Archive for the Disability
Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Just the Way I Am — win a book
I have a friend named Krista Horning. She is an amazing young woman. One of the amazing things about her is that she has created a wonderful book praising God’s providence and sovereignty in a life affected by disability.
I want so many people to be blessed by this book. And I’m asking you to help me and perhaps win 2 books. Here’s how:
1. Please take a moment to think about who should have a copy of this book: Sunday school class? Grandparent of your own child? A friend preparing to be a physical or occupational therapist? Your doctor? A neighbor child?
2. Then, via the comments below (no emails) complete this thought: If I had 2 copies of Just the Way I Am, by Krista Horning, I would give one to ______.
3. Please enter this contest only once and only if you promise to give away one of the 2 books you’d receive as a winner.
4. Post your comment by the deadline of Friday, 4/30, midnight.
Mostly I’ll be choosing randomly from amongst all the comments, but if any of them catches my attention particularly, that one might automatically become a “random” choice.
Each winner will get 2 copies of Krista’s book–one to keep and one to give.
Krista and her family serving at
Joni and Friends Family Retreat last summer
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
Your story, which has become my story, which is still today God’s story
Earlier I pointed you toward Greg Lucas’s stories about being a police officer.
Today is his son’s birthday–a good day to tell you to go see his other blog–Wrestling with an Angel– where he writes stories and insights from his life with a son who has multiple disabilities.
. . . just as we were about to give up, we found someone who could help. He picked us up off the floor of our hopelessness, held us up with His strong arms, wiped away our tears with His gentle hands, and healed your seizures with His mighty power. He changed our lives forever. His name is Jesus, and you know Him well—for it was you that introduced us to Him.
From that point on, everywhere I went I told people your story, which has become my story, which is still today God’s story. He turned your tragic disability into a wonderful ability to impact lives and spread His fame. I am still amazed at your one simple life, so well lived in His amazing grace, with such a display of His fantastic glory. You were (and still are) an All Star on His team.
Be sure to read all of his birthday letter to his son.
Saturday, April 10th, 2010
For anyone who cares about someone with autism or Asperger’s
A few days ago, I posted a short video from Temple Grandin, a leading voice for those with autism spectrum and Asperger’s syndrome. She is an excellent communicator and has autism.
That was an appetizer for this fascinating presentation. This one is over an hour and packed with information for parents, teachers, and anyone who cares about a person or family affected by autism. I think you’ll want to have your pencil and paper handy.
I haven’t read or used yet most of the resources that Dr. Grandin mentions in this video. But I’m posting below links to those resources to make it easy for us to follow up on what she says.
ABA – Applied Behavioral Analysis
Autism Asperger Publishing Co.
I receive a small percentage for purchases made through the
Amazon links which are included here for your convenience.
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Why did God create music – 2
Yesterday, I asked that question: Why did God create music? I linked to the video of Paul singing the Resurrection Chant that had filled his heart and mouth at church on Easter morning. Many were blessed and moved by his praise.
Today, his father writes of even deeper, broader blessing that God gives through Paul and others we might think of as disabled:
My boy is not a baby or an infant – he’s almost 15 years old. But he has been graced with both innocence and confidence. When he sings, he sings without fear or any thought to what other people may think. He sings at school and he sings on the bus and he sings in stores and he sings at home. He proclaims, frequently, who God is.
Can you imagine what that does to the evil one when my boy, and all the other girls and boys like Paul, sing? How many unclean spirits have our children with significant cognitive disabilities silenced by their innocent praises? How often have we been spiritually protected through those in our care? How frequently has God smiled at the God-centeredness of those the world considers expendable?
He has been brought into that reality by pondering Psalm 8:2:
Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
I hope you’ll read all Paul’s father had to say about the power his son has from God.
Monday, April 5th, 2010
Why did God create music?
Pretty much all of us recognize the gift that music is for entertaining and stirring or calming emotions.
Last week, on World Autism Awareness day, I was struck once and again by the power of music to reach inside some people who otherwise seem shut off from “normal” interactions.
Yesterday during service we sang the Resurrection Chant, which Talitha and I love.
One of our young friends was there too with his family. I’m guessing that people in the pews around him thought he wasn’t getting anything from the service, but just listen to what he took away.
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Temple Grandin: Thinking in Pictures
Temple Grandin has become the voice of autism in America. She knows autism first-hand, because she is autistic.
She would be the first to explain that autism is not one condition. It is a continuum. That’s why we often hear the phrase autism spectrum.
I recommend highly her book, Thinking in Pictures, to anyone who wants to know more about autism, in particular Asperger’s Syndrome.
I think the simplest way for us non-medical types to understand Asperger’s is to think of it as a less severe form of autism, as high-functioning autism. But we shouldn’t overlook the fact that many of the symptoms are similar.
Here Dr. Grandin talks about thinking, art, and education for the child with autism.
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Autism: God knows
At Joni and Friends Family Retreat last summer, there was a gentle boy who doesn’t speak and hardly responds when spoken to.
Autism is a mysterious thing. God alone knows what is going on inside him. And I mean that literally–God does know, and he gave us a peek.
Some might wonder if there’s purpose in the life of a person who can’t speak or respond in a typical way.
Here’s a glimpse at a moment of God’s purpose in this young man’s life. After he’s passed by, see the hands uplifted, inspired by this young man’s unaffected praise.
For him, it is as if no audience exists–except God maybe? God knows what is in his heart. He’s the only audience that matters.
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Autism? If only that were all
There are a galaxy of questions. Sometimes a person tries to ask sensitively. Sometimes there’s no filter of thought before blabbing it out.
Often a person wants to connect, but knows that acceptable terminology is a shifting swamp. “What do they call children like this today?”
A father reflects on labels.
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Autism: Loving people more than perfection
Last summer at our Minnesota Joni and Friends Family Retreat, one evening of worship ended with more worship than we expected.
Today, World Autism Awareness Day seems a good time to “rerun” the blog post with the video of those moments.
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Not my will, but thine
Today is World Autism Awareness Day. What is it like for a parent of a child with autism?
A mother imagines God offering her a heartwrenching choice.
Would she choose that her son no longer had autism so that she no longer had to depend on God in the same way? Or would she keep the autism and keep the dependence?
Which?
(This was filmed at Joni and Friends Family Retreat in Minnesota.)
Friday, April 2nd, 2010
World Autism Awareness Day 2010
Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Here is the official United Nations statement, calling on “all governments to make universal human rights a reality for all who live with autism.”
Amen. Lord, may it be.
If you wish you understood more about autism, you might be interested in a video I linked to from Joni and Friends.
Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Why don’t they discipline that child?
I was a visitor in a circle of mothers who have children on the autism spectrum.”We’ve been kicked out of every place anyone takes their children. The public library banned us,” one of them said. All the others nodded with full empathy because they’re living the same story.
I thought of the times there’s a child screaming in a store. The disapproving faces around them all wear an expression you could spell with the alphabet: “Why doesn’t she control her child?”
I wonder. Maybe it is an undisciplined child. Or maybe it’s a parent who’s ignored the child’s needs and has postponed lunch time or nap time way too long. Or maybe it’s a child with autism.
I expect that, unless autism touches our lives somehow, most of us don’t know much about what it is or how it affects a family. And yet we need to know more, or how can we be the body and hands of Christ to a family affected by autism?
I found this video from Joni and Friends very helpful.
