Stone Soup - Friends of All Abilities - Statement on Ability
Besides the standard dictionary definition, the concept of disability has many shades of perceived meaning. Stone Soup focuses on ability in a much broader sense than the narrower assessment focused on disability.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives a specific and somewhat politically influenced definition of those to be considered disabled. The general impact of ADA is to address practical and perceived barriers, both physical and mental, for giving the greatest opportunity for all people to fully participate in the activities that shape human existence.
In its most universal cross-cultural sense, a disability seems to be most obviously those physical limitations that prevent or hinder the normal and full range of physical activities.
Further, others may have a mental state that prevents or hinders the expected and normal functions of communication and social interaction.
None of these perceptions would have meaning if there wasn’t some accepted or obvious standard for what is normal for humans in physical and mental behaviors. It is at this point that Stone Soup takes a different and broader approach to perceptions about human behavior.
Stone Soup-Friends of All Abilities approaches building a community of friends from this different perspective. We see abilities as the focus of our efforts.
One shouldn’t identify individuals by their challenges or differences as a primary identity. For example, we don’t say, "We want all the heart-problem men to sit in this section of the arena." "We welcome the breast-cancer women to our garden club." "Would all the bi-polar people please stand for a round of applause for being here and not somewhere else tonight?" We don’t call people "disabled people" or "special needs kids" but we do use these common terms when necessary, "people with different abilities" or "kids with special needs."
On a practical basis, we recognize those who may need assistance or consideration due to challenges related to physical or mental ability. Using the common terms, this applies to those who are limited and to those who are exceptionally gifted.
Abilities flow across a continuum. Focusing on disability merely reinforces the realization of difference rather than commonality. Whereas focusing on each person’s unique contributions encourages full engagement in the broader community while allowing for the diversity of individual giftedness or ability.
Stone Soup recognizes broader criteria that affect communication, choices, mastery, community, and cognition among humans. Given this broader criteria, all humans have challenges to some degree in these categories. We recognize that each person is to be given respect regardless of what those challenges may be.
At the same time, we do not want to deny that these challenges are real – some challenges may be related to genetics others to environment and others to personal choices, either productively or destructively.
We hold that all of us are in need of unmerited consideration by others, as none are perfect human beings. However one perceives a state of human perfection, it is obvious from human history that we don’t have any among us now.
Stone Soup is founded on the Christian ideal that each person is created in the image of God, has inherit and lasting value, and has characteristics that shape what it means to be human. We also recognize the reality of human short-comings. Our focus is to build community in light of these common realities and on the need for unmerited consideration (grace) among us and from God, in the person of Jesus Christ.
About Stone Soup - Friends of All Abilities
Stone Soup builds a community of friends with families of children and young adults with special needs. It connects with friends of all abilities through a variety of activities and events and is hosted by churches and community friends.
About Ross & Lynn McGary - Lynn is the Founder and National Director, her husband, Ross, serves as President of Stone Soup Friends of All Abilities.