Did you know that October is Disabilities Awareness Month? Well, it is. And to celebrate I thought I would offer a few pieces of information for your consideration.
1. Disability Ministry In the Church.
Many churches talk about the desire to begin some form of ministry among the disabled but just don't know how to do so. There are a numerous resources available. Among the best, in my opinion, is the information to be found on the website of Joni and Friends. Go to www.joniandfriends.org/education-and-training/ to find top-notch information for individuals and for Churches. One of the easiest ways a church can begin to engage in a ministry to the disabled is through exploring employment possibilities. Read on!
2. Employing the Disabled.
If you are an employer, have I got news for you! Have you heard about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)? This is a great opportunity for employers to fill vacancies and reduce hiring costs at the same time. When an employer fills a vacant position with a WOTC-certified employee he/she can claim a federal income tax credit for a portion of the new employee's salary. Its not a terribly difficult thing to do. Perhaps the easiest way is to hire someone through a vocational rehabilitation service and you will be sure to qualify. Here is where I can put a plug in for my employer, the Lighthouse Vocational Services in New Holland, PA. For my friends in the Lancaster County area, we are happy to help you with your employment needs. Just email me or call the Lighthouse and ask to speak to me for more information.
For more information you can also go to www.dol.gov/odep/documents/WOTC-incentive.pdf.
Even though Churches need not worry about Federal Income taxes they really should look into the possibilities for employing the disabled. It provides them with a ministry outreach while giving the disabled community a chance to develop skills and earn an income. It truly is a win-win situation.
3. Who Are the Disabled?
They are your neighbors, your friends, and your fellow citizens. The latest statistics reveal that 17% of Americans are disabled. That's about 1 in 5 persons. Think about that a second. Chances are you know someone that is disabled, even if you are not aware of their disability. Sure, some disabilities are more visible than others. But 1 in 5? That tells you just how many are developmentally handicapped in ways that may not appear to be all that visible. It also says volumes for the complications in dealing with disabilities.
4. Why the Increase in the Number of Disabled Persons?
This is not an easy question to answer, but it is important. There are numerous factors involved. Certainly one major source would be the way we now define disabilities. In the 1970's the term disability was pretty much limited to a person with an obvious physical or mental handicap. A person in a wheel chair or someone with Down's Syndrome was clearly disabled. But today we look at things a bit differently and more completely. In the 21st Century we take into consideration a person's ability to function effectively in social interaction. This involves a complex interaction between the person and his/her environment. Many disorders such as certain forms of Autism and such diagnoses as Obsessive Complusive Disorder or schizophrenia-related disorders can prevent a person from holding a regular job if they are not supported by the necessary networks and systems to enable them to function more effectively. In saying this I am only skimming the surface of the issue. It goes much deeper than I am qualified to discuss. I only know that I have learned volumes in recent years and I continue to do so.
I'm going to stop here for now. Hopefully this gives you something to think about. Stay tuned to this blog for more thoughts in the near future. And as always, I welcome your input and responses. Post your comments or, if you prefer, email me directly. Also, I encourage you to become a follower of Peace-Ability by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
God Bless,
gdg
No comments:
Post a Comment