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Locked Topic
Special Needs
Topic Started: Thursday, 12. February 2009, 21:18 (269 Views)
JRJ

Rose of York
Wednesday, 24. June 2009, 21:51
JRJ
Wednesday, 24. June 2009, 19:27
What is the status of the treatment of people with special needs/requests for some accommodation in UK society in general?
Premises that are open to the public (that includes places of worship) must comply with an Act of Parliament. The premises must be as accessible as is reasonable. The test of reasonableness could be used by a tiny little independent country chapel that has, say, twenty attendees, little money and no "umbrella organisation" such as a diocese, that could help out with funds. Such a chapel would not be expected to provide the same high standard as a large church, mosque, synagogue or Cathedral. The Service Providers Guide to the Disability Discrimination Act gives excellent advice about attitudes towards persons with special needs. The little shop in our village has steps, no ramp, no reasonable person would expect them to spend so much it would put them out of business.

Flouting of the Act is widespread in churches and in the secular field, but is not a criminal offence, so it is up to the person suffering discrimination, to take civil action,which few would want to do, it would be expensive and stressful.

In Catholic premises some parish priests have made a tremendous effort and achieved much, some have done little or nothing. Few people know that initially the responsibility lies with the parish priest, and ultimately it lies with the diocese because it owns the buildings.

My own experience, as the wife of a person with physical problems, is that the young people are more empathatic than the older ones!

Some large parishes have arrangements for catechesis for what we call "special needs children" (eg those with syndromes that lead to disruptive behaviour. Some have signers for deaf people, some do not.

Judging by your posting, Jennifer, your parish has high standards, but judging by the large number of clergy you have a large congregation therefore, I should think, higher income than a typical British parish. Money helps, but where funds are low, it is still nice to find a healthy attitude.
The UK civil legal standard for making accommodations for special needs is similar to ours in the US.

Our Parish is located in one of the poorest counties in our state and we are "poor" by the standards of some of the large city parishes but the people always come through - I wrote in another post about the funds to replace the rectory roof being collected at Christmas by some of our poorest families - immigrants. I'm not sure how a middle-sized parish like ours ended up with so many Deacons - it's a great blessing. I think we have about 500-600 families. (My home parish was huge and one of the wealthiest in the state, which Father did not fail to point out several times a year :nono: .)

I think attitude is the key, and ignorance/lack of experience fuels fear. It can be frightening to put oneself forward to a person or family with special needs - we avoid suffering. I am uncomfortable, too, but decided long ago to just push right through and ask the questions I had - most families appreciate being able to explain so interactions are fruitful instead of confusing.





Edited by JRJ, Thursday, 25. June 2009, 00:14.
Jennifer
hubby's dinosaur blog
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Joe Valente
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Pete,

I enjoyed that story about your son Keith, it brought on one of my "grandfatherly" smiles. I wish I had been there because
that is as good a blessing as anyone will ever receive.
Give him a pat on the back from me.
What doth it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his soul
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pete

Joe thank you, I could write a book about the embarrassing moments Keith has caused us, he once curtsied to the congregation at the end of Mass. The one that surpasses all, the day Keith was confirmed in Dumbarton in Scotland. It was a special Mass just for Keith and a celebration party had been arranged for him by the ladies of the parish. Keith, my wife and I were special guests and singled out to sit in three individual seats at the front of a packed church. As we sat listening to the glowing comments about Keith by the Naval Chaplin, who was in the company of three further concelebrating priests, one could have heard a pin drop. It was at this point Keith broke wind, the loud noise caused my wife and I to lower our heads in shameful embarrassment. Whilst in this mortified position, Keith stands up turns to the congregation and speaks at the top of his voice “Excuse me everybody” My wife and I could have died. Now we look back in time and thank God for our perfectly innocent, loving adult son who will mentally remain a child for the rest of his loving life.
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