Social disability… I get it. Our churches, community social spaces, & spiritual retreat centers need transformation from ableist restrictions to inclusive participational grounds. But, I don’t want to dismiss the language of healing recognition and need for “that which is not what it was meant to be”. Disability in the sense of “brokenness”.
Bodies are different. But, we also need to somehow acknowledge that not all “differences” are God created or ordained. How do we acknowledge this? What is a language of “brokenness” in disability?
It was just some thoughts while reading. Disability language is not singular in definition or meaning. It is almost a canvas of many colors brought to meaning in the expressive tensions between individual self & our relationships. It is kinetic & not static in understanding. 🙂
Erik, very true. There is disability that is the result of accident and even violence. It’s a difficult balance to acknowledge that disability is part of a diverse creation but not also saying that God causes bad things to happen to people (violence and accidents). And there are some disabilities that would be preventable or curable with access to quality medical care, and that is certainly not just. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ll keep them in mind as I think about what to say at this conference next week.
Social disability… I get it. Our churches, community social spaces, & spiritual retreat centers need transformation from ableist restrictions to inclusive participational grounds. But, I don’t want to dismiss the language of healing recognition and need for “that which is not what it was meant to be”. Disability in the sense of “brokenness”.
Bodies are different. But, we also need to somehow acknowledge that not all “differences” are God created or ordained. How do we acknowledge this? What is a language of “brokenness” in disability?
It was just some thoughts while reading. Disability language is not singular in definition or meaning. It is almost a canvas of many colors brought to meaning in the expressive tensions between individual self & our relationships. It is kinetic & not static in understanding. 🙂
Erik, very true. There is disability that is the result of accident and even violence. It’s a difficult balance to acknowledge that disability is part of a diverse creation but not also saying that God causes bad things to happen to people (violence and accidents). And there are some disabilities that would be preventable or curable with access to quality medical care, and that is certainly not just. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I’ll keep them in mind as I think about what to say at this conference next week.
I wish you well in the conference. Wish I could be there! 🙂