We regularly have folks visit our Light & Power class which
includes adults with disabilities. Recently a friend visited from Canada. After
attending the class and then interviewing some class members, he indicated that
there was something different about the way we did things.
I asked, “What did you observe
that was different?”
He thought a moment and then responded, “Light & Power is radically
normal. People are treated and interacted with like any other adult would be
interacted with.”
I embrace that characterization. Many ministries look far from normal
in terms of interactions among adults. But the question to ask is, “Does this
reflect who adults with disabilities actually are, or are we projecting on them
who we perceive them to be?” You see, the lack of typical interactions is
probably a reflection of misunderstanding of who people with disabilities are.
If I had a son and raised him to act in an immature manner, that is how
he would act. That is, if the culture around a person consistently and
persistently indoctrinates a person to be a certain way, they will likely
reflect that programmed outcome, whether that outcome is positive, appropriate
or desirable. I would argue that our
culture almost relentlessly socializes people, particularly people with intellectual disabilities to be a
particular way which is not necessarily a desirable way. When people then
become who we have socialized them to be, we then say that is who they always
were, not who they were socialized into becoming. If we believe that, then people
can be socialized into becoming something different. Adults with intellectual
disabilities, for example, needn’t behave or be treated in a juvenile, age
inappropriate manner. Once again, if this is the case, it once again reflects
the biases or perceptions of the socializer not who the people themselves were.
So who are you socializing persons with disabilities to be?
How are you socializing the social environment to be toward persons
with disabilities?
Are you reinforcing the idea that persons with disabilities are somehow
different than other people?
Are we reinforcing that persons with disabilities are so different that
we cannot help but reinforce these perceived differences?
No, my friend. We need to be radically normal in our interactions with
persons with disabilities. Don’t support the pejorative perceptions about who
people are that society tries to indoctrinate us into believing. Romans 12:2
really applies here.
Step back and reflect and you may need to renew your mind.
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1 comment:
I never thought about someone with disabilities needing a space that is “radically normal” it seems like such a typical characteristic that I would have never thought about it. Reading this blog post made me curious about the characteristics of most programs for the disabled community. After some reflection, I found that many programs I have seen and been a part of previously were simply providing some service and were not even close to offering a normal social environment. Offering a communal setting that is as close to “normal” as possible seems like something all facilities, especially ministries, should try to obtain. With this in mind, it is equally if not more important for parents and teachers to have this outlook. Because, as mentioned above we are the people directly influencing their social skills and abilities. It is our job to not only facilitate learning in the school and ministry settings but positive social interactions so that the disabled individuals can engage the world with those skills. I really enjoyed this blog post because it challenged me to think about social situations and environments that I feel best in and how I can help facilitate spaces like those for individuals who cannot stand up for themselves.
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