Disabilities
There are many ways to build a stronger community by embracing people
living with disabilities throughout greater Knoxville.
Congregations
Pastors, we have a national trainer in our city. For
advice on getting started call Jim Pierson at the
Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped.
(546-5921)
Read this book to lay a solid foundation: No Disabled Souls: How to
welcome people with disabilities into your life and your church by Jim
Pierson. To order, call CCFH. (546-5921)
Become a disability effective congregation that reaches out to
individuals and their families affected by disability. Gain exposure for
people with disabilities by inviting a speaker to your church.
Provide space for support group meetings.
Provide Care Givers Day Out program modeled after the Moms Day Out
program.
Get to know one person with a disability in your church. Go beyond Hi,
how are you?
Be inclusive in church gatherings. Avoid isolation.
Keep eyes and ears open for jobs at your church that persons with
disabilities can do.
Individuals
Offer to baby sit for families with children with disabilities.
Learn some basic sign language.
Build a ramp for someone at their home so they wont be homebound.
Offer to visit a blind person that you know and read him or her the mail
or newspaper.
Keep eyes and ears open for jobs at your work that persons with
disabilities can do.
Family Opportunity
Make friends with a person or persons with a disability. Go shopping and
on outings. Help your friend feel a part of your family.
Group Homes
Gibbs Group Home (Child & Family): 524-7483
Rainbow Acres (Chuck Ruth): 688-8804
Sertoma Center: 524-5555 x 226
Highland Group Home (Cerebral Palsy Center): 687-9204
Beta Homes (Sunshine Services): 521-7683
Christian Church Foundation for the Handicapped (Jim Pierson): 546-5921
Befriend and serve residents at a group home.
Assistance with physical therapy, employment, recreation, outings.
Adopt a resident and spend consistent time with him.
Sponsor a birthday party.
Donate paper goods, cleaning supplies and money.
Invite residents to social gatherings.
Volunteer to help with cleaning, yard work, everyday activities.
Call for Advice
Some Disability Friendly Congregations in Knoxville:
First Baptist of Knoxville (Dr. Jerry Seale) ministers to the deaf:
546-9661
Woodland Christian Church: 573-6721
Lincoln Park Baptist: 687-5451
First Baptist Concord (Helping Hands Ministry): 966-9791
West Town Christian Church leads worship at Patricia Neal Center:
693-5031
Other Connecting Opportunities
Joni & Friends Ministry: 540-3860
Volunteers to pray for this ministry and to help with programs such as:
Special Delivery (visiting people in group homes, nursing homes or
private homes and taking a gift to them provided by the ministry).
Wheels for the World (collecting used wheelchairs for impoverished
nations).
Knoxville Area Community Center for the Deaf (KACCD): 579-0832
Learn sign language from KACCD and serve as a volunteer to the deaf.
Provide lunches, friendship, socialization for deaf members of KACCD.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain
conceit but in humility consider others as more important than
yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but
also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as
that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in the very nature God, did not
consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself
nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself
and became obedient to death even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:3-8 |
Tennessee School for the Deaf in South Knoxville: 579-2410
Tutor, eat lunch with kids, help with clerical work.
Requirements: some knowledge of sign
language needed.
Disability Resource Center: 637-3666
Help prepare training packets, answer phones, office work.
Sertoma Center: 524-5555 ext. 226
Develop relationships, be a friend, take to doctors appointments.
Offer arts and crafts classes; offer exercise classes.
Patricia Neal Rehab Center
Recreation Therapy: 541-1353
Build wheelchair ramps.
Assist with sports clinics, swimming, skiing and other sporting
activities.
Tennessee Div of Rehabilitation Services
(Services for the Blind): 594-6720 ext. 1112
Personal care attendants take people shopping or to the store or read
to them.
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic: 482-3496
Prepare books and tapes for recording, record text and monitor reading.
Cerebral Palsy Center for Handicapped Adults: 523-0491
Assist office with clerical/administrative tasks; help with special
events.
East Tennessee Technology Access Center:
219-0130
Businesses can donate computers/equipment/resources to empower people
with disabilities to reach their potential.
Special Olympics of Greater Knoxville:
546-9431
Assist people with disabilities at sporting events, held September
through May.
Tennessee Infant Parent Services (TIPS):
579-3099
Assist office with clerical/administrative tasks; help with special
events.
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