Years ago a friend of mine
stopped talking to me after an incident, I guess you call it. She and I were
headed to Naples, (we used to hike there often, she lived next door and had a
hand in me getting my job at the time), and she asked what I was doing some day or
date and I replied nothing I know of or whatever. She said we could use you at
the rally; your personality, humor and big mouth. I said count me in! She then
went on about how the rally is for support at a pro-life convention…then, at
24/25 years old, I had to say “I can’t do that.” Long short of it, I have a
value system, (it is mine not to be judged by another or pushed on another),
that dates far back and growing up in the environment I did, I am often baffled as to where any
values came from! (I know now, that’s me, and how God made me!) Years ago,
by the time I found out I was pregnant, I didn’t have enough time to make or
rather to fully weigh pro’s and con’s, I was 11 weeks. I am comfortable with my
decision of full term, closed adoption. Another I know chose abortion, she is
fully comfortable with that. I tried telling the friend mentioned above that my
being pro-choice is supporting their “choice” and values and well, it doesn’t
always go well. I often regretted we couldn't maintain our friendship over a difference
like this however, it happens...
Part of the above opens up
a-- it sucks when other’s try to dictate things they have no business being in,
especially without first hand knowledge and conversation. Much like how I feel
at times when my civil liberties are pushed down and cast aside, “we know best”
without a word of conversation. I feel like my voice and choice is not equal to
everyone else-- even if the "reason" may be in my own best interest.
I would love to see in the
future Churches opt out of the ADA exemptions (Americans with Disabilities Act)
or that act be fully enforced without exception or exemption. My civil rights
do matter, especially in church. It started (the exemption) supposedly too
costly for churches to become handicap accessible, now many churches have made
renovations, STRUCTURALLY. I seek a future where just like Black lives matter
and women’s choices matter and LGBTQAI civil rights matter so do we, the
mentally and physically disabled—mental illness is my disability but, it
doesn’t discredit me as a Christian worthy of equal rights and inclusion within churches.
Let me not seem ungrateful
for all the two churches in my life have and are
opening up to and for me and people like me!!! I am part of the conversation, now.
My ideal world would
also include the day churches opened their doors to reconsidering their stance
on being excluded from the ADA!
Thank you for your time
and ear!!! I'm optimistic with all I am doing and working toward :-)
Shirley Davis, director of
global diversity and inclusion at the Society for Human Resource Management,
said: "People with disabilities represent a critical talent pool that is
underserved and underutilized".[30]
