Follow Disabilities Inclusion Associates Jacky Schofield and Ann Marino and blog with the team as they develop the Connecticut Conference Disabilities Ministry Team.
Connecticut Conference Disabilities Ministries Team Report
First Quarter 2008
JANUARY
The first meeting of the Disabilities Ministry Team was held on January 29, 2008 at the office of the Connecticut Conference in Hartford.
In attendance were the Disabilities Inclusion Associates and the CT Conference Minister, Rev. Davida Foy Crabtree.
Issues Discussed
1. Reviewed proposed strategy for the introduction of the “Accessible to All” initiative to the local churches in Connecticut.
2. Discussed formation of a ministry team to be based on a community organization model (an initial small core group of 4-6 people charged with planning the A2A introduction strategy). Upon launch of the A2A initiative (Fall Conference Meeting, 2008), the team will be expanded to include regional “ambassadors” who will spread the program to local churches. This group will be diverse in gender, race and disabilities.
3. Developmental Strategy
• The conference minister will alert Regional Ministers about the ministry team and the work that it will be doing.
• Ministry team will begin to recruit additional members for team core.
• Ministry team will attempt to secure printed materials from Disabilities Ministries Board.
• Ministry team will operate a display booth at the Spring Conference Meeting on May 10, 2008.
• Publicize the formation of the ministry team through brief articles in Conference Call and Contact.
• Survey local churches to identify and recognize those that have already begun to accommodate and welcome people with disabilities.
• A short presentation will be planned for the Fall Conference Meeting as a formal “launch” for the A2A program.
FEBRUARY
Two new members, both clergy, were added to the team.
MARCH
The ministry team held its first meeting on March 28 in New Haven with three members in attendance.
Issues Discussed
1. Strategy for accessibility survey of local churches.
• Write letters to the regional ministers introducing the ministry team and the accessibility survey, and advising them that we wish to contact the Association moderators.
• Write letters to the Association moderators introducing the team, advising them of the survey and requesting an opportunity to speak at the annual meetings or monthly meetings.
• Create email survey that can be completed and emailed back to team. Ask churches to share what they have done for accessibility so far so that we can celebrate together.
• Visit churches that have done the most.
2. Spring Conference Meeting
• Check about reserving a booth at the conference meeting.
• Copy flyers as handouts: Mental Illness Network Brochure; Pathways to Promise Brochure; Usher’s Guide; “Anybody, Everybody, Christ’s Body” brochure and “The Local Church and the ADA.” Have materials sent to a designated team member’s house.
• Create a poster
The meeting was closed with a plan to meet again on April 25.
Interested readers are invited to view and comment on 41 related articles and comments found at the Networking Category on UCCDM.ORG. Scroll to UCC Conference/Association DIAs and Committees.
Shared by Jacky Schofield, Connecticut Conference DIA
April 1, 2008
Resource Persons: Jacky Schofield is a recent seminary graduate who plans a specialized ministry in disabilities. Ann Marino is a former nurse who worked with adults and children with developmental disabilities as well as other disabilities. Both can be reached through the Connecticut Conference office at 860-233-5564 or http://www.ctucc.org.
7 Comments
On May 10th, the Disabilities Ministries Team made its first public appearance at the Connecticut Conference Annual Spring Meeting. We offered a selection of printouts regarding accessibility and other disability issues.
There also was a sign up sheet for those who are interested in joining the team or obtaining more information. Response was minimal. We will be following up with these individuals. At our next meeting we will be discussing other methods of recritment to our team.
Jacky Schofield and
Ann Marino
CT Conference
Could someone contact me about your organization.
I am the Coordinator for Placement Services at Visions.Am very interested in churches that serve the
disabled in whatever capacity
whether it be access, internships or full-time employment.
Thank You.
I can be reached at:
646-486-4444 Ex. 26
I was appointed the DIA for the Rocky Mountain Conference of the UCC. I am very pleased! Recently, I met with the UCCDM Board Member Heather Luehrs. We discussed ideas about how to start A2A efforts in churches in the Rocky Mountain Conference. I suggested creation of a board or team that could regularly meet to discuss the efforts of the UCCDM in the Rocky Mountain Conference and the DIA. I suppose that it might be similar to the national board for the UCCDM or the Disabilities Ministries Team of the Connecticut Conference.
An interesting question came up in our conversation of how we could encourage participation on this board of differently-abled people (clergy or lay), whether or not the board should try to have a predetermined percentage of people who happen to have a disability, or if even membership on the board should be restricted only to people challenged by a disability. I don’t know whether any exclusion of the able-bodied is legal or not.
I wonder if those reading this BLOG might weigh in on the question of representation of people who are differently-abled on a conference board for the UCCDM.
We need to remember the rallying cry of the disabled community: “Nothing about us without us!” However, I’m not sure if a personnel restriction would help or hinder the effectiveness of such a board.
What do you all think about this question of inclusion?
Congratulations to Rocky Mountain Conference
for its interest in furthering our UCC
mission to become accessible to all.
Congratulations to Kevin Pettit for taking leadership. I feel that both persons with disabilities and persons without stated disabilities need to be in partnership to be inclusive through and through.
I appreciate your use of “Persons with Disabilities.” Unlike “the disabled” or “the handicapped,” PWD emphasizes the person rather than the disability yet acknowledges the disability.
Please share often so other conferences might gain insight into your important work.
Dee Brauninger, UCC DM Secretary and web editor
Hi Kevin,
Welcome to the club!
To respind to your question: I think every person, with or without a disability, who is interested in bringing their gifts to your ministry team, would be of value. Fully abled people often have friends and/or relatives with disabilities and so may be sensitive to the needs of PWD (love that shorthand!).
I look forward to hearing about your progress.
Blessings,
Jacky Schofield
DIA - CT Conference
Hello my name is Myriam Gramajo, I live in Moreno Valley Ca. My Husband Cesar Gramajo (Pastor) and me are planting a new UCC church here, Fiesta Cristiana UCC and we are so bless to be part you.
We have a precious and bless 6 years old child, Fawzi, he has Cerebral Palsy, but we would like to request you if is possible, maybe you have a ministry who can donate an adapted trycicle or find anyone that are not using one anymore, because normally there so expensive ($3000.00), and because his papers are on migration he can not cualifies for benefits in the state and the I.R.C didn´t want to give it to him for the economic situation of the country, the insurance doesn´t cover that, and other organizations want a SSN. I have been looking every where but I was thinking that in Christ body surely there is somebody who may want to bless a child who really needs that and also has a great faith.
I also know a organization who makes specially the trycicle they just need the sponsor or the group who can donate it.
www.ambucs.com/amtrike
We can answer any cuestion you may have,
And I will be glad to hear from you and some idea you may have.
Thanks and God bless you plenty!!!
Thank you for visiting the United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries web site. We have posted your request on the website. While we do not have a specific ministry for providing needed items, I have a few suggestions:
1. Place a “Wanted Ad” in the classified section of a large city newspaper serving southern California. “Wanted: Adapted tricycle for 6 year old with Cerebral Palsy or funding resource. Phone (list church phone number).”
2. Place a want ad in the classified section of the United Church News online (www.ucc.org). Be sure to give the name and phone of your church.
3. Contact the UCC Conference office: Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman, Interim
2401 North Lake Avenue
Altadena, California 91001-2418
Phone: (626) 798-8082
Fax: (626) 798-6648
Website: http://www.scncucc.org/
Email: arroyo@scncucc.org
The conference may be able to guide you to an individual or a UCC church in southern California able to take on the funding or the locating of a used adapted tricycle as a personal or church project.
4. Online, go to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, www.ucp.org. In the Helpful Links section of the menu, click on “One-Stop Resource Guide.” Download the guide for California. There may be resources among the many contact addresses listed in it.
With best wishes on this project and in the planting of the new UCC church.
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