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Inclusion in Worship
High School Student Guide
THE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
I think it's a shame they gave that kid
the MVP award,. said Steve.
.Everyone knows you.re the best
basketball player on the team, Jack. I
guess he got it because the coaches
felt sorry for him..
Jack frowned as he answered. .His
name is Mark, he has Down Syndrome
and the coaches did not feel sorry for
him. Mark is our friend..
Darren joined the conversation, saying
.Mark has a disability, but he also has
capability. He.s our team manager and
he IS the most valuable guy any of us
know! He won't let any player get down
on himself. If a guy fouls out or misses
a shot, Mark.s always right there with a
dry towel and a pat on the back. He
cheers us on and he cheers us up. He
IS valuable! Our team wouldn't have
the same spirit without him.
DIFFERENT GIFTS, ALL
NEEDED
.There are different gifts, but the same
Spirit,. we read in the First Letter to the
Corinthians (12:4). Then Paul lists a
few of the gifts he saw around him:
.wisdom in discourse, power to
express knowledge, faith, healing,
prophecy....(1 Cor. 12:8-10).
Perhaps Paul was writing about a
particular group of people as he listed
these gifts. He didn't list all the gifts
people can have! Do you have any of
the gifts he listed? Do you know
anyone who has one or more of them?
What are some of your other gifts?
What gifts do you admire when you see
them in others?
Paul was making the point that all gifts
come from God, but no one person
receives them all. We put our individual
gifts together and we form, Paul says,
.one body. (1 Cor. 12:12). We might say
we form .one team,. .one family,. or
.one class.. No matter which image we
use, the message is: We need every
person, each with his or her particular
gifts.
WE ALL HAVE GIFTS
There is one group of people who, for a
long time, seemed to be viewed as
having no gifts. At best, they were
looked upon as needy receivers of other
people.s gifts. Even the word that was
used to describe them, .handicapped,.
came from the idea of a receiver, a
person with .cap in hand. holding it out
for a donation.
Today we call this group, .people with
disabilities,. a very large group with
many different sub-groups. Some
disabilities are visible and others, like
learning disorders, are invisible. What
are some of the disabilities about which
you know?
When you think about it, we all have
things we can do well, things we can do
.well enough,. and things we can't do at
all. Usually we don't list the things we
cannot do at all as .disabilities,. but in a
way they are!
And what about the things we really can
do? Do we think of them as mere
abilities, or are they really gifts? Which
is true? Are we all gifted or are we all
disabled? The answer to both parts of
the question is .Yes!.
How could a boy with a disability, like
Mark in our opening story, be voted a
team’s Most Valuable Player? You can
probably list some disabilities Mark is
likely to have: he might have trouble
reading; his speech might be difficult to
understand. List some of the abilities or
gifts that possibly led him to be voted
MVP.
MORE ABLE THAN WE THINK
People with disabilities often tell those
who do not have their disability that they
are able to do a lot more than people
think they can. Sometimes they can
accomplish things with no extra help or
adaptations. Other times a simple
adaptation or a bit of assistance is all
they need.
Because the U.S. Congress passed the
Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA)
in 1990, it is more common to see
people with disabilities taking part in
everyday life. A few simple adaptations
have made this much more possible.
How has your parish provided for the
needs of people with disabilities? What
about your school and your town or city?
What more could be done?
On your own or with one or two
classmates, survey your parish, school
and neighborhood. Use the check list
provided as an easy guide for
identifying adaptations and areas for
accessibility improvement.
What about you? Imagine you have
neighbors or classmates who have a
disability. How would you welcome
them? What more could you do to affirm
their gifts? When you meet someone
new who has a disability, keep the
following things in mind:
• Be yourself. Approach a kid with
a disability the same as you would
any other kid. Don't be afraid you.ll
say the wrong thing or that the
person can't understand you ..
he.ll understand your offer of
friendship.
Check List
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Ramp onto the alter
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Large print prayer books,
missals, music and bulletins
(Braille available)
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Accessibility logo
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Ramps into buildings
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An amplifying sound system
such as an FM wireless
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Good lighting, lights on
speakers faces
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Audio tapes of mass
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TDD in the church office
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Sign-language interpreters
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Curb cuts
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Accessible restrooms
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Front-kneelers removed for
persons with walkers,
canes, etc
Be interested, but not pushy.
Ask about the disability if you.re
curious . it would be silly to
pretend it doesn't exist. Let the
person tell you what they want
about it. If the person uses special
equipment, like a wheelchair or a
computer or some other device,
show an interest and ask for a
demonstration.
Include the person with a
disability in conversation. Don't
talk about him as if he isn't there
or keep him on the sidelines
feeling left out. People who cannot
speak or don't speak clearly can
say a lot by gestures, nods and
eye contact.
Offer to help if the person
seems to need assistance. But
always ask first.
A SIMULATION ACTIVITY
Simulating a disability is never the same
as actually having a disability, but it can
give you an idea of what it is like to live
without full use of one of your senses.
Put cotton or ear plugs in your ears.
Have a partner quietly read a list of
printed commands your teacher will give
you. Trade places, and read the second
list to your partner after his or her ears
are plugged.
Questions to consider:
-
How well did you understand and
follow directions?
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What could your partner have
done to help you understand more
commands?
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Why is hearing loss a disability?
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What abilities and gifts might a
deaf or hearing impaired person
bring to a group?
Think about other disabilities. What gifts
might a person with one of these
disabilities bring to a group?
A PRAYER THAT ALL PEOPLE
MAY BE INCLUDED
To prepare for this prayer, write a
petition that reflects something about
this lesson. Work alone or with a
partner.
Use this response:
.Lord, help us to see each other with
your eyes..
Gather in a circle for this time of prayer.
Teacher or Leader: We pray that we
may remember that each of us has both
gifts and disabilities, and that all are
needed in God.s family.
< B>All: .Lord, help us to see each other
with your eyes..
Take turns reading your written
petitions. After each one, respond:
.Lord, help us to see each other with
your eyes..
End your time of prayer by saying
together: Our Father, who art in
heaven.
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