During the month of April the Equual Access featured discussion topic is Unitarian Universalist History with Accessibility and Inclusion. Since Dorothea Dix was born on April 4, it seems particularly fitting that we begin with a story about her and her work. Her life is featured on the Disability History Museum and her biography there reminds readers that, "Dix did not truly discover her life’s work until she was almost forty years old. She did not become a leader in the asylum movement until she herself experienced a debilitating bout of depression and physical illness in 1836."
The Tapestry of Faith Windows and Mirrors curriculum for grades 4-5 includes the life story of Dorothea Dix:
"Dorothea Dix lived in the 1800s. At a time when women had fewer choices than men did, Dorothea made extraordinary choices for herself. She did not grow up a Unitarian, but she chose to become one as an adult. Another choice she made was to work hard on behalf of other people.
Dorothea made one of the most important contributions to our society by helping to create hospitals for people with mental illness. In her time, there were no hospitals for people with mental problems. People who acted strange or could not communicate because they had difficulty thinking and interacting the same way most others did, were kept in prisons. Often they were chained and given very little clothing. So what if it was cold in the prison? Nobody cared whether these people were cold. Most people thought people with mental illness did not get cold or feel pain. In fact, many people thought that those with mental illness were not fully human at all.
.... Dorothea deeply valued the right to make one's own choices. She trusted her own choices about the right way to live her life. One of her choices was to become a Unitarian. Another was to work to help people with mental illness in ways they were not able to help themselves. She understood they were people whose right to make their own choices had been taken away. She helped everyone understand that people with mental illness are people like us, who deserve dignity and respect."
1 comment:
I would like to acknowledge two people that opened my eyes wider with regards to the struggles of people with disabilities. Both were instructors at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Rev. Dr. Carol Hepokoski taught Ethics and had a book titled, "Living in a Waist High World". It was important to learn about the ethical , political, and moral issues of people with mobility issues. Helen Bishop taught me through a personal experience. She needed assistance with walking at night on the sidewalk. She managed independently but needed just an extra arm around in case she misjudged the evenness of the sidewalk. Of the chapel filled with ministers and seminarians I saw no one offering to assist her. She shared with me how she struggled arriving to class on snowy and icy sidewalks in front of the building. A book and a short walk opened my eyes to see a lot more in the world.
Thank you Carol and Helen.
And thanks to all the voices from EA and from access-l.
The Rev. Rosemarie Newberry
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