Categories: ranting
Date: 23 March 2010 08:23:04
Surfing has written a moving and insightful post about her experience of church as somebody with an unseen disability. Whilst I don't have anywhere near the same issues going on, (not having ADD) and different issues with my dyslexia church has been an area where stuff has sometimes been an issue, particularly with the move to technology. I have, over time, had strange reactions to the move away from hymn books and towards the projection of words. Reactions that I could not explain apart from saying, "but I struggle". Reactions that at the time seemed linked to my love of "the traditional" and uncomfortableness with some of the changes in the church, particularly away from pews and hymn books. Over time it became clear to others I think that my struggles with the overhead projector or computer generated words were something real, even if I did express my frustration too loudly sometimes. I really do struggle with things like yellow words on a blue background and huge screens which I have to follow the words on. A couple of years back the reason became clear, I do have dyslexia and have all the signs of Iren Syndrome. This means that I have a limited rectangle of vision which is smaller than most peoples and I can have a tendancy to miss words out when I'm reading or writing. On a screen I can get very lost as to which line we are on. I really do find a hymn book or printed set of words easier to deal with, preferably a large print because of the nature of having to keep focused on exact words during singing. If it is a screen there are certain font styles and backgrounds which are easier to deal with, but I know these differ for different people. Personally I find light grey or similar easiest and the thinner the screen the better. I also find it easiest when as little text as possible is projected at one time. The thing is with both Surfing's disability and mine is that they are unseen. People don't know and we tend to put in strategies which make it easier, (and despite my going off on one when a move away from hymn books was becoming more popular), and don't make a fuss. We just get on with it wishing that people would pick up on what disability awareness within the church might mean. It's not all to do with hearing or mobility based disabilities, (although loop systems, ramps and lifts, etc are vital), it actually encompasses alot more.