June 2003

Dear Friends in Christ,

I truly hope this letter finds all of you well! I sincerely pray that the work you do on behalf of the kingdom is both a blessing for you and the ones to whom you minister.

In this letter I would like to share the results of an exercise in disability and care-giver awareness I did recently as part of a course entitled “Psychosocial Care of the Ill/Disabled and their Families.” The course is one of several I teach at the Evangelical Theological College in Osijek, Croatia. In addition to learning about the psychological effects and spiritual implications of hospitalization and illness on patients and their families, students also learn ways they can support them through counseling, play and art therapy, prayer, sharing encouraging Scripture, and providing concrete assistance such as transportation. I tried to make the class as practical as possible and to ensure that the teaching not only increased the students’ knowledge, but also their skills.

The most important goal for the class, though, was to change students’ attitudes towards persons with disabilities and their families and care givers. I wanted them not only to know the facts in their heads, but to feel them in their hearts too. The best way to do that is to have them experience what it is like to be disabled and a care giver. Thus, I had students form pairs (one person had a disability, the other was their care giver). After approximately an hour and a half I had them switch roles so that every student experienced both roles. Students were randomly assigned disabilities—visual, auditory, and motor impairments (loss of ability in arms and/or legs). The experience included attending lectures, navigating the halls and stairs of the college, using telephones, restrooms, and the library, playing sports (running, throwing, and catching a ball, etc.) and eating a meal. Students quickly discovered just how difficult it is to take notes when you can’t hear a lecture and how frustrating it can be to catch a ball when you can’t see it!

After the experience one student who had a mock visual impairment said, “There is a blind man who regularly attends our church. I never talked to him or really even thought about him or his needs. Now I have a much better idea of what he deals with and what kinds of help he might need. It was really hard not knowing what was going on—when everyone was laughing and having a good time, I wanted to know why. Now I will tell this man everything that is going on in our church so he won’t feel left out like I did!”

Another student who had a mock motor impairment (no use of his arms) shared a different, but just as profound insight. “I hated being so dependent on others! I never realized how much I took my independence for granted. It was a humbling experience when I had to ask my care giver to help me by scratching an itch I had on my face. Having a disability has taught me the benefits of being interdependent—just like it says in 1 Corinthians 12:27: ‘We are one body composed of many parts who must rely on one another.’”

One student, reflecting on her care giving role, commented, “I think it was easier for me to help my visually impaired partner since I had already experienced the impairment, whereas my partner had not experienced it before she helped me. I knew not to rush or drag her, but she did not know that when she was leading me so it was a kind of scary and upsetting experience when I was blind. I now have much more empathy and patience for those with disabilities and for care givers.”

Another student as care giver realized just how important it is for care givers to receive support. “I found being without the use of my legs difficult—but I pretty much expected that. What I was not so prepared for was how demanding it can be to be a care giver. I only had to help my partner for about 90 minutes and already I am exhausted! I certainly can understand now why care givers can become tired, depressed, and bitter if they are not given any psychological and spiritual counseling. The church can and should help out in this ministry.”

It was a moving experience for me to see the students learning and growing through this experience. I know that if their hearts and minds were changed, if they now are more willing to take an active role in ministering to and advocating for persons with disabilities and their families, then I have done my job. It is vitally important that these future Christian leaders set a positive example of inclusion and sincere caring, not only in each of their churches, but in their respective nations also!

Peace to you all in the name of our risen Lord!

Brett McMichael

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.81