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And Breathe

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:27:00 GMT

Hoping in a system that lets you down

If you've seen our latest update here , you'll know the toll everything to do with the disability benefits debacle has had on Steve and myself.

It's been tough for almost everyone that has a disability.

I've been doing a lot of advocacy around it, but when you're also in the firing line, it's exhausting.

We're ok. Joyful even - blessed by a God who sees us and loves us.

Relieved on one hand that I won't have to give up my ministry because of the cuts, but worried about those on the disability elements of Universal Credit who haven't got a temporary reprieve. Those brutal cuts are still going ahead - severely disabled people being punished, because of a few people the government have perceived as able to work.

Now we have to trust the system.

Hope that MP's vote well in the third reading of the bill next week - bearing in mind the remaining issues with the bill. (The third reading is far too soon, but they're rushing it through before the summer recess).

Hoping that the different departments follow all the amendments and actually meet with, and listen to disabled people - rather than using it as a tick box exercise.

Hoping they will act on what they promised through gritted teeth.

The campaigning may have won part of the battle, but we have no trust left.

Hope feels far away.

Lack of engagement from churches and church organisations, with the UC and PIP bill certainly sucked out all hope that "The Church" 'gets' disability and disabled people.

These last two years have been total hell for disabled people, and to quote many on social media "Where is the church and do they even care".

Let's face it. If 'The Church' was doing its job properly, my job should not exist.

Anyway, looking back at previous posts showed me just how little had changed other than a different government.

Disabled people are still vilified.

Disabled people are still seen as a drain on society.

And many churches still see us either as an inconvenience, someone to pity or in need of fixing.

Our newsletter shows so many blessings, some wonderful churches wanting to make a difference and organisations wanting to make what they do accessible.

But it's small.

My ministry is a one starfish at a time ministry.

When it comes to this world, it's difficult to find hope - even in the UK church. When I look to God, He IS hope.

He understands and is my world, the one who is faithful.

But that doesn't let 'The Church' off the hook!

Below is a song that I've been listening to - and finding helpful... I will praise and be thankful regardless.

The Slippery Slope

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:37:35 GMT

Why Do I See the Slippery Slope So Clearly?

December 3rd is 'International Day of Disabled Persons' (Or as the UN puts it 'International day of persons with disabilities'.)

This comes hard on the heels of the Assisted Dying Bills' 2nd reading and vote.

There are many who cannot understand why disabled people are so worried about the bill - just because there are supposed to be 'safeguards'.

Many people more clever than me, who specialise in examining things like this say the safeguards are are not adequate, and there is no way they can guarantee those safeguards in the future.

There are too many ways to make additions or remove parts of it.

Let me tell you a bit about my own disability story to show you some of the other issues that make disabled people worried:

I'm not going to tell you what is wrong with me - that's my business, but I'll just give you an idea of how the diagnoses I have affect me and influence the medical profession in how they view me.

Two of the conditions I have cause pain - and a lot of it.
My primary diagnosis is like living with a 'pinball machine of pain'. It slowly rolls around my body causing pain where ever it goes. You can't plan for where it will go. It'll turn up anywhere it wants to and cause total havoc. If it hits a trigger point it will cause a cascade of pain and muscle spasms - sometime affecting the whole of my left side.
With every flare of this condition, the point where the muscle attaches to bone gets hard causing pain and stiffness in my joints. It has also done horrible things to my eye muscles - even though they have no boney connection.

My secondary diagnosis hits the centre of my muscles, causes extra pain and comes with many suprise elements that are different for everyone who has it. It's a complicating feature to an already complex disorder

Having a disability has caused much medical discrimination over many years.
It has caused doctors not to check tests properly or bother to do requested follow ups.
I am put to the bottom of the pile for tests - so the 'more deserving well people' get them first.
My sanity and my mental health status is repeatedly questioned (I have no mental health issues and don't suffer with anxiety). My body just hurts.

My primary diagnosis is known to mimic other conditions - it's well documented in research done in Australia and America.
But doctors won't listen to the research and just want me to stop wasting resources.

There is much more discrimination I could tell you about - but you get the picture.

As just one example, this has resulted in a repeated test being misread 3 times over thirty years (only repeated to avoid being sued). Thanks to an eye specialist who didn't have an issue with disability, we found out how dangerous this misreading was. She insisted on a reading by a top radiographer. The result was a major issue being found that could have been a killer. I now know how to deal with it, and hopefully I'll be around a lot longer.

But will I?

My conditions are not curable. They cause chronic pain that is often almost unbearable. One has caused visual impairment and taken away my ability to sing .

Just the slightest change in wording in the bill would make me eligible for assited dying.

I am the first inch on that slippery slope and I don't want to die.

Sadly, there is a common misconception amongst doctors and nurses. Many believe no one wants to live with a disability. This has led to doctors, nurses and others assuming we wouldn't want to be resuscitated, and would gladly give up our lives for the peace of death (That's putting it far more nicely than it actually is!)

So, on 'International Day of Disabled Persons' in 2034, if I need an adaptation to help with my disability, will I be offered assisted dying instead?

Disability, Humanity and Celebration

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:54:26 GMT

Do we see humanity in disability and do we celebrate it?

July is the month to celebrate disability!
It's called 'Disability Pride' and has absolutely nothing to do with LGBTQi+. I think we should now ditch the "Pride" bit and the pastel coloured rainbow flag as it confuses people. To most people "Pride" and anything rainbow is LGBTQi+ and nothing else.

Add to that, most non disabled people think it's a joke when you say you're celebrating disability - because, as I'm often told by many strangers; "I'd rather be dead than in that". 'That' is my wheelchair by the way. (I wrote more about this here )

You'd be surprised how many people wonder why on earth you'd want to celebrate disability! They are the people who think disability is a tragedy.
But there's also lots of people who see disability as people who are a burden, who shouldn't be given any support to survive in the world and should be killed before or at birth. That group of people is growing.

No wonder everyone ignores Disability Pride Month!

I wrote an article for Christian Today about the vilification of disabled people in the press. I wanted to keep it short, so didn't mention a whole raft of things that were relevant, such as how disabled people are represented generally in the press both in language and preconceptions.

At the end of the article I asked the question; "How does the church see the humanity of disabled people?"

There are lots of people, authors and organisations asking the question about what it means to be human at the moment. I even saw an older episode of Louis Theraux asking this exact question.

I've been waiting for the piece on what does it means to be human and disabled. Of course, no one has written this article yet. It will probabl y come, just a lot later.....if at all
So, I'm going to jump in! I probably won't answer the question, just give questions and comments for others to consider.
I think it will be more of a "No wonder we see ourselves as less than human" than "What does is mean to be disabled and human"

Only this morning I pointed out , in response to a statement from the World Health organisation on allowing an elective termination of a pregnancy up until birth for anyone, that this was already the case for babies with disabilities. I had lots of people challenge the truth of my statement with comments like "but that isn't true" and a few others with ruder words! So I shared an article that showed that this is indeed true. (No one answered that tweet).

I am amazed at how few people in this country know about this - even Christians who would identify as pro-life.

What does it say about the humanity of disabled people when parents whose babies have disabilities or fixable issues can be and are asked, even hours before going into labour, are you sure you don't want to terminate this pregnancy? And no, this isn't 'false news'. Check the facts here .
These parents are made to feel guilty from the point of finding out their baby has a disability upto giving birth (and often beyond).

In so many areas of life, disabled people are seen as 'less than':

Hate crime on the rise - again.

No accessible support in hospitals if you can't "Hop on the bed"

Inaccessible shops, cafes and restaurants (it's not just about level access - in most places you can get through the door, but no further and the accessible loo cannot be reached or used.
And you should see how much personal information I have to give just to get a wheelchair space for a concert! I've given up and don't go to concerts anymore.

The list here could be a long one.....so I'll stop there.

In a Christian setting, the humanity of disabled people is challenge in many ways:

The constant offers of prayer for healing, including many from complete strangers. This tells us we need to be fixed to be accepted by God and by other humans.
The many people asked to leave their church because they haven't been healed, the assumption being they don't have faith that God wants them fixed.
The families asked to leave and find a church more suited to their needs, or are just forced to leave by the actions of the leadership.
The disabled people not allowed simple accommodations that would help other people too, because "Why should we do this for one person".
The disabled young people constantly overlooked for leadership mentoring programmes or worship leading roles. Because obviously, they're not fully human - are they?
The lack of accessible Christian h olidays where disabled children can go with their friends rather than being segregated into one of the very rare "Christian holidays for Crippled Kids" [My sarcasm added!]

I could go on....

Can I be human and disabled?
Psalm 139 says yes. The fact that God put rules in place to make sure disabled people were cared for in a tough place says yes.
The story of salvation itself says yes - we are fully human and able to come to God through Jesus.

I AM human
My friend w ho are disabled, have additional needs, are neurodivergent or struggle with their mental health are all human.

God sees us - because He is 'The God who Sees'
(Genesis 16:13: She gave a name to the Lord who spoke to her. She called him “You are the God who sees me.” That’s because she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”)

Happy Birthday Additional Needs Alliance!

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:49:06 GMT

10 years old and hoping for another 10

Mark arnold and I co-founded the Additional Needs Alliance 10 years ago and we just don't know where the time has gone!
It all started at a forum in Eastbourne, just before the Children's Ministry weekend - now know as the Hand in Hand conference.

When it started, both of us were doing additional needs ministry alongside other work/ministries. But now we are both concentrating on additional needs and disability ministry full time.

We've also has a change of logo!

We've come a long way since that weekend. We now have a wonderful core team and over 3,000 members in the Facebook group (Where most of what we do happens).

We have had the prayers of many as we began the Additional Needs Alliance and travelled the journey with many members of the Facebook group and our colleagues. We hope you will continue or join us on the journey and pray us through the next ten years.

There's still much to be done!

From a Parent

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 10:20:05 GMT

A series of posts from parents of children with additional needs.

I meant to get this series out earlier - but we've had a lot going on in the Pondering Platypus household!
I wanted to give a voice to parents who have children with additional needs and how they 'do' church.

For all of these, I will be changing names - unless the writer specifically wants their real name used, just because publically writing about your church home can be hard.

These will come from all over the country - so there will be no game of guess the church!
But they will all be real stories and unedited by me. I don't need to add anything - they speak for themselves.

This is the first:

What’s it like coming to church with a child with additional needs?

I have thought about this a lot, and I can say that I feel I have felt love and care from other people when bringing a child with additional needs.

Physical Access

When she was younger it was easier, we had a buggy style wheelchair and if she was unsettled, I could get her out and sit on my lap.

But those days are gone, she’s bigger now and has a large, moulded wheelchair. I feel we are a bit in the way with limited space making access difficult. Getting around and finding a seat can be stressful for me.

I am always very grateful when people ask if they can help to find us a space, which I’m lucky mostly happens.

Children’s provision

When she was younger, she could go out with the young children even though she was older and bigger at that time it wasn’t really a problem. Now I no longer feel that it’s an option as the age gap is too large.

However, to go in a group of children her age would be difficult as intellectually the age gap would be too great.

I liked it when she mixed with the other children with it benefiting both her and the other children, it was a good experience on both sides but can’t see a way forward with that.

Current Position

She stays in the service with me now, which is ok when she’s happy, she loves the music and if I sing to her when the songs are happening it’s even better.

It can be hard to fit in and a little isolating and is very much different than bringing a child with no additional needs where you can easily fit in with everything provided.

Physical facilities

I’m very happy in my church and we don’t live a perfect life where everything provided.

As outside the church, you have to deal with challenges everyday, but moving forward if churches want to welcome people with additional needs into churches, I feel the way forward is understanding each other’s needs better - disabled or not and be willing to be open and learn more about each order.

I feel changing places are a big step forward a larger changing/toilet facility where there is a hoist and changing bed.

There are grants available and if changes are being made and can be accommodated - why not?

What a way to say we love and care and welcome you!

Disability History Month

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 15:20:32 GMT

What is it, why this logo and what can we learn from it?

Disability History month has happened every year from 16th November to 16th December since 2010.

It all seems a bit muddled this year on what the theme is, just because big (non disability) organisations seem to be taking different themes - I'll update on that in another blog.

Because this is 'supposed to be' specifically a history month, I thought I'd tell you why the logo above was designed with a triangle......

It's from part of the holocaust that many people don't know or don't really talk about:

A black triangle was worn on the left side of their clothes by many disabled people. They were forced to wear it by the Nazis during the ‘T4′ Eugenics Programme, a programme that was intended to eliminate them.

The UKDHM Logo has taken this symbol, and in reclaiming disability history it has been inverted.

The killing of disabled began In 1939. All children under the age of three who had illnesses or a disability, such as Down’s syndrome, or cerebral palsy were targeted under the T4 programme. Medical experts were required to give their approval for the ‘mercy-killing’, of each child.

When war broke out in September 1939, Adults with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health problems were included in the programme. Six killing centres were built to make the process faster.
Previously, lethal injection or starvation were the the chosen ways of killing, but by now this was thought to be too slow to cope with huge numbers of adults. This led to the first gassings at the killing centre in Brandenberg; and thousands of disabled people were killed in gas chambers disguised as shower rooms.

It's believed that around to 250,000 disabled people were killed under this Nazi regime.

What we can learn from this is to remember it - don't let this part of the Holocaust story be forgotten.
We need to learn from it so it never happens again.
We need to realise that many disabled people are scared because they hear some of the same narratives today - in the UK. The Nazis called disabled people 'useless eaters'. In other words, they were using up resources needed by non disabled people. This narrative was seen most clearly during the pandemic and seen in the attitudes of people even today. (Have a look at my previous blog ' I'd Rather Be Dead' )

There's much to learn!

“I’d Rather Be Dead…”

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 14:59:56 GMT

I retweeted something the other day – it was about a phrase that is often said to me:

“I’d rather be dead”.

What they are saying is; my disability is so awful they just can’t see how life could be worth living with one. It seems to be the prevailing thought and it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Having been a nurse, I do like watching medical documentaries, and as such I can see why we move heaven and earth to prevent permanent disability. We do all we can to save all we can.

But phrases from relatives make it clear that the worst catastrophe in the world would be for their loved one to have a permanent disability and that their loved one wouldn’t want to be kept alive if they were going to be disabled. A few others will say they would rather have their loved one alive and deal with any disability there may be…..sometimes this is couched with “I hope they will forgive me”.

I know I’m making a judgement on an ‘in the moment’ comment here, but look wider and into many Hollywood themes around disability being the worst thing ever – the only time it’s a happy ending is if the person walks again, completely recovers…..or even dies – so the suffering is over.

I actually like the way the NCIS tv franchise works – disabled people are cast just because there are disabled people doing those jobs in real life. They are not there to make a comment about disability, they are just there, one of the team and their disability is not the main focus. It’s the same in a couple of English tv programmes too, but this way of working is quite rare.

**Trigger Warning – abortion** [just the next paragraph]

When we look at elective abortion – the rules around this being allowed to happen up to 40 weeks are written in terms of a child’s disability being ‘incompatible with life’ – and I’m not disputing that here. I’m asking why parents are pushed towards elective termination, even at the point of being in labour, if their child has a survivable disability or disfigurement. Is it because so many medical people also view things like Down syndrome, cleft lip/palate, clubbed feet etc as incompatible with life?

Many healthy disabled people are routinely asked when in hospital if they have signed a ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ form. Why? Non disabled people are not routinely asked that?

This is why many disabled people fear euthanasia being allowed in the UK – especially if the rules are as liberal as they are in Canada.

Where is the value of life? And why do people rarely value disabled lives?

These views may not be spoken of in this way by Christians, but the implications are still there.

It’s in how we speak about a child born with disabilities, how we respond to someone who has become disabled and how we couch everything in terms of fixing people.

As I’m always saying, if our first contact with a disabled person outside of ‘The Church’ is “can I pray for your healing” what does that say about how the church views disability?

We sometimes find disabled people ‘inspirational’ because they get on with life – they go shopping, cross roads and even go the the toilet alone. (Just like anyone else!) But seeing someone with a disability doing normal everyday stuff, for some reason, makes us feel better about our own lives.

If all we can see about disability is the awful prospect of having one ourselves, then something is wrong.

Like many others out there in the world, we in ‘The Church’ worship the idols of perfection, normalcy and what we call ‘ability’. If someone’s body doesn’t comply with that, then that’s their problem (and they need to be fixed).

Our churches use ‘normal people’ – as worship leaders, as pastoral leaders and speakers. We roll out a disabled person when we want them to say something on the subject of disability or to inspire and make us feel better about ourselves.

And yet, many with disabilities can’t access discipleship, leadership training, or even just normal Sunday worship.

When access to any area of church life is an issue, we tend towards seeing the disabled person as the problem. Not the inaccessibility of what we do.

Isn’t all this reflecting the thought “I’d rather be dead”?

Should we instead be saying saying “This is my brother/sister in Christ – it’s obvious I should treat them the same? Why would I want them another way?”

DPWW: Disabled People Worth Watching?

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 14:37:36 GMT

[Note: I write the following from a deep love and respect for the Evangelical corner of the church. Out of that respect, I want the best for the churches, the leaders and those who attend. My sending church is an Evangelical Free church and I love it – deeply. They are family. In this blog I am talking generally, I’m not talking specifically about my own church.]

There was a great article in a recent publication of Evangelicals Now (EN), written by Glen Scrivener. It was titled “Evangelical Futures: BWWS – The ‘Blokes Worth Watching’ Conveyor Belt”. (You can find it here – but it’s behind a paywall. Sign up for a free trial to see it)

In it he uses analogies from a book called ‘The Trellis and the Vine’, where the writers give an image of the supporting structures (the trellis) surrounding the organic growth of God’s people (the vine).

The article is is raw and honest, and I’ve taken that as permission to be raw and honest myself! I would normally be kind and gentle in how I work with people, so I apologise if this is not my normal gentle self.

Glen in his article tells us that the ‘trellis’ is broken.

I would go further and say it’s inaccessible too.

I say this from personal experience and from seeing the disappointment and hurt of others.

In the orthodox evangelical world, disability in any form will often get you chucked out of the BWW club or it will bar you from even entering it. When I’ve asked leaders if they also mentor disabled young people and those with additional needs the answer is clear: No.

I’m a woman with disabilities, working in an evangelical ministry environment. I’ve been ignored in meetings only to have a man say the same thing and be applauded for their amazing idea. I’ve had the same thing happen because I’m disabled.

I’ve had ‘able-splaining’ about things I am highly qualified to talk about and train/lecture in. (Able-splaining is a bit like mansplaining; A non disabled person explaining disability issues to a disabled person who “couldn’t possibly understand the complexity”….even though they actually know more!)

I talk about issues of disability in the world of evangelicalism and I either get blank looks, thanks with no action, or ‘able-splained’ as to why I am wrong. There are rare exceptions, and I mean rare.

If you’ve come to this blog and looked at the ‘about me’ page, you will see that I am a visually impaired wheelchair user working full time in the area of ministry alongside and with those who have disabilities or additional needs. I do consultancy and training and also lobby different groups about disabled people and those with additional needs being welcomed, discipled and mentored like any other person in the church. (Something I was doing BEFORE I became disabled myself – so this is not about me!)

I also try to raise awareness as to what life is like out in the real world if you are disabled in any way.

But I’m hitting a brick wall in many places. I’m also finding many gate keepers would could make a huge difference, but they don’t see it. Disabled people remain mainly unseen.

With the work I do alongside families, the majority of complaints I get from them are about Evangelical churches, including being asked to leave their church for a variety of reasons – none of them valid.

If I go to meetings about evangelism and mission, aside from the fact they are rarely accessible and organisers are happy to leave me at the back unable to join in with anything, disability is never on the agenda – we are not even worth evangelising .

I’m told that they/we will naturally be included as part of the community…..but they/we are not, because we make what we do inaccessible for many.

Using disabled people in outreach and on the planning groups is also something that is rare. We have to be intentional and proactive in all these areas. It won’t ‘just happen’.

I once offered to do some free consultancy for an evangelical networking organisation – instead, they hired a non disabled man that knew nothing about the subject who kept ringing me for advice to feed back to the leadership.

I could tell so many more stories!

In the last couple of years I have found out that something else will always be more important and there will never be time to have this subject on an agenda.

On the whole, we are seen as weak, powerless, a tragedy, not worth mentoring and disability is certainly not seen as worth having a bible study about.

I am in my ministry because I became disabled later on. If I had been disabled at the point of feeling called to work as a children’s evangelist (with a very specific call to children with additional needs and disabilities), I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Even if there was such a thing as women worth watching – disability would preclude me from it.

I will never been seen as anything more than the person that moans about how ‘The Church’ does disability – even though I have many other gifts…

I love my evangelical corner of the church, but I ache for those with disabilities and additional needs. I’m sad that the churches are missing out on such a huge blessing by not using their gifts, or maybe – not even seeing them as God’s perfect creation.

I have the best job in the world – but a lot of the time it sucks.

It’s also a job that should not have to exist.

Chat or Avoid – The Choice Is Yours

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 14:27:46 GMT

Imagine being in a room where there’s about to be a meeting with lots of people attending. Some are already there, and others arriving.

Now imagine people walking in, seeing you there, then stopping – swaying due to the sudden stop, and then suddenly doing a tight turn to walk in a different direction away from you.

Imagine the same thing at meal times, or a panicked look if you go anywhere near the table they are seated at.

I get this a lot, and I mean A LOT.

But there are also people who will chat, sit with me, grab a cuppa and occasionally ask about my current knitting or crochet projects.

I go to lots of meeting because of my ministry work and find that in those meetings people generally split into four categories:

Those who know me and accept the physical changes I’ve gone through over the years.
Those who don’t really know me, but don’t let my differences get in the way.
Those who have known me in the past, but struggle with the changes I’ve gone through.
Those who don’t know me at all, spot a wheelchair and make assumptions.

Guess which ones stop and chat and which ones try to ignore my presence.

Guess which ones blank me when I smile across the room.

And guess how I feel when someone I knew ‘pre-wheelchair’ looks at me in utter horror and walks the other way.

I’ve asked other wheelchair users if they get the same thing and they do, so it’s not just me. It hurts them too.

What on earth is so horrific about using a wheelchair?

Some struggle with it due to their theological beliefs.

For some, I don’t fit neatly into their concept of ‘what a leader should look like’.

I also mess plans up due the wheelchair and my visual impairment – it makes simple arrangements complicated because of the access I need:

The building the meeting is in needs to be accessible with accessible facilities. I can’t get on a platform to speak (actually I can, but…’assumptions’…which means I’m rarely asked).

When attendees are asked to come to the front to do something or respond, I can’t because of all the tables/chairs/people in the way.

I can’t even fetch my own drink or food most of the time.

Yep, my wheelchair messes people’s plans up – big time!

Some have never met a disabled person and just don’t know what to do. And apparently, 67% of brits are scared of talking to disabled people! (Scope research).

It’s not rocket science! Just talk to us like you would anyone else. Smile, and don’t be scared. We are humans who just happen to use wheels.

For me – I won’t tell you off if you use the ‘wrong’ language, because I get it wrong too.

And…… I don’t like tea! (Bring me coffee and I’ll be your friend for life!)

Can't....or Can?

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Fri, 27 May 2022 14:18:49 GMT

Poster is from
Stickman Communications

Image description: A4 Poster with paragliding stickman who is in a wheelchair. Text: Can’t exists…but I’m too busy with can to worry about it.

I’m often told I can’t or I shouldn’t…….

I can’t do a ministry job, I can’t go there, I can’t travel on that train (because the only wheelchair space is taken), I shouldn’t be doing that in my ‘condition’.

I grew up being told I wouldn’t cope or wouldn’t like things. My diary was monitored and I was told what I couldn’t do, or it was made clear there would be consequences. I want to say to my young self “Yes you can” for each time I was told I couldn’t (When I actually could!)

I’ve had a lifetime of either being told I can’t or, without words, had it made clear I shouldn’t do things.

The trouble is, when I’m told I can’t do something, If I can’t see a good reason why not, I’ll try!

At primary school I was told I would never pass any O levels – I did, A levels too! I even had the joy of nursing that teacher’s child as a student nurse and showing him what I achieved…

When I was a teenager, the church I went to told me I shouldn’t go to Spring Harvest because it was of the devil(!) So I moved churches and later went to Spring Harvest (and still work alongside them today).

I was told not to read certain books because they were ‘unscriptural’, but I still read them. I wanted a rounded view of what people thought and had a desire to sharpen and challenge my thinking – surely that’s a good thing?!

Since I’ve been more obviously disabled I get the shouldn’t/couldn’t even more.

Medical people can’t understand that I work. Come to think of it, lots of other people think that too! I can, and don’t tell me I can’t or shouldn’t.

The way people word or do things can often give the impression that disabled people shouldn’t do stuff.

Can’t get into the pulpit? Then preaching isn’t for you.

Can’t gather round someone on the platform to pray for them? Then that isn’t for you.

Can’t get to where communion is being served? Then that isn’t for you either.

No one is saying you can’t, but the fact you can’t do it often feels like that is the message.

I use a wheelchair and I have a visual impairment. I know there are somethings I can’t do, like run a marathon, climb lots of stairs, get onto some trains without a ramp. But, to quote Hannah Ensor’s poster above “Can’t exists…but I’m too busy with 'can' to worry about it.”

What I do worry about however are the “can’ts” that are placed on me by others – In my day to day life, in my ministry, when I travel and other things.

Not travelling to a meeting should be my choice, not enforced by inaccessibility, or not being invited because of assumptions about me and my disability.

Restaurants that say ‘we don’t get many of you’ (referring to my wheelchair) and therefore don’t make adaptations, are saying by their actions “No, you can’t”.

There are many situations like this in our churches: Assuming disabled people and those with additional needs can’t serve, minister, or even learn about Jesus are just a few.

Faith often comes with a whopping big “Can’t do properly” label when you’re disabled or have an additional need.

So, referring once again to that poster above: I’m busy saying “can” to all those people who think those of us with disabilities and additional needs “can’t“.

Some people find me irritating or get fed up with me because I keep raising this, and I often feel like the villain for keep saying it, and I hate feeling like that.

I’m not a brave person, I’m not inspirational. I’m an introvert who has been called by God for a purpose.

God doesn’t see “can’t” He sees “Possibility”.

I’m so thankful that He can see the possibilities in me.

He sees them in you too.

Yes. You. Can.

Why does Jesus heal people in the Gospels?

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Tue, 17 May 2022 13:59:44 GMT

This blog is far more eloquent than I would be in talking around this subject.
Why does Jesus heal?

Just click the link to take you to the post.

https://dbalaena.wordpress.com/2022/05/16/why-does-jesus-heal-people-in-the-gospels/

What Does the Bible Really Say About Healing?

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:21:16 GMT

It might not be what you think!

“Can I pray for your legs?”

That’s a phrase I hear a lot and wish I didn’t hear it quite so often.

I always say no!

That might seem a little rude, but I have my reasons (aside from being regularly and rudely accosted this way).

People see my wheelchair and therefore my obvious disability.

An assumption is then made.

Well, actually two assumptions.

The first one is that my legs are the problem when, to be truthful, they are just one issue in a long list of symptoms from 3 disabling ‘conditions’.

The second one is that my disabilities are such a tragedy they must pray for a fix immediately! Some ask permission, some don’t and most assume.

The truth is, if they named the part of my body that hurt the most that day I would say yes. Why? Because that would show the the Holy Spirit was at work and not an assumption. It would also show this wasn’t all about ‘cure at all costs’ but asking for God’s grace as I dealt with pain and asking for some relief.

If they asked to pray for my ministry I’d be all there – I never turn that sort of prayer down!

A friend of mine has been told she is worshipping her disability. She’s not – she is learning about a wonderful God who is working in and through her as she sits with her disabilities.

I could tell you so many other stories like that.

There are many people who insist healing is the way to go and are rude, cruel and judgemental in how they put their thoughts across. Some even complain to pastors about the ‘non healed people’ in their congregation. Some write to the organisations that we, the ‘non-healed’ work with or alongside, saying we shouldn’t be used in ministry because: disability.

But the fact is; we ARE healed. We just haven’t been cured.

When I talk to God about healing, he graciously responds that I am healed. He also tells me that His strength and grace show up more because of my disabilities.

For many people, this desire for those with disabilities and additional needs being healed comes from a place of love and wanting to help. For some others it comes firstly from a place of judgement; it’s due to unforgiven sin, an intergenerational curse, or you don’t have enough faith. There’s a few more, but that will do for now!

Secondly, it comes from a cursory glance at what the Bible appears to say about healing, rather than digging deep into the theology.

There are a lot of bible verses ripped out of context. There’s also the wrong assumption that because Jesus healed lots of people – we shouldn’t have disabled people in the church and it’s all the fault of the disabled people when we’re there….unhealed.

I’ve been studying Bartimaeus and his healing ready for some teaching on this subject, and it’s been interesting on many levels.

Take a look at the stories in both Mark and Luke’s Gospels.

It teaches us a lot as we ponder some points and ask ourselves some questions:

Was Jesus testing Bartimaeus's faith by asking ‘what do you want me to do?’ (as I’ve heard some teach) Or did Bartimaeus know who Jesus was – the messiah – because he addressed him as 'Jesus son of David'.

If you look at Luke’s version (Where the blind man is not named), the crowd says ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ is passing by, and we are also told the blind man refers to Jesus as ‘Son of David’, not Jesus of Nazareth. Looking at these details gives us a hint that this blind man knew exactly who Jesus was and showed he was extremely well taught by his family.

Those surrounding him would have seen Bartimaeus’s blindness as the result of sin, and therefore seen him as undeserving of speaking to Jesus, so they were telling him to be quiet. But, Bartimaeus kept shouting, still showing his faith.

Jesus then stopped, and told them to call to him. This is interesting because Jesus could have gone to Bartimaeus himself, but He asked those who were hushing Bartimaeus to call him. Look closer and notice how the tone and language of the crowd towards Bartimaeus changed – positive, almost to the point of being patronising.

What do you make of that?

Is this story purely about healing? Or is there more to learn?

So many people with disabilities and additional needs, children and grown ups, are often pushed away from meeting God because assumptions are made.

Maybe we shouldn’t be asking about healing, but rather introducing them to Jesus. And if they already know and follow Him – mentoring them, allowing them to serve and then working alongside them to make our churches a place where they and others can belong.

And by ‘they’, a phrase I use just as shorthand, I include myself. We are part of you – the family of God.

Children Who Hate God

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:07:04 GMT

And why they might say that.

What if you knew a child who said they hated God, because He gave them a disability?

How would you react? What would you think?

Would you consider what could bring a child to the point of saying this?

Would you consider what made them hate their disability and who they were so much, that they blamed God for it?

I heard a parent recount this about their child recently, and it broke my heart. I’ve heard it time and time again.

What was it that brought them to the point of hating who they were – enough to reject God – because they believed he was responsible for the perceived injustice of it all?

I can’t speak for this one child or any of the others – that’s their story to tell, but let me lead you through a few things that happen in church that can make the self loathing of our disabled bodies happen and lead us to blaming God.

One element of this process can be what we call the ‘tragedy narrative’.

When a baby is born with a disability, it is common for everyone to say to the parents “I’m so sorry” rather congratulate them on the birth of their child. It starts with the medical staff at the hospital and continues through life. I still have people say “I’m so sorry about your disability”.

Why?

This continues as the child grows with people saying something like “you do so well looking after them” to their grown ups, or asking invasive questions about the child’s disability….along with a face that loudly ‘shouts’ their pity for both the parent and their child.

Then we have the spiritual comments such as “We’ll pray that God gives you the strength and grace to cope with them”. The child can hear the comments and sense the meaning: they’re not normal and they are a burden on their grown ups.

Let’s move on to the next stage of ‘tragedy’: the need to make things better.

It’s well intentioned and generally starts with advice like “have you tried…….”

Then we get the quoted bible verses – often out of context. For example: ‘God won’t give you more than you can handle…..’ again, we have that issue of seeing disability as a problem or suffering.

After that, we have a lot of ‘theology’ stuff thrown at us:

God gave you this child because He knew you could cope (A comment hated by many parents of children with additional needs and disabilities, and again sees the child as a ‘problem’).

We often have the ‘God’s will’ explanation too; “God gave you this disability”. The reasons why vary greatly!

But we regularly get the polar opposite too – you caused it because someone sinned, unforgiven sin, you don’t have the faith to be healed, and my personal hated favourite: “there’s a generational curse on your family”.

Whatever the reason or the theology – they all seem to either blame God or the disabled person, and quite often both.

The horror of this is; the child can hear it and pick up the all the vibes that say to them: “I am a problem and God caused it”.

Recently I’ve been writing and speaking a lot about how the constant need to cure disabled people affects them (or in the language of those with no disability – the need to ‘heal’ us). The effect on children is no different.

Parents tell me stories of being accosted by people wanting to pray for healing for their child, accusing them of being demon possessed, faithless, having hidden sins – the list goes on. Many lay hands on their child without permission

What is it with this rudeness? It speaks the wrong message over the child and their family – ‘your disability makes you unworthy’.

It needs to stop. Now.

Parents who don’t go to church are put off ever going. They and their children are given the impression that God only wants people who are not disabled, not ill or so called ‘normal’. It tells them they are not welcome.

When you are disabled, child or adult, the church is often responsible for making us feel ‘wrong’ rather than God’s perfect child who He loves.

It makes us feel like a mistake that needs to be fixed rather than a person made in God’s image.

A problem – not a blessing.

When a child who is disabled or has additional needs says they hate God, don’t point the finger at their grown ups. Don’t tell the child off for saying it.

Look for the reason why.

You might not have to look very far.

Welcome

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 13:02:28 GMT

A welcome for new followers

If you are here because you’ve heard me on the radio recently – Welcome!

You will see that there’s not a whole lot written here! That’s because I write for a lot of other publications.

If you go to Christian Today and search on my name, you will be able to find what I’ve written there. It’s not always in date order though, which can seem a little random!

Most recently I’ve written, along with other disabled people, for the Church Mission Society’s publication ‘Anvil’, which you can find here (I’ve written about the impact of ‘the tragedy narrative’ on disability)

If you want to know more about me – check out the ‘about Kay’ page.

You can also follow me on FaceBook

On Twitter

And on Instagram

A View From Reddit

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 12:54:14 GMT

Seeing beyond what you think.

In my ministry it’s fairly easy to fly under the radar. I rarely get ‘trolled’ and am more likely to be ignored.

The only form of trolling I seem to get is from the ‘healing ninjas’ who want me ‘fixed’ or ‘healed’ and from those wanting to correct my theology.

For all this I am grateful!

So, yesterday was a shock.

If you didn’t see my social media posts, I’ll give a brief description of what happened:

Sometimes I randomly check how the stats on either of my websites are going. This one had an unusually high number of referrals from ‘Reddit’.

I don’t use Reddit, and I hadn’t done any social media posting from here for a while, so naturally – I was curious! It’s good to know where my stuff is being shared and how it’s being used.

I went to Reddit and searched for ‘Pondering Platypus’.

I found out that yesterday was ‘Platypus Pondering Day’, and some people had come across my site because they had done a search on that. My site was shared by ‘Atheists of Reddit’. What they and their ‘commenters’ said about me and the site (someone they don’t know) was horrible, and I was stunned.

As I said on my own social media – they are completely entitled to their opinion – but apparently I am not.

One accusation was that I was indoctrinating vulnerable kids.

Let’s just look at that one…..

I don’t indoctrinate, I don’t force kids into religion. Forced faith is no faith at all – I’ve seen that in action and hate it.

On some occasions I’ve put obstacles in the way just so I know a child has properly thought it through – being a Christian can often be really difficult, and not a decision to make on a whim.

We all have free will to accept Jesus’ invitation to follow Him – we should never put pressure on a fellow human being to do so.

I am aware of how easy it is to influence vulnerable children. I know it could be easy to abuse or over-reach my power, and in the process hurt them in the name of faith. I’ve had that done to me, it was horrible and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. (This is why I’m accountable to a number of people)

I was drawn by the irresistible grace of God not people pushing me to do so.

The inference in that thread (along with random name calling) was that this is all I do…..

I do a LOT more.

In the last week I have advised organisations who feed the hungry, regardless of what faith they follow or if they choose not to – they just feed them.

I’ve also done some advisory work with a debt counselling charity who also work with anyone who needs help – regardless of their beliefs – or none.

There have been others too – all of them wanting to know how they can better serve those with additional needs and disabilities in their local communities.

I campaign on issues that deny disabled children their right to live, to access education and to live freely in this world without fear…..regardless of faith or no faith.

I campaign to give equal access to activities and hobbies.

I make sure that churches who provide toddler groups, soup kitchens and more can provide good access whilst doing it.

This is not indoctrination – this is caring.

Churches also need to be accessible if people choose to go to them – this is part of my ‘ministry’ too.

I happen to think churches can sometimes be bad in faith formation for children with additional needs who are in the church – if we don’t teach well, how can a child think it through for themselves? This is not brainwashing or indoctrination. It’s creating a place where people feel they can belong, ask questions and be accepted.

Along with this I also campaign on equality when it comes to disabled people being able to serve and work in the church. The same rules apply whether in the church or outside….I just happen to advise churches and faith organisations on how to do this well.

I could tackle a lot more that was said – but I’d rather not ponder those comments any more.

If you are reading this because you have come from the Reddit thread – look bigger, look wider. A lot of the work I and others do is benefitting people who have no faith, all in the name of loving our fellow human beings.

You have a right to your opinion and I would defend your right to say it. But please – give me the same courtesy.

The Things People Say!

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 12:41:57 GMT

The funny, the rude and the downright perverse!

March 1st is International Wheelchair day, and December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (#IDPD2021). Wow, that’s a mouthful!

You might not know that I’m a wheelchair user and as such, I get a lot of weird things said to me!

So, I wanted to have some fun and show some of the things said to me (Yes, you are allowed to laugh!)….and hope it also helps to raise awareness about how people see disability – and wheelchairs.

Sometimes I want to produce a postcard with the answers on for all the comments, questions and statements I get – but there wouldn’t be enough space!

I don’t have room to put all of them on here either! So, here is a smattering of them.

The ones people say a gazillion times, thinking they’re original:

Do you have a licence for that thing?
Have you passed your test in that? (Actually – yes!)
Don’t break the speed limit!
Not bad driving for a woman.
Referring to my hubby – can you tie a skateboard to the back for him? (Can I tie you to the back by the ankle?)
Can I have a go? (No you can’t!)

And the ‘you didn’t think about that before you said it, did you?!’ Section:

You’re too young and pretty to be in that wheelchair (you mean all female wheelchair users are all old hags??)
On the train – Can passengers remove luggage from the wheelchair area, we have a wheelchair onboard. (Wheelchair is a noun, I am a person and wheelchairs don’t drive themselves!).
You stood up, you must be faking it. (Most wheelchair users can walk a bit or stand)
Well done! (I went to the loo)
You’re so inspirational! (I crossed the road)

Then there’s the invasive curiosity (from complete strangers):

What did you do?
What’s wrong with you?
Why do you need that? (Said waving a hand at my wheelchair).
What? You’re married? How does that work? (I’ll leave you to work out the question that normally comes next)

I also have people who apparently know my disability better than me, give advice or tell me about my disability – often misinformation:

You need to exercise more – people like you don’t and then they end up getting really fat.
You’re too happy to have that…. (Said by a GP for goodness sake!)
Other people don’t need a wheelchair for ‘that’ – you must have just given up (the ‘that’ being referred to is a spectrum and is also complicated by another condition)

I get the weird and wonderful advice givers too, and most have a ‘friend of a second cousin twice removed who had that’ (or not even similar!)

Have you tried cutting out sugar?
Have you tried cutting out artificial sweetener?
What about yoga/pilates ?
You need more kale (I love kale…….it hasn’t worked)

I also get a lot of quack miracle cures forwarded to me by email and on social media. (Please don’t!)

The Christian community has its own brand of stupid when it comes to disability comments.
Here’s the common ones:

You need to pray more.
You need more faith.
You’ve not forgiven someone.
You have some unforgiven sins.
This is not God’s plan for your life.
This is God’s will for your life.

Those last two – so which is it?! (No need to answer that…)

Here’s some regular conversations that happen:

1.
Person: Can I pray for your legs
Me: No
Person: But God can heal you!
Me: He already has.
Person: *Goldfish like movements of the mouth*

2.
Person: Your illness is due to a generational curse.
Me: would that be my birth family, my foster family or my adoptive family?
Person: stunned silence
(For the record – this is REALLY bad theology!)

3. At a Christian festival
Me: Could you open the door for me please?
Person: There’s a leadership team meeting in there, so I can’t.
Me: I know, and I’m late, could you let me in please.
Person: *Looks me up and down* But it’s only for the leadership team
Me: (I’m wearing a leadership team badge). I’m part of the leadership team.
Person: Shakes head in disbelief.
Steward spots the problem and comes to my rescue…and lets me in.

4. At another festival where I’m speaking:
Me: *Arrives at the venue early to set up*
Person: Sorry, I can’t let you in, the speaker isn’t here yet.
Me: (smiling) I am the speaker.
Person: A moment of stunned silence and inactivity whilst staring at me.
Me: Can I go in and set up please?
Person: Finally lets me in.

And some of the regular actions:

Laying hands on me, without permission, to pray. (Both my conditions give severe pain, touch me in the wrong place on a bad day and you might not get the reaction you were expecting.)
Stroking my arm whilst speaking with me (See above)
The pitiful head tilt with ‘you’re so braaaave!’

These are just some of my stories – others will have different stories….but along the same themes!

I'm busy gathering some new ones - so might do another blog like this is a year's time!

Problem? Or Purpose & Potential?

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 12:27:36 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

I originally wrote this over 9 years ago! It was posted on my ancient ‘Musings of a kids worker’ blog, but I found the draft of it when sorting through old files trying to find something else.

Because it’s ‘Disability History Month’ I’ve been picking up some historical blogs again and this has been added to them. I’ve done some light editing, just to bring it up to date in language and my own maturing in ministry. Happy reading!

I was a kid’s worker and therefore I believe in evangelism amongst children. I have a passion to see ALL kids responding to God and growing in faith. All this regardless of ability.

When we think of evangelism and work with kids, where do those with disabilities and additional needs fit in? Are they even part of our thinking when we write our evangelism plans and goals?

It is sad that in many churches, children in general are not part of the official outreach programme, but children with additional needs and disabilities?

When we think of additional needs and disability, are we tempted to see the problems? Or can we see beyond potential difficulties and see firstly, a child and then the potential for faith and a life lived with God?

It is always a temptation to not see the child, but the diagnosis instead. We’re tempted to recruit volunteers for a problem that needs sorting out rather than asking people to catch the vision for enabling this child to be everything they can be in Christ.

When I run training days, I find people want me to fix the “problem” with a quick fix or a ‘sticking plaster’. It takes a long time to shift the focus from ‘problem’ to ‘purpose and potential’

Let’s be realistic here – usually, the only children with disabilities and additional needs in our children’s work across the country are those whose families are already part of the church community. Our midweek clubs have children with additional needs who come from families on the edge of church. With both of these groups – we struggle, so how on earth can we cope with bringing more in?

As a teenager, and for many years after I worked on a summer camp for children with physical disabilities – I loved it! Many children came to know Jesus in a very real way, but, where could they go after camp? For a child with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, whose parents don’t want to go to church – how do we help them access church, and how do we keep them there? In rare cases – it happened, but as a rule, it didn’t.

I’m still in touch with a few of the campers – all of them now adults. Some have chosen not to follow Jesus anymore, some have other beliefs now, some have returned to faith, a few are on the edges of local church communities.

Churches failed most of them.

It’s these ex-campers who have helped me cope with my own onset of disability. I have learned much from them, both then and now, and I am grateful.

So who is reaching out to children with additional needs and disabilities in our communities today?

Well, some are, but not enough.

I’ve already been ‘realistic’ – now I’m going to be brutally honest…… Many children have life limiting disabilities – I’ve been to far too many funerals and held too many dying children for me not to be honest! Thankfully, some of those children and young people have had a solid faith and a huge witness to their friends, but equally – there are so many more who are not in relationship with Jesus. These children and young people have less time to hear the Gospel than others – the need is urgent!

2021 edit: I have to add here that I’m not just worried about short life spans now, but the fact that so, SO many Children and young people with additional needs are being rejected from church. This is now the the bigger problem – they are leaving the Church in much greater numbers and not returning. Add to this the fact the the suicide rate amongst neurodivergent young people is rising fast.

We believe in the Gospel, we believe in spreading it, but do we believe in taking it to some of the most vulnerable kids in our communities – is “The Church” brave enough to step up to the ‘challenge’ – and not to see it as a problem but huge potential?

High Court Ruling

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Sat, 25 Sep 2021 11:07:45 GMT

Disabled Babies and the 40 week rule

This is a difficult post to write.

Information about the court ruling I am talking about can be found here (Click the word ‘here’ that is in bold print) It needs a trigger warning for text talking about ‘elective termination’ up to 40 weeks, specifically due to disability.

The difference with this campaign is its context; it is looking at the institutions that judge disability negatively. It isn’t judging those who have found themselves having to make these painful decisions.

I also need to give a trigger warning to my friends who have had to make those difficult and painful decisions. Please be assured I am not judging you – you are loved and welcome in this space. You are my friend.
If you choose not to read any further, that’s ok, be blessed and please stay in touch.

I may be ‘pro-life’, but as I said on my ministry facebook page and twitter: I do understand the nuances & the pressures felt [around the subject of elective terminations due to disability], so I’m not pointing the finger at those who felt they needed to make this incredibly hard decision.

There are too many governments and institutions who only see disability as a tragedy with no possibility of a quality of life or worth – this is the problem I’m writing about.

We need to change the narrative and perceptions around disability and the way the negative narrative influences how law is made and interpreted in relation to disability – not just at the start of life, but the end of life and the middle bit too.

Over a year ago I wrote about the law surrounding disability and the availability of selective termination up to 40 weeks. You can find it on Christian Today here (Click the word ‘here’ to find the article – but do come back to finish reading this post!) Due to the word count limit it was difficult to give the nuance and grace I wanted to, but it gives you an idea of my heart.

If like me you are cross beyond words about the law and the views of many (but not all) in the medical profession when talking about disability, please don’t take it out on those who have made difficult and heart breaking decisions. Lay that anger at the feet of the doctors and other professionals who present a negative view of disability and pressurise those having a baby to terminate their pregnancy – right up until labour begins. Aim that anger at the lawmakers who speak of having a club foot as incompatible with a good quality of life (Usually because there is a very, very small chance of it being part of another syndrome that causes a learning disability.....what does that say about how learning disability is viewed!) This is then often translated by doctors as having something like a cleft lip also being incompatible with a good quality of life.

Heidi, in the court case, had to leave the court because the language used in regard to Down syndrome and learning disability was so upsetting. I saw some of it and it was appalling!

All of this language and the view of disability being a tragedy is the basis of saying that selective termination for disability can be up to 40 weeks, whereas for any other baby it is 24 weeks. Of course, there is more nuance than that – such as giving parents time to make decisions and the occasional lateness of an in-utero diagnosis. But post diagnosis parents are battered with negativity and accusing words if they consider not terminating a pregnancy.

I’m cross that some national papers are reporting the story of the court case, that centres more around Down Syndrome and learning difficulties, as “Down Syndrome woman fails in high court battle…..” Heidi has a name, she hasn’t failed at anything (The judges ruled against the plea and Heidi has achieved a lot!) Plus, the case was brought jointly with the mum of a little boy who has Down Syndrome.

This case has now been picked up by many Christians – not as many as the general ‘elective abortion’ debate, but quite a few. The ‘not as many’ part gives me some worries, but I’m not writing about that.

Many in the Christian world will often overlook the fact that weakness is key factor in our faith. It is the way of God to take our weaknesses and use them. To quote the song ‘Cornerstone’: “Weak made strong in the Saviour’s love”.

The way of the world says weakness is bad, God says it is good.

The world says your worth is in living a ‘productive life’, God says ‘you are worthy because of Jesus’.

The medical profession measures your worth on your ‘quality of life’, a subjective thing at the best of times. God says rest in me – that’s enough quality of life.

Quality of life seems to be a big part of the legal engine surrounding disability, the doctors take that thinking too but also add the quality of life of parents in caring for a child. Those medics see these children as nothing but a burden to their parents and society.

This leads to huge pressures put on parents with no view of the positives and joys of parenting a child with additional needs and disabilities. It is ableism in the extreme when it is said you are not worthy of life if you ‘make life hard’ for other people.

May be we need to present this to our MPs – not battering them with negativity but rather spotlighting the positives. Suggest we need a change of narrative and language within the legal and medical professions. Suggest that we we need to campaign for better support for parents expecting a child with disabilities that gives a more positive view, that introduces them to support groups run by parents who have children with that particular disability. In short, to give a much fuller picture than the one sided negative view, that is always followed by the offer to terminate the pregnancy and continues to be offered as the only solution.

Too many parents are offered termination at the point they go into labour – just at the point where they are excited to look into the eyes of their child for the first time.

If as a church you campaign against ‘elective abortion’, you can’t just stop there. You also need to be part of the solution.

You can’t say disabled children matter and then keep turning them away from your church because it’s inconvenient having them.

I’m going to be inconceivably rude now (rare for me)…… if you campaign against this high court ruling, you are taking on the responsibility to care, accept and support these families as a faith community. God values the weak, so suck it up and get on with doing what God mandates through the Bible and stop turning them away.

I am sick and tired of hearing from families who have been turned away and rejected by churches. I don’t want to see it happening any more.

Children born with a disability are made in God’s image. Let that permeate not just your theology, but your church policies too.

Change the language from negative to positive around disability.
Change the negative perception of disability into positive welcome and dignity.

We the Church cannot have it both ways.

If you’re going to campaign – get practical, give support and put your arms around these families.

And if those children would struggle to access church – bring church to them.

Whatever you do – do NOT abandon them.

I’m going to give Heidi the last words:

Her last post on Facebook says “When Wilberforce wanted to change the law on slavery, he didn’t give up, even when events didn’t always go his way. And when the going got tough he kept going and I’m going to do the same, because I want to succeed”.

NOTE: I have friends on all sides of this and similar debates. Please be kind and respectful of that in any comments.
Thankyou.

But You're Disabled?!

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 21:48:38 GMT

Ministry, Disability and How it Works (For Me).

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

Just in case you don’t know me: I’m in full time ministry and have been for over 27 years.

I’m also disabled.

I don’t want disability to be the starting point – but rather an ‘Oh by the way’, because I am more than my wheels and the way my eyes work. That should be the starting point for all disabled people – but we’re not there yet!

Quite a few years ago, I had someone say that now I’m disabled I shouldn’t be galavanting around the country any more – I should retire. I was around 40 at the time and fit to work. The commenter thought starting to use a wheelchair meant I was much worse and the chair a burden. But in reality – I’d needed it for years before but been too stubborn to use one – because I was scared of exactly this reaction.

Here’s the truth – my wheelchair is my freedom, it means I can do more as it conserves my energy. Using my main one means I can be comfortable during conferences (I can tilt and recline, move my position and much more). I’m less disabled when I use my wheelchair. Although, steps and crowded spaces are still a problem (They haven’t invented a hover wheelchair yet).

I can walk – slowly and with a wobble, but not very far. Whether I use a walking aid depends on how much pain I have in my hands, arms and shoulders.

Let’s just say my hubby often calls me ‘Lurch’ and leave it there….

How do you speak, teach and train when you can’t walk or stand properly?

Well, being able to walk a little is the positive in this story – others don’t have that luxury.

Most platforms for speaking don’t have a ramp – if there are steps with a handrail, I can access the platform, otherwise I need someone's shoulder to use as a handrail of sorts. I also have a special tall chair with arms that I sit in to speak.

For travelling, I have a lightweight folding power chair that makes accessing taxis much easier and allows access to venues that have a couple of steps – if someone can lift the chair up those steps that is…without me in it! (It’s the wheelchair in the photo at the top of this page – aptly called the Freedom Chair!)

The biggest issue of being a speaker/trainer on wheels is the human element!

I’ve had instances of not being allowed into a venue or room because it was assumed I couldn’t possibly be the speaker. At one event I had a long ‘argument’ to gain access to a speaker’s prayer meeting, meaning I missed half of it!

There is generally an assumption that disabled people are always the recipient of ministry – not the person ministering.

I’ve also had the comment, when standing in for a non disabled colleague, “That was very good for a disabled person”.

Yes there are travel issues, building access problems and inaccessible accessible toilets (yes, really!), but the biggest problem still continues to be attitudes.

I am fortunate that all the organisations I work alongside don’t see my wheels or weird eyes as a problem – just a part of who I am. I continue to be blessed by the lengths they go to make sure things are accessible for me.

So – yes, you can be a mission parter, ministry person, evangelist etc and use wheels! (It also means you can wear posh shoes and not worry about being able to walk in them!!)

But what about your eyesight?
The issues I have are too complicated to explain, but it means trying to read hurts a lot and often makes me feel nauseous. Lines of words wobble about the screen and I often have double vision and significant blurring. What and how I see can change hour by hour, day by day. But I can ace the sight test for driving – because I can see at a distance when looking straight ahead! I still don’t drive though, because looking down at the speedometer and then back up means it takes a couple of minutes to get that long vision back!!

Red is painful, white on black doesn’t work as it increases the double vision (But it is the best combination for most people – so don’t change just because of my eyes!)

My vision is significantly worse in the evening, best is late morning to early afternoon.

How do you work when your eyes do that?
I have gadgets! I’ve always loved tech gadgets, so playing with different ones is fun.

In my office I have a massive curved monitor that I plug my laptop into.

The resolution is set to ‘largest’ on my laptop, but I don’t use HD – that’s painful!
My phone and tablet are android, with apps that allow me to enlarge everything on screen – fonts, icons etc, and allows me to set the best background for me. I use google lens on small printed text and this allows me to copy and paste as large print (great for knitting and crochet patterns..…I can knit and crochet by feel and glancing occasionally – in case you were wondering!)

I ask for all meeting notes and presentations to be emailed, so I can set the font and colours to what I can see comfortably.

Does being disabled and in full time ministry work all the time?
Well…. No, but it produces a lot of laughs and lessons along the way.

If God has called me to a task, I’m not going to use disability as an excuse. Moses tried that and look where it got him!

Faith Vaccination

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Tue, 25 May 2021 21:32:23 GMT

Faith Vaccination - not such a good thing.

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Vaccines have understandably taken on a new wonder recently. It’s the thing that appears to be bringing about a lowering of illness and death, and the reason we are starting to have more freedoms.

As a ex nurse, I’ve always been a believer in all vaccines. They are a good thing. A dead, weakened or synthetically produced version of a virus is injected into a human to produce a resistance to the real virus. Genius!

But when you put the idea of vaccination into a spiritual context, it’s not so good.

What do I mean by that?

Well, if you give our children and young people a watered down or dead version of faith, the Bible or even God, then what you are essentially doing is vaccinating them against the real thing. God becomes a faded version of His true glory, and faith is made weak and close to death.

I believe in giving good theology to our children and young people, but sadly we have had years of each generation being given a watered down ‘tweeology’ instead, meaning there are a lot of adults that have either been vaccinated against the real thing and left the church, or who are teaching the same watered-down version to the next generation.

What do I mean by ‘Tweeology’? Well, I mean a lot of things. It can take the form of bible stories and verses ripped out of context; it can be only giving half the story about what faith in Jesus means. It can mean making faith ‘me’ centric rather God centric.

Well – that sounds cheerful doesn’t it?! I’m not one for negativity normally, as it rarely achieves anything. But, I need to state the situation as it is.

Why do we need good theology?
In 1 Peter 3:15 we are tasked to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”. And then told to “do this with gentleness and respect”.

You need to know your Bible to do that.

A couple of years ago I had the privilege of teaching a large group of children’s leaders and the subject of the seminar was “Teaching the Whole Story of the Bible”. A subject I love!

A large portion of the group didn’t know how the Exodus and Passover linked to Jesus. In fact, many didn’t know that many parts of the Old Testament point to Jesus.

And on that subject, I’ve even seen a great version of a children’s story bible rejected by children’s workers because it kept mentioning Jesus in the Old Testament stories.

This is basic but important theology. It helps us make sense of Jesus and the cross, and without it the faith vaccination programme continues.

Here’s some examples of some theology we need to think about if we work with children:

Theology tells us who chose who – did we choose to follow Jesus, or did God choose us?

Theology shows us why and to whom we pray – are we talking to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit? Or is it to God, through the Holy Spirit, because of Jesus?

Theology tells us about children and young people coming to faith – what do you believe about how that happens?

We need to know what God thinks and the Bible says (The same thing actually!) about all sorts of things and that’s theology.

We need to know how to pass these things on to the next generation in a way that shows the awesomeness of God, builds spiritual resilience when life gets tough and allows our children to wrestle with the big question of life and faith.

Is this vaccination against faith reversible?

Yes, there is an antidote to it. Teach the bible carefully with respect and faith. Prepare well and allow children to ask questions and ponder for themselves. And that’s just for starters.

In the whole of a child’s week, we have very little time with them.

Let’s make it count.

Hugs and Awareness Days

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Tue, 11 May 2021 21:22:19 GMT

Why We Need To Be Aware That Hugs Are Not Always Helpful

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The writer in me really enjoys having two random things to combine in a post, and today gives me the satisfaction of being able to do this!

Both of the illnesses I have are pain disorders: One is Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome (CMPS). If I lived in the USA I could add ‘stage four’ at this point (Stage four is the point of no return, where the condition affects many areas of life including voice and vision). The other is a later addition that is quite common and an annoyance that complicates the CMPS – Fibromyalgia. And for both - today is their awareness day.

I also have a couple of other things that have their own separate awareness days – whoopy-doo!

With the loosening of Covid regulations, we’re also able to hug from next Monday…..

What has that got to do with this awareness day I hear you say!?

Well, I’ll start by saying that I will be hiding away for a couple of weeks until the extroverts have got the hugging out of their system!

Why? Because over a year ago, people who knew me well would remember to ask me before hugging. I fear that has now been forgotten.

For me, hugging can be painful, and sometimes it can result in spectacular muscle spasms. (Can you see the connection now?!)

I’ve always said that the permission to hug always lies with the receiver – something to remember even without a chronic pain condition. For some, a year with few or no hugs will make this more than a little overwhelming – we need to recognise that and ask first.

For people with a disability that is obvious to the onlooker – such as mine (I use a wheelchair), permission to touch often goes out of the window. People often approaching me like you would a child:
Arm stroking is top of the list, followed by arm or shoulder patting. I’ve had my head stroked on occasion and my hand held. All without permission .

I’ve also had some people come up behind me, shimmy to the side and give me a sideways hug before I realise they are there – making me startle. This is something that is very painful. At least my wheelchair prevents full frontal hugs!

In my family we have a phrase we use frequently as a sign off on messages: ‘gentle hugs’ (Many in my birth family have Fibromyalgia), and in turn I use it with others who appreciate that sentiment.

For the record – I do like hugs, especially the gentle variety. But because I am still clinically vulnerable – I would be careful about the amount of hugs anyway. So please don’t be offended if I decline one.

As I said – May 12th is an awareness day. And now you are aware why hugging can be an issue for many with a chronic illness.

If you want to read more on hugging and children with additional needs, my colleague and partner in crime, Mark Arnold, has written a longer post on his Additional Needs Blogfather site

Inclusion Is Not A Special Interest

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 22:01:47 GMT

Inclusion Is Not A Special Interest - It's the Gospel.

It is International Day of Persons with Disabilities today...so let's start with an inspiring quote:

“Let us work together for the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in an inclusive and sustainable world that embraces humanity in all its diversity.” Ban Ki-moon.

I usually blog about this day. But I didn’t know what to write.

I’ve had my fill of being recognised more for my disability than my ministry – because I am more than my disability.

So…. I looked for an article in the mainstream Christian press to share instead, and so far – I’ve found nothing, not one sentence, not even a word. To me, a disabled person, this silence says a lot.

This is a day where I desperately want to be positive. I hate taking the ‘ranty’ and negative ground. Being ranty achieves nothing. Plus, there are a few shining beacons of light in churches across the country where people with disabilities are more than just included – they ‘belong’. My own church being one – a place where I am loved, safe and accepted.

But many of our national churches and Christian organisations – including the press, could be doing so much more. And what better opportunity for the Christian press to raise awareness that - on International Day of Persons with Disabilities!

When I challenge about there being little engagement on the subject, I am told the it is not ‘mainstream’ enough.

With 1 in 5 people experiencing disability, how mainstream do you want it to be?!! (And I’m not just talking about those born with a disability, but also those who have become disabled through illness or accident – whether temporarily or permanently)

Here’s a couple of quotes from the ‘No Limits’ (Enabling Church) conference:

“Disabled people are not defined by their disability. But by the character of God.”

“Inclusion is not a ‘special interest’, it’s the Gospel”

There were many more great quotes from the day, but these two make a great point.

Engaging with this subject within our faith communities is of gospel importance. It’s not just a policy, and it’s actually much more than inclusion. This is about people with disabilities feeling as though they ‘belong’.

It’s more than providing physical access, it about discipleship, it’s about developing ministry, it’s opening up all areas of church life, facilitating worship and service. It’s about ‘attitude’.

I recently wrote an article for a great organisation who take the whole subject of inclusion and belonging seriously. It was put on their Facebook page, the title asking a rhetorical question asking if ‘your’ church is accessible.

There was one comment: ‘NOPE’

I long for a day when all those with disabilities and additional needs can write ‘YES’.

It Takes a Whole Church

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 16:42:40 GMT

It Takes A Whole Church To Raise a Child

Ok, so the title of this post isn’t my own – It’s stolen from a colleague who was writing material for Children Matter’s project ‘Faithfull Generation’. As part of the team who was putting this project together, I felt it was ok to use it…. I’m sure I’ll be forgiven!

In a mother’s day article I referred to the fact I had various ‘aunties’ who were not actually related me, but had an influence in my life.

This was in the days where more mature members in The Church were happy to be part of a wider nurturing community. Sadly, this is now something we seem to shy away from.

I’ve thought about this a lot, especially as I worked with the great team of folk building the ‘Faithfull Generation’ project.

Out of the five key points that Faithfull Generation puts forward to do with building life long resilient faith in children, the first one is ‘Community’.

As part of community the value of Intergenerational connections are huge. And to re-quote that colleague who took a new spin on an old phrase: “It takes a whole church to nurture faith.”

As I look at the rich intergenerational connections I had as both a child and a teenager, I am thankful.

As I type, two much older ladies (of many) stand out in my memories:

My mum sent me for knitting and crochet lesson as a child. I used to go to Maisie and David Goode’s house regularly – often on my own. Maisie would intertwine knitting advice with spiritual talk – nothing major, just chatting and asking how life was for me. David was disabled – and Maisie had to do everything in the house as well as care for her husband. I don’t remember much of the spiritual conversation, but I saw patience, love, care and dealing with disappointment lived out in a Godly way.

A few years later I would go and clean her windows once a month, and enjoy sitting down to chat with her over a drink. Maisie was a solid building block in my own spiritual journey.

Then there was Florence Vardy.

Mrs Vardy’s life had been tough – having married just before world war two, her husband was captured by the Japanese and placed in a prisoner of war camp. He came back a broken man – both physically and mentally. They never had children and he died before I got to know Mrs Vardy. At first I went with mum to visit her, and then later on my own.

Whenever I went, she would have another story of a missionary, a saint or a friend who battled adversity and came out of it with a strong and vibrant faith. As we sat drinking tea (Yes – tea!) she would challenge me about my faith, ask questions about my faith and apply the Bible to my situation. All of this when I was under the age of 11. Many folk at church found her a lonely irritation, But I found an amazing example of how to lament with grace, to grow closer to God despite the circumstances, how to apply the Bible to my life, and how to take time out for a lonely 9 year old who was being bullied at school.
I wasn’t the only one she mentored.

These precious ladies, as well as others un-named, represent for me those vital intergenerational connections. I saw how they lived their lives with God at the centre, how they laughed or mourned, dealt with difficulty, disappointment, failure, sadness and joy. They also modelled compassion, support and care to me. They helped to shape the woman I am now and the faith journey I have travelled.

So what has changed?

You don’t see this so much any more.

I do see some of it, but not as much as I’d like.

You see it even less with children who have additional needs and disabilities, when they actually need it even more.

I would have been considered to have additional needs as a child, but in those days you were just 'the odd child'. This is why I benefited so much from having this input from these wonderful people.

You’ve probably already sussed one factor in why we don't do this sort of mentoring anymore and are mouthing that ’S’ word even now…..safeguarding.

Those who know me will know that I am a strong advocate of having good safeguarding (actually – stronger than strong on this!) But I’m going to be challenging… and possibly a little bit rude, and say that it’s more to do with our unwillingness than our inability to wrestle with safeguarding rules.

It is possible to still allow meaningful but safe intergenerational relationships that help to build resilient faith.

Safeguarding is all too often made the scapegoat for not building solid connections with older generations.

But there’s something else –

Confidence, and with that the lie that overtakes our older folk that they cannot help our children and youth as ‘professionally’ or as well as our younger children and youth leaders.

Over the years I saw the confidence of my older (and favourite) Sunday school teachers bashed as younger ones came in and without grace, told these old hands that they were ‘doing it wrong’, and as time has passed we have continued to forget the value in having older and wiser folk around our children.

I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to have younger leaders – I think that’s great too! But the truth is – we need both young and old…. and those in the middle too! We need their combined love and wisdom, and not just in a children and youth work setting.

As one friend put it: “We need more grey beards alongside our kids” (Metaphorical beards that is!)

As you look at many popular/films, you will see a key older, wiser person along side the younger characters. To name just three contemporary examples: Yoda in Star Wars, Dumbledore in Harry Potter and Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.

Young and old need to travel life together – not separate. Not just for what the older can give to the younger, but for what the younger can give to the older too.

Who has influenced and mentored you? What gems of wisdom have stayed with you that you could pass on to others?

Spiritual Inclusion

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:29:58 GMT

The Inclusion That Is Often Forgotten.

All of us involved in Christian children’s work believe that children can be Christians, can grow in faith and have a full and vibrant relationship with God.

We also believe children are capable of true worship and can be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Yes? Do I have a hearty ‘Amen’ for that statement?

And so, we also believe it is exactly the same for every child regardless of ability - even those with profound disabilities - don’t we…..?

Do I hear slightly quieter amens this time?

Do we really believe that?

Or is it a case of saying amen in our head and heart, but our actions say something else?

I do know some who question a severely disabled child’s ability to have faith, and I'm regularly questioned about that in secret conversations that the person asking doesn't want to be overheard. I don't think those questions include any children or family workers I know.

For them the issue has been more about having time, knowledge and resources to nurture faith in those who have additional needs and disabilities.

What I’ve found as I’ve talked to parents is, if their child has an additional need or disability and is settled in a church, most energy is put into physical inclusion and not so much into building lifelong resilient faith. Something that makes many parents and carers quite sad.

The picture at the top of this post is a quote from a training session I prepared a while ago and I adamantly believe it!

But I also believe that we sometimes, without realising it, diminish the spiritual lives of children with additional needs and disability, and assume that because they don’t ‘do’ faith like we do it’s somehow not as valid. This results in us underestimating their faith, their ability to pray and their worship.

As I said earlier - it's not always intentionally. But it just seems to happen and I’d like it to stop happening.

Life long resilient faith can be possible for every child. For some we have to think harder and pray longer to find ways to disciple them, but we CAN do it.

We need to think beyond physical inclusion and embrace the need for spiritual inclusion too.

Interested?

If the answer is yes, then great! But we do have obstacles in the way:

Lack of resources - accessible resources don't make money, so there are very few. Most resources also make the assumption that all children can see, read and comprehend. Do prod publishers for more accessible resources! With 1 in 5 experiencing disability and additional needs, then resources 'should' reflect this.

Poor knowledge - many assume that additional needs always means learning disability. As a result, many are given resources for younger children, which is patronising even if you do have a learning disability. When we take the time to get to know the children and young people, we will find many ways that will support spiritual learning - and this will have the added bonus of helping many others who don't have additional needs!

Reading round - Many 'Sunday schools' expect children to read round the circle of attendees, using a bible translation even adults struggle with. Please discourage this. It isn't welcoming and extremely stressful for children who, for whatever reason, don't read. There are also many who can read, but anxiety prevents them from being able to 'read round' the group.

Low spiritual expectations - this is a problem across all ages and stages. We may not understand how some children with additional needs connect with God, but we don't have to!
We are by nature a results driven people - leaders want to see the numbers to quantify whether we 'need' to keep going with additional needs ministry. When it can't be seen and our expectations are set too low, then this ministry often ceases to be.
It's not in our control to see and know how a child responds to God, and that shouldn't matter. It definitely shouldn't affect our faithful teaching of these children!

Keep going, remember the heavenly results that you may or may not see, and pray for these precious youngsters to know God, to be filled with His Spirit and to live a life set apart for Him.

Inspire a Generation

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:32:56 GMT

But Do We Inspire A Generation of Children With Additional Needs and Disabilities?

For the first time ever, the catch phrase for the Olympics and the Paralympics (2012) is the same: “Inspire a Generation”.

It’s a good phrase!

All over the world, the younger generation are being inspired by positive role models who are competing in the Olympics, and the same will happen when it comes to the Paralympics. The torch is being passed on to the next generation. (I loved that bit of the opening ceremony!)

I hope that all of this rising generation will be inspired by both events. That not just disabled youngsters but also able bodied youngsters will be inspired by the Paralympics.

But what about us as a ‘Church’?

Are we inspiring a generation? Any generation?

For all the children and young people in our churches, disabled or not, additional need or not, are we inspiring them to go forward in their faith? Are we giving good role models for them? Are we inspiring an older generation of people who have disabilities to go forward with God? Do we even have a vision for this?

How do we see those with disabilities and additional needs and are they even on the Church’s radar? Sadly, for most churches they are not. When you look at the figures of how many people there are with disabilities in our communities, it is easy to see that our churches do not reflect those figures….. And it’s not because they all get healed!

When the world is watching the abilities of the Paralympians rather than their disabilities and applauding their achievements, how is ‘the Church’ viewing those with disabilities in their communities?

Are they seen as people who can be giants of faith, able to serve as well as receive? Or is it a case of a perplexed “what disabled people….?”

I’ve been speaking out for children who have disabilities and additional since I was a young teenager. Now, in the area of children – inspired by a generation of children’s workers, things are happening. A few more (but not enough) churches are trying to include youngsters with disabilities and additional needs. For these people I am extremely grateful – they truly are inspiring a generation of children with disabilities and additional needs and building them up in their faith.

But what happens as our children grow up? Do we have the same heart and vision in our youth and adult programmes?

Maybe as these children grow, the Church will sit up and realise that something needs to be done, to see that working with these young people and adults is a valid ministry.

I believe that our churches need to be ready to welcome those with disabilities rather than being surprised when they come. I want those with leadership responsibilities to look at this issue properly rather than skip over info and posts about disability…. as seems to be the norm! (Apologies for my outspoken moment there – but that is how it feels to many people who have disabilities and try to access our churches)

I Have A Dream

183:921332920 (Kay Morgan-Gurr) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:49:59 GMT

The Anonymous Children

Let me introduce you to Gemma.

She’s 8, is autistic and loves Jesus.

But sometimes – she doesn’t love Jesus.

Sometimes she can be profound with her comments about Jesus, sometimes she just doesn’t want to even talk about Him – preferring to play with some lego, giving the impression she’s not listening.

But she is listening.

I don’t understand how her faith journey works – I know God does. Her journey is important to me, the fact I don’t understand it isn’t.

A lot of the time, Gemma is ignored.

The times she is not ignored are those times she makes a loud comments in church (Usually, an appropriate comment!). Or when she struggles to wait in line for a drink or a biscuit, or cannot wait her turn in a game – maybe shouting out an answer during the children’s talk in the main service. In other words, those times when she goes against what us “Nice” Christians consider to be appropriate behaviour in church.

Other than that – she is anonymous.

No one notices the depth of her faith, her amazing knowledge of the Bible or her ‘straight to the heart of it’ prayers.

No one notices her parents either, even though they are desperate for support and conversation.

The same goes for many other children and adults with Additional needs or disabilities – they and their families are anonymous and ignored.

I often quote Joni Eareckson-Tada: “The Blind can see with the eyes of Christ, the deaf can hear with the ears of Christ, a person with a learning difficulty can think with the mind of Christ”. This is so true, but who listens to what they have to say about it?

Everyone has their own thoughts, ideas and opinions, things they feel strongly about – those who have disabilities and additional needs, child or adult, are no different.

And surprise, surprise – it’s not always about disability!

I have a dream – I want them to be heard. I don’t want them to be anonymous anymore.

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And Breathe

Hoping in a system that lets you down

The Slippery Slope

Why Do I See the Slippery Slope So Clearly?

Disability, Humanity and Celebration

Do we see humanity in disability and do we celebrate it?

Happy Birthday Additional Needs Alliance!

10 years old and hoping for another 10

From a Parent

A series of posts from parents of children with additional needs.

Disability History Month

What is it, why this logo and what can we learn from it?

“I’d Rather Be Dead…”

DPWW: Disabled People Worth Watching?

Chat or Avoid – The Choice Is Yours

Can't....or Can?

Why does Jesus heal people in the Gospels?

What Does the Bible Really Say About Healing?

It might not be what you think!

Children Who Hate God

And why they might say that.

Welcome

A welcome for new followers

A View From Reddit

Seeing beyond what you think.

The Things People Say!

The funny, the rude and the downright perverse!

Problem? Or Purpose & Potential?

This is a subtitle for your new post

High Court Ruling

Disabled Babies and the 40 week rule

But You're Disabled?!

Ministry, Disability and How it Works (For Me).

Faith Vaccination

Faith Vaccination - not such a good thing.

Hugs and Awareness Days

Why We Need To Be Aware That Hugs Are Not Always Helpful

Inclusion Is Not A Special Interest

Inclusion Is Not A Special Interest - It's the Gospel.

It Takes a Whole Church

It Takes A Whole Church To Raise a Child

Spiritual Inclusion

The Inclusion That Is Often Forgotten. ﻿

Inspire a Generation

But Do We Inspire A Generation of Children With Additional Needs and Disabilities?

I Have A Dream

The Anonymous Children

The Inclusion That Is Often Forgotten.