Thursday, January 19, 2006
More from Disability Concerns on Worshipers with Disabilities
In response to our Vital Worship feature story on worshipers with disabilities, we received this letter from Jim Vanderlaan of Disability Concerns, who has granted us permission to share it here. Also see Rev. Vanderlaan’s sermon “People With Disabilities Dine With Jesus” (Luke 14:12-14)
Thank you for sending this article out. I am grateful for your efforts on behalf of people with disabilities in worship. I appreciate the article not only because it reinforces my ministry but also because I am one of the disabled.
One rather recent problem blind people have is the use of power point projection in services.
Rarely are the projections translated into an accessible format for them. I know we can not do anything to restrict power point projections, but it would be helpful to us if you remind worship leaders of the problem. The Psalter Hymnal is in braille as is “Sing: a New Creation” but fewer and fewer churches it seems are using these books. Some blind folks have the software to access power point on their laptops, but not many.
I wish you had given more attention in your article to Disability Concerns and to Friendship Ministries. They both have a close relationship to the CRC, the mother of Calvin College. You did mention my availability as a preacher and director of Disability Concerns, but there is more than that to this ministry. I publish “Breaking Barriers” three times a year to carry the stories of people with disabilities, and I maintain a network of volunteers throughout the denomination to help churches and disabled members with their needs and opportunities.
Friendship Ministries has now grown far beyond the CRC, and it is now the best and best known of curricula for people with developmental disabilities. It is especially helpful to churches seeking to include people with DD in worship.
Again, thank you for the article and for your attention to this growing number of people with disabilities.
Yours in Christ,
Jim Vanderlaan
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