Ableism & Audism� Church Study
For questions about this presentation, �contact Rev. Dr. Leo Yates at leoyjr@gmail.com
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OPENING PRAYER
�Holy God,
We thank you for the opportunity to be in conversation and study the topics of ableism and audism. We ask you come and open our hearts and minds to learn and engage in this work. We pray this in the one who came to show us how to be more welcoming and loving, Jesus the Christ. It’s in his name we pray. Amen.
Which of these symbols are you familiar with?
Which of these are new to you?
Does your church post any accommodation notice signs?
Types of Disabilities
DID YOU KNOW: 1 in 4 people have a disability - AND - 1 in 3 seniors have hearing loss*�* Source: CDC
People with Disabilities in The Bible
Moses (Ex 4:10) had a speech impairment & had Aaron interpret.�LESSON: God uses us & our disability for God’s purpose/plans.
Mephibosheth (son of Jonathan) had a physical disability. He was adopted by & cared for by David.�LESSON: We should support them too.
Job, among others, experienced depression, but Job also had medical issues/illnesses.�LESSON: Job remained faithful to God! Be cautious to avoid moral injury.
Ehud, a judge, (Judges 3) had Cerebral Palsy or a disability in his right hand.�LESSON: People with disabilities can be leaders. Don’t hold them back!
Samson was blind at the end of his life. Despite not being able to see, God used him to save Israel. LESSON: Samson turned to God in his time of need and we can know God can use us no matter what limitations we might have.�Our disabilities are a part of our faith.
In Luke 1, Zechariah (deaf-mute) was given accommodations: Jewish leaders signed/gestured + gave him a tablet so he could write John’s name for the ritual. �LESSON: Accommodations should be provided when asked for.
Ableism is the discrimination towards people with disabilities and ��Audism (NOT autism) is the discrimination toward people who are Deaf and hard of hearing. ��These are often barriers to discipleship and belonging. Intentionally or unintentionally, it can make people feel unwelcomed and/or unvalued.
Society has long considered physical and mental health concerns signs of inferiority and mostly sees “flaws” as weakness or lower social status. They’re manifested in ableist or audist language, beliefs, and attitudes - our biases towards people with disabilities and those who are Deaf and hard of hearing.* However, seeing disability and deafness through a strength-based lens shows the diversity they bring to society.
Click here to learn more.*
Ableism and Audism
Ignorance
Minimizing it
Doubting Them
Judgemental
Being inaccessible
Ignorance
Being �ableist
Using�outdated�terms
Doubting �Them
Individual - the individual’s experience of discrimination�
Societal - the community or society’s bias / discrimination towards Deaf and hard of hearing people and people with disabilities
�Institutional - the institution bias or discrimination �toward people with disabilities and people who are Deaf and hard of hearing�
Internalized - the individual who is Deaf or hard of hearing or the person with a disability has �internalized shame regarding their sensory loss or disability
TYPES of Ableism and Audism
Ableism & Audism in The Bible
Ableism - The woman who bled for 12 years was stigmatized & socially isolated due to her medical condition.
Ableism - The ableism Isaac experienced was when his son Jacob took advantage �of his blindness (stealing Esau's blessing).
Audism - When Jesus healed the deaf man in Mark 7, he was also healing/restoring the community too - “Ephphatha” (be open) - be open to this deaf man, his gifts and welcome him as there was a strong likelihood he was excluded by the community.��Many people believed people with disabilities were punished due to sin or their parents’ sins, thus disassociating from them. Jesus provided healing to restore them (the person & their community), such as lepers, persons with physical & medical disabilities, persons with mental health, sensory loss, etc.
Bible Examples:
Ableism affects all people with and without disabilities, directly & indirectly. ��Read this article about ableism and The Bible.
Be mindful of the intersection of ableism &/or audism with other types of discrimination. �The Bible is clear, we should welcome people & help them to feel loved by God (hospitality).
The woman at the well experienced discriminations: sexism, religious, national identity & social stigma.
Learn more by reading this article about �the Bible and intersectionality
examples
John 4
AND MORE
Church Examples of Ableism & Audism
Inclusive Language
OUTDATED TERMS | USE THIS INSTEAD | | |
Handicapped/ differently abled/ crippled | Person with a disability | ||
Wheelchair-bound | Person who uses a wheelchair | ||
Suffering from | Living with | | |
Addict | Someone struggling with addiction | ||
Crazy | Person with a mental health condition | ||
Lame (only used in some medical circumstances) | Person with injury or a physical disability | ||
Deaf-mute/hearing impaired | Deaf or hard of hearing | ||
Mentally retarded | Person with intellectual disability | | |
Blind | Person who is blind or has vision loss | | |
Exampes
It is better to ask how they self-identify than assuming.
Check out the disability language guide to learn more.
Don’t reinforce ableism with your words
Biblical Language
OUTDATED TERMS | USE THIS INSTEAD |
Crippled | Person with a disability |
Lame | Person with a physical disability or mobility impairments |
Suffering from | Living with |
Barrenness | Unable to conceive |
Deaf-mute or mute | Deaf & hard of hearing |
Paralytic | Person with a physical disability or is paralyzed |
Blind | Person who is blind or has vision loss |
Prevent the use of ableist language (use these instead)�- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -�Check out the pastoral language guide to learn more.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Different Views of Disabilities
SOCIAL*
The social model views how society disables them further with barriers. Social and environmental changes are needed to be accessible.�
AFFIRMATION*
The affirmation model works to promote a positive identity (non-tragic view) that validates their personal experiences. In a way, it’s a social model 2.0.��
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�CULTURAL*
This model sees Deaf people as a linguistic & cultural minority community rather than a disability group. It acknowledges the barriers but builds on their strengths.�
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MEDICAL
This model views individuals with disabilities need to be rehabilitated, fixed, or cured. This often results in dependency on others. Disability is often seen as a weakness.
Learn more about these & other models by going to the Disabled World website.
�DIVERSITY*
This diversity model sees how people with disabilities are a human variation and we must provide accessibility that also focuses on disability rights and advocacy for equality.�
�
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There are other models but these are often discussed.�* Preferred models of disability (avoid the charity model/view).
Memorize ALLY and help dismantle ableism & audism!
Preventing Ableism �and Audism
Be aware of blind spots (biases)
Participate in ongoing disability awareness education and cultural humility training
Commit to being a disability ally - promote equity
Support accommodations - remove barriers �whenever possible - �& �affirm people�
Adapt roles or participation as needed so they can participate (advocate for inclusion)
Take initiative to befriend people with disabilities
Read this article about internalized ableism.
Overcoming Ableism & Audism in the Church
1. Commit to welcoming and affirming people who are Deaf and hard of hearing and people with disabilities. Examples include sermon stories and welcoming statements during the announcements.�
2. Consider having an Accessibility Coordinator at your church to support this work.�
3. Become more aware about various disabilities.�
4. Take a disability etiquette training.
30-min video 90-min video One-Page Sheet�
5.Take a Deaf etiquette training
Short info document 90-min video
�6. Be intentional about ongoing disability diversity in church leadership & servant ministries.�
7. Complete periodic accessibility surveys or audits and resolve issues/barriers where possible.��8. Have welcoming statements in the bulletin and church website that include these populations. �
9. Participate in a Disability Awareness training & anti-ableism training OR extensive training by RCA.
Luke 14:13-14, 23 The Great Banquet Parable�13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. 23…so that my house will be full.
The Great Banquet Parable is our biblical directive to welcome people with disabilities to our churches & to the body of Christ.
More Church Examples of Overcoming Ableism & Audism
Welcome! Here at our church, we are committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities. Please see one of our ushers or ask to see our accessibility coordinator if you have any concerns. Siblings, let us begin our worship.
Re-evaluate worship spaces to ensure accessibility & inclusion. Ex. (1) Accessible for mobility, (2) large print materials, & (3) uses AV.
Post signs of accessibility. Include a list of what’s accessible on the website.
Working in twos�is better for me. Thanks!
Using the buddy system and adapting the activity.
Announcing commitment and provides an ASL interpreter.
Me too. It makes it easier to hear others.
Glad I asked if this set up is better for you all.
Cultural �Humility�A path to equity*
Participate in this �cultural humility training
Learn more about cultural humility from �this journal article.
Cultural humility can help individuals to avoid projecting negative biases and can better support disability and Deaf allyship. ��Remember, humility in general is a mark of a Christian.
Adapted from: www.collidu.com
* Source: Cultural Humility: A Path to Equity
General Conference 2020/2024
Overcoming Ableism and Audism��The General Conference in North Carolina passed a resolution called “Overcoming Ableism and Audism” which included writers from the DMC, UMCD, DHM, and AMD. This resolution is to support the church’s efforts at reducing and eliminating ableism and audism.
AUDISM - Learning About a DeafBlind Man - Matthew 12:22-24
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said,
1. What signs of audism are observed? �2. Who all benefited from the healing?
3. How does the Pharisees’ bias (& doubt) taint the outcome?
4. How does the man’s healing affect his community? �5. What if the community was healed instead? (use the diversity model of disability or the ALLY view)
COMMENTARY: Some mute people in the Bible were actually deaf &/or had speech impairments (labeled mute as they didn’t have appropriate speech). It’s possible this man was DeafBlind. It’s plausible the “demon-possessed” behaviors were a man who was unsocialized and didn’t have proper social development (didn’t learn social behaviors) that attributed to this interpretation. The Bible and Disability Commentary notes that demons knew who Jesus was, where with this passage, people brought this man to Him to be healed. Here, Jesus’ healing was physical & social.
“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, �that this fellow drives out demons.”
ABLEISM - Learning about Bartemus - Mark 10:46-52
46 A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” 48 Many people told the man to stop, but �
he shouted �even louder, Son of David, have pity on me!” 49 Jesus stopped & said, “Call him over!”52 “Your�eyes are healed because of your faith.”
1. What signs of ableism do you observe? What else?
2. How might disability lead to poverty?
3. This passage makes us take pause the next time we see a homeless person - what disability might they have? Will we be like the people or more like Jesus?
COMMENTARY: In Jesus’ time, most were dependent upon others’ charity. Some scholars consider Bartemus to be a model disciple - having faith & knew Jesus was the Messiah.
Summary
POST QUIZ
Check Out Other Disability Awareness Studies
Matthew 9:27-31 ESV
Jesus Heals 2 Blind Men
Mark 7:31-37 CEB
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man & a Community
Local Church Training
Resources
Disability Ministries Committee of The UMC�Ableism Resources�&�ableism article
Hyperlink Resources