Today, 16 states ban the discrimination of people with intellectual disabilities, with similar measures pending in eight other states and in Congress. Still, these laws face an uphill battle, even if passed. As the head of the National Council on Disabilities admitted, the real goal of these laws is to inspire “a change of heart so people understand that they are discriminating.”
Today is National Disability Day, a day to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities. As Christians, we need to be aware of these challenges and we should strive to serve these families better than any entity in society.
Our culture’s disdain for and impatience with the disabled is just another example of what happens when life is devalued. Sometimes, it’s overt and cruel and other times, it takes the form of regarding those with disabilities as burdens and annoyances.
One group of parents we should especially keep in mind amid the coronavirus pandemic is the group least likely to constantly remind us of what they are going through, if for no other reason than they’re simply too busy. I’m talking of parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities.
A newly released LifeWay Research survey revealed that more churches want to welcome children with special needs into their churches, but they are lacking the necessary accommodations to do so.
