The Bethsaida Team

of the Diocese of Newark

Latest News

 

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January 17, 2008

Christ Church Budd Lake Expands Worship Service for Special Needs Children

All God's Children, a non-denominational Christian church service designed specifically for families dealing with autism, ADHD, Aspergers and other developmental disabilities, will be expanded to a bi-monthly schedule for 2008 at Christ Church Budd Lake.

October 26, 2007

Christ Church Budd Lake Lifts Up Spirit in Families with Special Needs

On October 7th Christ Church conducted the first All God’s Children service, a non-denominational Christian service designed to appeal to children of all ages, with a particular welcome for children with autism, PDD-NOS, ADHD, ADD, Downs, or any other developmental or physical challenge. The service attracted many families who relished the opportunity for their special needs children to actively participate in a celebration of God’s love for them, to the best of their individual abilities and without reservation. The next service will be 9AM November 4th.

October 24, 2007

Is Your Church Accessible?

Do you let everyone know?
 
One of the best ways to let the public know that you have accessible facilities is to have a web page describing your facilities and a link to that page from your front page.

July 25, 2007

Update: Best of Bethsaida Conference

The Bethsaida Team
has postponed the "Best of Bethsaida" Conference that was scheduled for September 29, 2007.

December 29, 2006

Our Savior - Secaucus Makes the Blogs

Wheelie Catholic - A blog about inclusion issues concerning Catholics with disabilities providing information, raising concerns, sharing experiences and encouraging prayerful efforts toward social justice. All are welcome- able boded or disabled - found the Our Savior Secaucus website and...

December 15, 2006

Our Savior, Secaucus Accessibility Web Page

Our Savior in Secaucus has put together a nifty little web page that tells you about their accessibility as well as providing links to a variety of sources on accessibility.Take a look:http://www.secaucus.org/oursaviour/disability.html ...

April 16, 2006

Mystery and Brain Injury

By Barbara DjimopoulosThe Bethsaida Team If you like to read mysteries, then The Bethsaida Team would like to recommend The Memory Book by Canadian writer, Howard Engel.  It is the latest in a series of books about an Ontario...

March 21, 2006

People with disabilities as volunteers

From Bill Gaventa of New Jersey Coalition of Inclusive Ministries:Everyone Can Serve: Stressing the Value of Volunteers with DisabilitiesA recent study conducted by the Points of Light Foundation touts thevalue of actively recruiting and including people with disabilities asactive volunteers.A...

February 28, 2006

News Story - Autistic High School Senior Scores 20 Points in Waning Moments of His Only Game

Team Manager Makes Hoop Dream Come True(AP)Jason McElwain had done everything he was asked to do for the Greece Athena High School basketball team - keep the stats, run the clock, hand out water bottles. That all changed last week...

October 07, 2005

Bethsaida Team to Update List of Accessible Facilities in the Diocese

In an effort to help diocesan churches and organizations find and choose accessible spaces for public meetings, the Bethsaida Team has been compiling a list of accessible facilities in the Diocese of Newark, available on our website. We need your...

Accessibility for People Living with Mental Illness

By Elizabeth Griffin Lannigan, PhD, OTRSt John’s Church, MontclairFor people living with schizophrenia and depression, mental illnesses create difficulties in all aspects of daily living including participation in worship and parish life. Joining a new church or attending a familiar...

October 03, 2005

Children with Disabilities Need a Place in the Life of the Church – and the Church needs them, too

An article submitted to the Voice by Barbara Djimopoulos, Christ Church HackensackLaurie Spies’ daughter, Jessica, was born with Hydrocephalus. Deaf in one ear and blind in one eye, Jessica could communicate verbally only in words and short phrases. Realizing that...

August 09, 2005

Results of Bethsaida Team Mini-Conference "They Won't Come if They Can't Go"

Participants’ survey responses to the “They Won’t Come if They Can’t Go” Mini-Conference on Funding Accessibility was enthusiastic, with over 80% ranking the workshops as excellent and above average. Convened by the Bethsaida Team of the Diocese of Newark on...

BETHSAIDA TEAM MEMBERS SPEAK.

An article submitted to The Voice by David Cates (St. George’s, Maplewood)In 2002 Bishop Croneberger asked Jan Hardy (St. George’s, Maplewood) to form a team helping parishes toward awareness of disability in our midst, followed by planning for physical access....

February 04, 2005

"They Won't Come if They Can't Go " Conference on Funding for Accessibility

Don't miss this important conference sponsored by the Bethsaida Team of the Diocese of Newark!They Won't Come if They Can't GoFunding for AccessibilitySaturday May 14, 20059 a.m. to 1 p.m.St. Mark's Teaneckdirections (opens a new window)Register Online (opens a new...

February 03, 2005

Workshop on Sound Systems to Accommodate the Hard of Hearing

Join the Bethsaida Team as we learn more about modern sound systems which accommodate the needs of the hard of hearing.Presentation byTraci Burton and Jason WeilandNJ Division of the Deaf and Hard of HearingWednesday, March 9, 20055:30 pm light supper—6:30...

January 30, 2005

Historic Resolution on Diocesan Accessibility Passed by 2005 Convention of the Diocese of Newark

With a resolution passed by the delegates to the 2005 Convention of the Diocese of Newark, all Diocesan meetings and events will be held in barrier free facilities starting June 2010. The resolution further encourages all churches in the Diocese...