This is a collection of responses and resources shared among members of Spiritual Directors International to a question raised by member, Melody Steinman, about offering spiritual direction to those who are differently abled:
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1/13/05
I am Mennonite also and it warmed my heart to see your request in the SDI's email letter. My husband, daughter and I had the privilege and challenge to journey with our physically and mentally disabled son, Jason, for 161/2 yrs. We are always grateful when we hear about people like you who are willing to enter their world. We found support and help in many areas.
I don't know if it still exists and you may already know about this, but MCC had a division, MDC, for the mentally disabled and sent out a newsletter which gave helpful suggestions to churches and families about ways to support them in their spiritual journey. I know that they have helped many churches become more handicap friendly not just in their physical facility, but also in their acknowledging and meeting the spiritual and emotional needs. They also held a yearly weekly retreat at the Lauraville Menn. Camp for the handicapped and their families addressing the whole person. We attended one year and found it nurturing and most helpful.
We still receive the newsletter from the MDC Goldenrod 1518 College Ave. Goshen,IN 46526 which you may know is a group of homes for the disabled where Goshen College students assist these residents. This may be a resource.
Also in the June, 2004 SDI "Presence Magazine" there were 2 articles that came to my mind. One is "Fostering Hope Over Hardship: The Wellness/Spirituality Program of the Boston Home"and the other is "From Darkness To New Life: My Journey with Gabriel." If no one has sent these or mentioned these to you, I would be glad to send them to you.
An author who's writings has affirmed our family's thoughts and feelings and broadened our spiritual perspective is Henri Nouwen. He pastored and lived for 8+ yrs. at the Daybreak community where mentally handicapped persons and their assistants attempt to live together according to the gospel. He wrote, "The Peace that is Not of this World" - powerful piece about the ministry of the handicap to us and how we can be present to them. Some other Nouwen book favorites of ours are, The Return of the Prodigal Son, The Wounded Healer, and Creative Ministry( which I want to read next).
If there's any other way I can be helpful, just let me know. Blessings on your journey, Cindy Bell, Miami, FL.
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1/10/05
I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 30 years, have a spiritual direction practice, and was in disability ministry for approximately 20 years. I have considered writing an article for Presence on this very topic for several years, but right now I am finishing a book about saints and how they coped spiritually with their illnesses or disabilities. Hopefully I will get to that article eventually.
While I am not aware of any specific published resources regarding direction with people with disabilities, there is an excellent book entitled†The Disabled God†by a woman minister with cerebral palsy. Also, I had two articles published (93 & 96) about ways to pray when in physical pain/illness.
If you’d like copies, send me your postal address.
The primary thing in dealing in any capacity with a person with a disability is to always remember to see the person before the disability. That's where many phrase “ persons with disabilities†came from -- disability advocates simply tired of being treated as diseases or objects.
Best of luck with your project!
Janice McGrane, SSJ
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1/9/05
As I got to thinking a little more about my response to you, I thought about a book that might interest you. It's entitled THE DISABLED DISCIPLE and it's by Elizabeth Brown. It is a well thought-out guide to a theology that affirms and elicits the disciple in any believer.
My background is in social work and I've had a couple of quarters of CPE. I also completed a three-year spiritual direction training progaram housed at Atchison, Kansas at the monastery of the Benedictine sisters there. I am Roman Catholic and my husband and I are also considering joining a Society of Friends meeting here.
I now provide spiritual direction part-time and also work as the chaplain for the Douglas County Jail. I also work as an assistant volunteer
coordinator part-time for the University of Kansas Audio-Reader program, a service which reads newspapers, magazines, books and other
printed material for persons who are print-impaired. I also co-chair the social concerns committee for the Roman CAtholic church which I attend. So I keep my life full!
Additionally, I am married and have three cats, each of which is unique and they all get along swimmingly. The best to you as you pursure your ministry.
I'll keep thinking about additional resources, and if I think of any, I'll pass them along to you. I'll also look forward to viewing the list that you compile; thanks for being so willing to share it! I look forward to hearing from you any time!
Peace and Blessing,
Susan Tabor
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1/9/05
I appreciate the email that I received from you, Marj English. It is encouraging to know that people that I do not know take the time to respond to requests like mine.
I am wondering Sister Ann Vonder Meulen may have some resources that are helpful. I am a seminary student at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Indiana and am taking a spiritual guidance practicum where I am providing spiritual direction to a man who is severely physically disabled. I am needed to do a book review on spiritual direction and am trying to find a book that deals with spiritual direction and individuals with various disabilities. I am finding out about the generousity of people who see and respond to my request but that there are not many resources out there. Do you know of anything?
Marj mentioned in her email that you facilitate spiritual experiences or retreats with people with disabilities. I would be very interested in learning more of your ministry as I sense God's leading for this in my life but do not know of very many places where I could pursue this vocationally.
Thanks for whatever insights you offer.
Melody
Marj English wrote:
Sister Ann Vonder Meulen, a member of my religious community, may have some resources helpful to you. She worked with many disabled people for years and is now a spiritual director. I don't know if she receives SDI Membership Moments to receive your request. Here is her e-mail: ann_vonder_meulen@hotmail.com. I think Ann tries to supply spiritual experiences or retreats for people with disabilities. I don't know if she will have what you are looking for, but with her background and expertise, she may be someone who could be of service to you. Marj
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Melody A. Steinman
AMBS Student Assistant for Worship and Spiritual Formation
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1/8/05
The only thing I have read recently on differently-abled persons in spiritual direction is the chapter "Can I Get a Witness? Spiritual Direction with the Marginalized" by Juan Reed. This is in the book Norvene Vest edited: STILL LISTENING: NEW HORIZONS IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION (Harrisburg, Pa: Morehouse Publishing, 2000).
May your practicum go well. Have a blessed new year, Miriam
Miriam Frey
Waterloo, Ontario
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1/7/05
Hello. My name is Rebecca DeGeorge, and I'm a member of SDI.
I am also totally blind, and have been since birth. There used to be a blind spiritual director at Creighton University. He lived in the Jesuit Community there. This isn't terribly helpful, I guess, but perhaps he has written on this topic.
I have also been a directee, working with sighted directors, and am willing to answer questions about my own experiences if you would find that helpful.
Blessings on you and all your directees.
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1/7/05
I received your request for information about working with directees who have disabilities. This is an area I work in both as a spiritual director and as a psychotherapist. I would first recommend two of my favorite authors in this area. First, Henri Nouwen, beginning with his book "Road to Daybreak" and Jean Vanier. Jean Vanier was the founder of the L'Arche communities - homes for mentally disabled adults and he also founded "Faith and Light" an international eccumenical organization of worship/home groups with disabled members who come together for worship, fellowship and pilgrimages. Both of these men are prolific writers and have articulated well many of the issues around the spirituality of the disabled with insight and clarity.
I recently had an article printed in Vital Women magazine about the ministry of the disabled. I will include a copy of that also in case it may be of help. Feel free to contact me directly if you like.
This is an area of great passion for me and I am so glad that you are taking on this transformative opportunity.
Blessings,
Rita Berglund
rita@illuminatedjourneys.com
Rita Berglund, MA
Psychotherapist, Spiritual Director
6099 S. Quebec Str., Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80111
303-523-7111
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1/6/05
For the past 25 years, I’ve done psychotherapy with deaf and hearing impaired people. I am fluent in American Sign Language and have a graduate degree in counseling that specializes in working with deaf people. Because of this interest, I’ve looked in the sd literature for materials to serve these folks. Unfortunately, I have not been successful. I’ve come up with nothing.
I would feel comfortable working with deaf/hearing impaired people since I communicate well with them. Without such fluency in both ASL and Deaf culture, I would not be able or willing to do this. I would NEVER use an interpreter in an SD situation. It seems to me to defeat the purpose.
In my experience in working with people who have a variety of disabilities, I think the key component is a deep knowledge of the psychospiritual as well as the sociological effects of living with a disability. While I have a strong background and experience this area, I would feel called to do pretty extensive research about the disability and its effects if I were called to work with such a person.
Because I receive sd referrals from other psychotherapists, I feel very comfortable in working with people with complex psychological/psychiatric issues. It has been relatively easy to do this work because I have close working relationships with the referral sources. I KNOW the directee is well taken care of in the psychological arena. I don’t often feel pulled to slide into therapy with them. I have declined working with one person until they were well established in a therapeutic relationship. I know there is a larger body of literature on this subject.
I think it is critical to have a strong working knowledge of the medical, psychological, sociological as well as spiritual/existential processes that surround living with a disability. It is a rich field and I would encourage any sd to consider working with this ever-growing population.
Blessings,
Sandy Jardine
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1/6/05
I have just read your article in January 2005 Membership Moments for Spiritual Directors International.
I have been working on a Doctorate thesis in theology on disability and spirituality issues, but have not found a great deal of literature concerning spiritual direction and disability specifically: however, have you read anything by Jean Vanier about the L'Arche Communities, which he set up for people with disabilities, to enable them to explore their spirituality?
Vanier has also written a good book called Community and Growth (1989) (2nd. edition) Publishers: Darton, Longman and Todd, ISBN: 0232518149 which you may be able to obtain from amazon.com online bookstore.
There is also another book by Nancy Eiesland: (1994) The Disabled God: towards a libratory theology of disability. Publishers: Abingdon. ISBN: 0687108012.
I do hope that these will be of some help to your project.
Best wishes,
Reverend Joanna Ray.
37 Torvill Drive
Nottingham
NG8 2BU
United Kingdom.
Dear Melody
You are looking for materials and guidance on directing the physically disabled as well as those who are developmentally challenged.(Actually you have two questions here 1: preparing people for this work and 2: Materials for that work) Do you have access to any L'Arche communities. Their Chaplains do that constantly, if not Bill Clark is L'Arche's national chaplain (416 824 1250)
For the physically disabled there are the usual human questions plus the acceptance that they are loved for themselves.For the emotionally handicapped (and who isn't) art work, games and group things (rituals, dance etc) work well.
I am researching this further and when I have more information I will send it on.
Reta Desfosses
Director
Ignatian Centre
Montrea
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1/23/05
Friends,
A big thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to my request for some articles and /or books that deal with people with disabilities and spiritual direction. In my search, I have been on several computer listings with agencies that work with people with developmental disabilities and I put a small ad in the newsletter from Spiritual Director's International. Because of this search and my own looking through Presence, a periodical for Spiritual Directors, I have compiled list of articles for my brief assignment for my spiritual guidance practicum. As there is very little written information available about specifically spiritual direction and people with disabilities, I found that I needed to broaden my focus to include individuals who are marginalized. I do have enough for the brief assignment for my practicum and have received permission to use them from my professor. Good news!
I have included this list below. I hope that you might find it helpful in your ministries as well. It is broader than the discipline of spiritual direction as well as it includes other ministry related issues. My apologies if I have missed anything that anyone of you submitted. I was excited to hear about the various ministries that some of you do.
I have also included references to other web sites and sources that deal with individuals with various disabilities and spiritual and pastoral care issues.
Blessings,
Melody A. Steinman
*Berglund, Rita. Empowering the Ministry of the Disabled. Vital Women.
Brose, Marie. From Darkness to New Life: My Journey with Gabriel.
Presence Volume 10 No. 2. June 2004, pp. 22-25.
*Browne, Elizabeth. The Disabled Disciple. Liguori, MO: Liguori Publications, 1997.
Culligan, Kevin. The Dark Night and Depression. Presence Volume 10 No.
1, February 2004, pp. 9-19.
Earle, Mary. Reading the Text of an Illness. Presence Volume 6 No. 1, January 2000, pp.7-11.
Finn, Susan. Walking with the Homeless. Presence Volume 7 No. 3, October 2001, pp. 30-34.
*Gaventa, William, Editor. On the Road to Congregational Inclusion Dimensions of Faith and Congregational Ministries with Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families 2002 Edition Updated and Expanded. New Brunswick, NJ: The Elizabeth M. Bogg Center on Developmental Disabilities. UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2002.
Gaventa, William. Pastoral Counseling with Individuals with Disabilities and Their Families in Clinical Handbook of Pastoral Counseling Volume 3. Mahwah, NJ: Integration Books, pp. 120-145.
Guenther, Margaret. Companions at the Threshold: Spiritual Direction with the Dying in Spiritual Direction in Spiritual Direction (Norvene Vest, editor) Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2000, pp. 105-118.
Haase, Bridget M. Fostering Hope Over Hardship: The Wellness/Spirituality Program of the Boston Home. Presence Volume 10 No.
2, June 2004, pp.16-21.
Hansen, Rita et al. Companioning People with Dementia. Presence Volume 9 No. 3, October 2003, pp.45-54.
*Luchterband, Charlene and Nancy Murphy. Helping Adults with Mental Retardation Grieve a Death Loss. Bristol, PA: Accelerated Development.
McGrane, Janice. Presence 1993 and 1996. Ways to pray when in physical pain/illness.
Nouwen, Henri. Spiritual Direction. Forward Movement Publications:
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1981. (9 pages in length) (Deals with spiritual direction in general and not specifically with people who are on the
margins)
*Pierson, Jim. Exceptional Teaching. Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing. (Order desk department 1-800-662-6022.)
Reed, Juan. Can I Get a Witness? Spiritual Direction with the Marginalized in Still Listening in Spiritual Direction (Norvene Vest, editor). Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2000, pp. 93-104.
Shisler, Barbara. Blessed is the Meadow: Stories of the Spiritual Lives of People with Developmental Disabilities. Harleysville, PA: Indiana Creek, 1998.
Sihler, Susan P. Hallowing Our Diminishments: Spiritual Guidance in Later Life. Presence Volume 3 No. 2, May 1997, pp. 45-54.
Sims, River. Riding the Monsters: Spiritual Direction with People who live on the Street. Presence Volume 10 No. 3, October 2004, pp.36-41.
*Vonder Meulen, Ann. ...A Day of Friendship and Prayer A Guide for Designing a One Day Parish-Based Retreat Experience for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, Their Family, Friends and Parishioners.
Cincinnati, OH: Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education, 2000.
(lending library only) (1-513-421-3131).
Warner, Margalea. Broken and Blessed: How Spiritual Direction Supported me through Mental Illness. Presence Volume 8 No. 1, February 2002, pp. 49-53.
West Zimmerman, Mari. Walking with the Wounded. Presence Volume 4, Number 1, January 1998, pp. 44-52.
Whitney, Sandra Voss. Mental Health Meets Mysticism: A Reflection.
Presence Volume 10 No. 3, October 2004, pp.51-54.
Writing and ministry from
Black, Kathy. A Healing Homiletic Preaching and Disability. Nashville,
TN: Abingdon Press, 1996.
Eiesland, Nancy. The Disabled God Toward A Liberatory Theology of Disability. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1994.
Enns, Henri et al. Human Disability and Service of God: Reassessing Religious Practice. MCC Occasional Papers.
Joni Erickson Tada
The Rev. Nancy Lane
Henri Nouwen especially Adam, A Road to Daybreak, Community and Growth, The Peace that is Not of this World.
Styron, William. Darkness Visible A Memoir of Madness. New York: Vintage Books, 1992.
Jean Vanier
John Velri
Harold Wilkes
_Some websites_
www.ahealingministry.com -includes a valuable biography by The Rev.
Nancy Lane
www.aamr.org
www.congregationalresources.org/mentalhealth.asp
www.discoverabilities.com
www.friendship.org
www.jcministries.org
www.mbicresources.org/resourcecentre
www.mcc.org/canada/health/index.html
www.nod.org- includes valuable biographies on mental illness and the church as well as developmental challenges.
_Other_
Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities. Washington, DC, 1995.
"Out of Darkness" McCalls February 2000 Marie Osmond's post-partum Depression.
--list compiled by Melody Steinman, January24, 2005.
