Talking with and About People with Disabilities
In the church, we want to use words that heal, not hurt. For example, “Shut-ins,” no. “People who are home-centered,” yes. To foster respectful, appropriate communication with and about people with disabilities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has created a fact sheet that recommends and provides examples of “people first” language in place of language that is considered stereotypical and dehumanizing.
Feeding More Than Hunger: Lafayette’s Story of Faith, Growth, and the Power of ENCORE Ministry Foundation
On the third Thursday of every month in Lafayette, Tennessee, cars begin lining up hours before the doors open at Lafayette United Methodist Church. Some arrive early because they’ve been before. Others come because they’re unsure if there will be enough. Many wait quietly—not just for food, but for reassurance that they are not alone.
