Phone Lines and the Internet – United Church of Christ Disabilities Ministries

In 1995 the board said good-bye to Jeanne Tyler with gratitude for her years of work with the Nebraska Conference Disabilities Ministries Committee. Jeanne and her husband took a new position in Iowa.

We also greeted new member, Jo Ackerman, in May, as well as five others in autumn from South Central Association â€“Trudy House, Vera Losh, Karen Roback, Sherryl Yokel, and Chad House, youth member. From Lincoln Association, Pam and Shane Cuttlers joined us and Morgan Cuttlers, junior member. Nancy Erickson, also from Lincoln, and Dee Brauninger from Burwell share facilitating responsibilities.

Because our membership has had this fine replenishment, we have spent significant time getting to know one another. A note from Friend member, Vera Losh, merits including here:

Depending and Helping

I had known (DM member) Sherryl for several years since we attend the same church. Sherryl has a hearing disability and I have vision disability from age-related macular degeneration. Dee asked us to be on the DM. We both agreed and now have become very close friends (a generation apart).

So many times Sherryl does my vision-related needs and I have learned to communicate with hearing impaired and enjoyed meeting Robin, her interpreter. We are really a lively, fun, and efficient team. God can do great things by teaming persons with disabilities. VL

God also can do great things by teaming those temporarily without disabilities with PWDs. Look around your church and become a support team.

This year, the DM Committee is trying a new means of meeting in order to save mileage and physical energy. This is a combination of email communication, through a group email, and telephone conference calls. We are building the conference calls and reimbursement for an interpreter for the deaf into our budget. Any church wishing to make a monetary contribution to the important work and ministry of this committee is invited to do so. Please indicate this on your check to the conference office.

We are planning an in-person lunch together Friday of Annual Meeting and invite all interested persons to a training presentation by the Nebraska Advocacy Services: Center for Disability Rights, Law, and Advocacy from 1:00-3:00, prior to the optional Friday conference workshops.

Visit our Disabilities Ministries Exhibit Table at Annual Meeting at Doane College. Also, listen for Speak Out Moments during conference business sessions.

How does your Inclusion Committee or Accessibility Board build community among yourselves? How do you span the miles?

The Reading the Signs column is made for recycling in other conference and local church newsletters.