this first posting on disabled access toilets; never ever fall into the trap of saying we have not got anybody who is disabled because when you look around your church you do not see anybody in a wheelchair. If you do this you make a major mistake because there will be many people who will need to use a disabled access toilet who will not be visibly ‘disabled’. So remember to treasure your disabled access toilets, keep them clean, keep them accessible at all times and keep them free from clutter.

Sunday 16 August 2015

Learning Disability


How do we understand the term learning disability? What image does it conjure up for us? And perhaps most importantly how do we respond to someone who has a learning disability?

Corrine McLelland who works at Disability Rights UK spent a day with Mancap, she has written an excellent blog which says a great deal more than I could ever say.
How does a church react when someone with a learning disability come along? Well the first and most important things to say is, you may never know someone has a learning disability and chances are you already have people in your congregations with some form of learning disability, so in short don’t panic!
Perhaps this may help. A case story:
There is a 51 year old priest with mobility impairments who mobilises with walking sticks, but due to chronic pain also has to use a wheel chair on occasion. Due to a stroke in later life the priest also developed Aphasia so has occasional problems with reading. The Bishop came for a big service and lots of other ministers came along, so our priest ended up at the front alone because there were only fixed pews in the church. The Bishop insisted that every time it in the booklet stand he should read out “stand”, but for some reason he looked down from the elevated chancel at the priest. The priest for his part felt a little left out and alone, and could not follow all of the service.
A few weeks later the priest attended the sister church to the one above, the parishioners had seen his distress and had built themselves ramps. They also ensured someone was close by through the service to give him assistance, and most of all they gave him a good honest Christian welcome.
Now the Priest did not have a learning disability; but the story does emphasis the richness of a welcome, and consideration shown to anyone attending a service. Never, never be afraid to ask is there is anything you can do to help. Even if there isn’t something on the day that would help, e.g. large print readings of the bible, or hymn’s, just say sorry but please come back next week and we will have them for you.
Also, and this is so very important. The Church is not the building it is the people. So if we know of people in our area who would benefit from our reaching out, then reach out, we the Church go to them.