Sighs and Hallelujahs Stories and thoughts about the adventures of life without arms

Five Stages of Disability Awareness

by guest blogger Dan Vander Plaats

While this post pertains specifically to people with disabilities and how the church community interacts with them, I think it can be generally applied to all groups of ‘marginalized’ peoples. I think you know who I mean: people who, by virtue of background, status, race, ethnicity, orientation, or in some other way are relegated to a lesser status in the church community. That is, as a church community, we tend to naturally elevate those who are attractive, put-together, self-sufficient, et cetera.

A church community that has awakened to this injustice of disparity will eventually go through the following stages, all of which I will elaborate upon in future posts.

* Stage 1 – IGNORANCE: The stable church sees disability as a reflection only of the Fall.
* Stage 2 – PITY: People with disabilities are in a sorry state because of the Fall, perhaps even because of some sin committed by them or their family.
* Stage 3 – MERCY: People with disabilities are loved by God and we need to tend to their needs out of Christian compassion.
* Stage 4 – FRIENDSHIP: People with disabilities are actually whole people hiding underneath their disability, and God has used them to be a blessing to me.
* Stage 5 – CO-LABORERS: People with disabilities exist not only to be objects of mercy, pity, or compassion, but are actually called to work alongside me in service to the Kingdom. I am supposed to be equipping and encouraging them into every good work, just like I do for other believers.

What stage are you at? In John 9:1-2, the disciples were, at best, at stage 3 – though more likely at stage 2. The friends in Mark 2 were at stage 4. People who participate in their local Friendship Club, or who work here at Elim, are usually somewhere around stage 3 and 4 on the continuum.

What stage are you at? What stage do you think you should be at – where does God want you to be?

Dan is the Director of Advancement at Elim Christian Services, a client of mine. Visit his blog, Gospel of Weakness, for his continued posts in this series and for further insights on theology and how our Christian faith plays into matters involving disability.

I am privileged to work alongside with Dan and his team to raise funds for the tremendous work that Elim does with children and adults with disabilities. At Elim, they seek to move beyond the notions that the world continues to hold about persons with disabilities. Life at Elim stands in contrast to the world’s view. Through its four major program areas on its main campus and in 15 Discovery locations, over 300 servants work each day to bring 800 persons with disabilities beyond their potential to become the living testimonies God created them to be.