MIN 340 - Disability Smart (3 credits)
Topic outline
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Disability Smart (3 credits)
Instructor: Barbara J. Newman
Adjunct Professor: Professor Victoria White has been managing this course and assignments since the passing of Professor Barbara J. Newman.
Introduction: People with Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, learning differences, dementia, medical challenges, and other differences of ability are treasured by God and should be treasured in every church. This course provides the framework and practical tools to shape a congregation where people of varying abilities and disabilities can participate and belong.
Course Overview: Disability Smart refers to interacting wisely and well with people of differing abilities. Although widely used, the word "disability" can be misleading if understood negatively. God endows people with differences of ability. So the word "disability" is often less helpful than phrases such as "differences of ability" or "all abilities." Although the course is titled "Disability Smart," to keep it short, the subtitle better expresses the purpose of this class: Creating Congregations of Belonging for People of All Abilities.
As church leaders oversee worship, education, fellowship, and service opportunities for people in their congregations, it’s important to recognize that the congregation consists of people of all abilities. Children’s programs may include a child with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder. Adult programs may include individuals who are struggling readers or a person diagnosed with dementia. When we worship as a community, there will be people gathered who represent a wide variety of abilities and disabilities. This course will equip you to make your congregation a community where each one can participate and belong. Pastors, worship leaders, children and youth leaders, and others involved in leading church programs will benefit from this course.
Course Outcomes:
- Learn a framework (known as the 3-part plan) for effective ministry with people of all abilities.
- Explore the Puzzle Piece Perspective (Part 1 of the plan), as a Scriptural understanding of God's design of individuals and communities.
- Learn and apply principles of Universal Design for Participation (Part 2 of the plan) in various ministries within your congregation.
- Learn and apply principles of Responsive Design (Part 3 of the plan) that will allow you to plan for individuals.
- Discover some areas of difference, such as autism spectrum disorder, dementia, mobility differences, and medical conditions, and how to apply the framework (3-part plan).
- Learn how to embrace the God-given gifts of each person God has arranged as part of your community and strategies that allow individuals to use their gifts.
- Recognize that learning and spiritual growth can happen differently for different individuals, but each one is designed to fill an important part of the Kingdom.
- Discover ways to introduce people to Jesus who take in information differently than you do.
- Learn how to worship with persons with dementia, address challenging behaviors, and discover important cultural dimensions of ministry with people of varied abilities.
- Be confident that the setting you oversee can provide places of belonging for people of all abilities.
Resources: This course includes written materials by Barbara J. Newman (with contributions by Betty Grit).
Assignments: Your Cumulative Writing Project for the course will be an ongoing writing assignment. Not every week has an assignment to add to this cumulative project, but most do. You should complete the assignment during the week it is paired with a video topic, but you will not submit any of the writing until the end of the course. Therefore, keep all of your writing in one document, which you add to as you complete each assignment. When you get to the end of the course, submit the entire document with all of the writing assignments.
View all online lectures and read all the articles on each topic. CLI computer tracks whether you do this. After viewing all lectures for the unit, take the quiz based on the lectures. At the end of the course, submit the writing assignment for credit. However, please note that portions of the writing assignment are best completed during specific weeks; therefore, you will want to review the assignment and take note of the weeks each portion pertains to.
Grading Scale:
A 95-100% A- 90-94% B+ 87-89% B 83-86% B- 80-82% C+ 77-79% C 73-76% C- 70-72% D+ 67-69% D 63-66% D- 60-62% F 0-59%
Your average for the course must be at least 60%. Otherwise, you will fail the class and will receive no credit.Deadline: You have 180 days to finish the course. Complete all assignments before the final deadline, or you will be automatically unenrolled, and all coursework will be removed. You will have to start over and take the class again to receive credit.
We lovingly remember Barb Newman, the professor of this course who has gone to be with the Lord.
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NOTE: There is no written assignment for this week. Your work on a cumulative writing document for the duration of the course will resume in week 10.
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NOTE: There is no written assignment for this week. Your work on a cumulative writing document for the duration of the course will resume in week 10.
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You have been writing throughout the course. Submit the cumulative writing project now to receive credit.
The document you submit should contain your work from weeks 1-10. The attached file (also available as a Google Doc here) gives all of the assignments for your reference.
Your Cumulative Writing Project for the course will be an ongoing writing assignment. Not every week has an assignment to add to this cumulative project, but many do. You should complete the assignment during the week it is paired with a video topic, but you will not submit any of the writing until the end of the course. Therefore, keep this all in one document, which you add to as you complete each assignment. When you get to the end of the course, submit the entire document with all of the writing assignments (as Word document, PDF, or online text in this course platform).
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As you complete this tuition-free course, let's pray for and thank the Vision Partners! Their sacrificial giving supports these tuition-free courses so that those will little or no extra resources can access high-quality ministry training.
Unit 12: Our Eternal Home
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The course has ended. Please make sure all quizzes have been completed. If your work is incomplete, it is considered a drop, and you will have to take the class again in order to receive credit.
Our staff will be using this time to review your work. Your grade should appear on your "My Home Page" in the "Course Overview" section. Please contact Helpdesk if you have any questions or did not receive your grade.