ABLEISM: Changing Attitudes in 2014 (OPEN FORUM DISCUSSION)

For months we have looked at the relationship between people with disabilities and the predominately "able-bodied" society that they live in. We have discussed both the historical and religious roots of discrimination, segregation and mistreatment towards many within the disabled community.

Ableism is the systematic belief that people who are disabled are outside of the "norm"; different, a mistake, bad.. and even sinful, worthy of punishment and isolation. The ableist world view is for those with disabilities to change or be excluded from the general population. 

What are your experiences? Are you disabled, or have you ever had a condition, even temporarily, that limited you in doing things the way that you were used to doing them? Well in either case, as we anticipate the coming year, in just a few days, I would like you to share with us, on the broadcast, what challenges you, or someone that you love, have had to face; and what must we do as a collective society to make things better for all of those who are disenfranchised within our nation and our world? What must we do in our churches, our governments and, most of all, within ourselves, to turn things around, so that 2014 will be a year of fulfillment, achievement, and realized dreams... a year of Jubilee for All.