St. Francis Parish wants to assist with gathering together the community of persons and family members of persons with developmental disAbilities here in Washtenaw County for support and encouragement.

St. Francis Parish Invites All Persons, and Family Members of 
Persons with Developmental disAbilities
in Washtenaw County
to network with our community.

 

NEWS: http://theddnewsblog.blogspot.com/ ------------- A Ministry in Washtenaw County: His Eye is on the Sparrow  is a ministry to adults with developmental disabilities ... http://www.stfrancisa2.com/socialministry/ddeyeonthesparrow.htm

The new Web Site called  The DD News, <http://theddnews.com/> for families and friends of people with developmental disabilities is very useful.

 

Support for Persons with Developmental Disabilities!  If you know any families of children or adults with developmental disabilities and/or neurological disorders (such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and mental retardation, or who have had a brain injury or who have a mental health disability, etc.),  please help St. Francis Parish members to reach out in support. Contact Scott Wright in the parish office  .

 

Support for Persons with Developmental Disabilities!  A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: A support group for 'Young Adults with developmental disAbilities' meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday evenings during Spring, Summer and Fall mostly at TAPPAN Middle School.   We are a part of the Community Education Program.  Our discussions center around issues related to becoming more independent and responsible adults within our family and community.  Extra volunteers are needed to: - assist making crafts for a charity. - simply getting to know, listen, enjoy and share time. CONTACT: Carol Marino (663-3865), or the St. Francis Parish Social Ministry Office, (821-2121) .

 

Did You Know ... Here below are some short informational postings that could be used in a parish bulletin to encourage us to learn more about and  more comfortable getting to know persons with disabilities. Did You Know ... ... by definition of the State of Michigan, "developmentally disabled" refers to an individual who has an impairment of general functioning or adaptive behavior which meets the following criteria: it originated before the person became 18 years of age; it has continued since its origin and can be expected to continue indefinitely, and; it constitutes a substantial burden to the impaired person's ability to perform normally in socitety. There are actually over 200 conditions that can result in, or are associated in some way with "developmental disability". (from Steve Daut of StLouisCenter.org)   Did You Know ... From this "Merck Manual" at: www.merck.com/we can highlight a particular disability, a summary of its definition and some of its characteristics and frustrations. (from Ruthann Distler of St. Francis Parish) AUTISM (Kanner's Syndrome) A syndrome of early childhood characterized by abnormal social relationships; language disorder with impaired understanding, echolalia, and pronominal reversal (particularly using "you" instead of "I" or "me" when referring to one's self); rituals and compulsive phenomena (an insistence on the preservation of sameness); and uneven intellectual development with mental retardation in most cases.  --- The syndrome is characterized by extreme aloofness (lack of attachment, failure to cuddle, avoidance of eye gaze, failure to form reciprocal relationships); insistence on sameness (resistance to change, rituals, morbid attachment to familiar objects, repetitive acts); speech and language disorders (ranging from total muteness to delayed onset of speech to markedly idiosyncratic use of language); and uneven intellectual performance.  Did You Know ... The National Family Caregivers Association at: www.nfcacares.org/ (from Doug Cunningham of CommunityRespite.com) FAMILY CAREGIVING STATISTICS  (Compiled by the National Family Caregivers Association at: www.nfcacares.org/)   More than one quarter (26.6%) of the adult population has provided care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during the past year. Based on current census data, that translates into more than 50 million people. Source: National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) Random Sample Survey of 1000 Adults, Funded by CareThere.com, Summer, 2000.    The value of the services family caregivers provide for "free" is estimated to be $257 billion a year. Source: Peter S. Arno, "Economic Value of Informal Caregiving," presented at the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry, February 24, 2002.    People over 85 years of age are the fastest growing segment of the population. Half of them need some help with personal care. Source: US Bureau of the Census Statistical Brief, Sixty Five Plus in the United States, May 1995    Heavy duty caregivers, especially spousal caregivers, do not get consistent help from other family members. One study has shown that as many as three fourths of these caregivers are "going it alone". Source: Caregiving Across the Life Cycle - as above    Fifty nine percent of the adult population either is or expects to be a family caregiver.  Source: National Family Caregivers Association (Random Sample Survey of 1,000 Adults Sponsored by Aleve)    More of these "FAMILY CAREGIVING STATISTICS" can be found Compiled by the National Family Caregivers Association at: www.nfcacares.org/ .       Did You Know ... The National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry at NAfIM.org   and Joni and Friends under joniandfriends.org under resource lists.  The "Welcoming Persons with disAbilities Parish Resource"  has more websites and quotes.   (Remember to include persons with Mental Illness.) (from Joann Davis of the Diocese of Lansing Office  for "Ministry with Persons with disAbilities".) Did You Know ... DisABILITY News and Views Radio Show with Monica Moshenko, LIVE every Sunday from 5-6 PM; WXRL Radio 1300AM.  Sensitivity, awareness and supports for people with developmental disabilities. "As Wheelchairs Roll In, Disability Conference Ushers Out Church Exclusion of the Developmentally Disabled" -- Most of us would never imagine- that there are families who are routinely turned away from places of worship. However, families of children or adults with developmental disabilities and neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, Asperger's syndrome, and mental retardation, or who have had a brain injury or who have a mental health disability, commonly tell of the painful rejection they have received from the faith community.   --- While public schools have learned to accommodate these students, most churches are not prepared to meet their physical, emotional, educational, or spiritual needs. The result? Some parents take turns going to church while one stays home with the child, but many become discouraged and will simply stay at home rather than take on yet another battle. To make on-air comments CALL 716-681-1313.  ACCESS AUDIO FILES OF ALL PREVIOUS SHOWS ONLINE  www.disabilitynewsradio.com  .   Did You Know ...

 

A Disabilities Liaison @ St. Francis Our Parish would like to establish a "Disabilities Liaison" and ministry for Encouraging Persons (& families with members) with (Developmental) disAbilities.   As we begin the process of forming this new networking ministry your help is needed.     Come meet with us. Contact Scott Wright (821-2121) in the parish office.

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