The Experience of Studying Hebrew as a Student Who is Blind
Sarah Blake is a licensed minister with the Church of God (Anderson, IN). She is available to provide biblical teaching, ministry seminars, or music ministry for your church. Hear samples from some of her presentations and contact her for booking information.
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On October 9, 2006, I went to chapel reluctantly. I had learned the day before that my insurance would not cover the medication which provided control of my migraines, seizure-like symptoms, and mood instability. I was also ill with a cold, and my joint pain was beginning to flare. I felt vulnerable, and I was acutely aware that I lacked solid friendships. I wanted nothing more than to disappear into a hole and never come out. At the same time, I wished that someone would dive into the hole after me just for the purpose of retrieving me and telling me that they wanted to be my friend and that everything would be all right. I tried to avoid thinking that if I had a husband, he would hold me while I cried myself to sleep at night. Thinking thoughts like this only made me feel more alone.
I went to chapel despite my feelings, hoping that God would speak something reassuring to me there. I was unprepared for what happened. Instead of being comforted, I was brought face to face with my feelings of isolation in ways that I could not escape.
A fellow student was leading the time of music. She asked us all to face the center aisle, look at the people on the other side of the room, and “sing the songs of community.” I felt more isolated in that moment than I remembered feeling at any other time in my life. ...
The above scenario illustrates a common dilemma in the lives of many people with disabilities. Numerous situations in life create general anxiety and frustration and a need for God's presence and comfort; but when the person goes to church seeking to connect with God, incidents that occur in the church environment instead add to that very frustration, and the person is unable to feel God's presence, find encouragement in Christian fellowship, or hear what God is speaking. Often the person places defensive walls up in an effort to shield himself from additional painful experiences; and this can make him seem hostile to people around him--even his own family and friends.
These pages provide a window for churches seeking to build relationships with people with disabilities. The articles here are provided with the disclaimer that they represent my own experience and may not represent someone else's perspective. I am a licensed minister and also live with multiple disabilities/medical conditions. Both of these things affect my perspective.
Please check back periodically for additions
The Passion and the Isolation
If your church uses video, I hope you will read this article to understand the impact of lack of access to video on members of the congregation who are blind.
Using Media in Worship and Including the Whole Congregation
This article discusses ways to make video accessible to people who are blind.
Please Pass the Communion Elements
This article discusses aspects of the communion sacrament that can be isolating for people with disabilities.
The Impact of Blindness on My Work as a Child Care Provider
This article is provided as a resource for family and children's pastors, day care administrators, and volunteer coordinators. It provides detailed information about strategies I used in my work in a church-based child care setting with infants and toddlers. While it should not be used as a definitive guide to strategies, it can serve as a starting point for discussions about how people with disabilities can serve in child care settings.
The Experience of Hebrew Study as a Student Who is Blind
In this paper, I explain the process I went through to advocate for accommodations necessary to study Hebrew in seminary, modifications I made to my computer, and challenges I encountered during the first year of study.
Integrating Scholars Who Are Blind into the Biblical Language Classroom
In this paper, I explain how two scholars who are blind participated in a Greek classroom--one as a student and one as a teaching assistant.
Sarah J. Blake