[acb-hsp] Remediation That the Tolerant Left Won't Tolerate

[Donna Rose]

Hi Sharon,

Not necessarily.  People from a variety of Christian sects have believed 
that PWDs born with disabilities are disabled because of sin, usually coming 
from their parents or ancestors.  I believe this perception still remains a 
part of our society to some degree.  It allows people to easily devalue us.



Go Bravely,
Donna Rose, LMSW
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sharon" <mt281820 at comcast.net>
To: "'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals'" 
<acb-hsp at acb.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 9:50 AM
Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Remediation That the Tolerant Left Won't Tolerate


> PWD's is another issue. There is no moral issue there, as there is with 
> the
> married unmarried issue.
> Sharon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf 
> Of
> peter altschul
> Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 6:58 PM
> To: Discussion list for ACB human service professionals
> Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Remediation That the Tolerant Left Won't Tolerate
>
> Hi:
>
> As I understand things, fundamentalist Christians believe that
> only one man and one woman can be married, and that all other
> relationships where sex is involved are sinful, and assisting
> unmarried couples to strengthen their relationship without
> getting married is encouraging sinful behavior.  And I also think
> it worth noting that the author clearly states that this has
> nothing to do with LGBT issues.
>
> Personally, I think the author has a point although it does
> create some discomfort; for example, should counselors
> uncofortable with PWDS not be required to work with them?
> Shouldn't we counselors be encouraged to step outside of our
> "comfort zone?"  And where's the line between discomfort and a
> lack of skill?
>
> When I was working towards my MSW, the school faculty barely hid
> their contempt when it came to religion and conservative
> politics.  If we are going to encourage people to stretch, then
> professors must be good role models.
>
> Best, Peter
>
>
>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Lisa Gorden-Cushman" <crysania at sbcglobal.net
>>To: "'Discussion list for ACB human service professionals'"
> <acb-hsp at acb.org
>>Date sent: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:53:26 -0700
>>Subject: Re: [acb-hsp] Remediation That the Tolerant Left Won't
> Tolerate
>
>>The problem with the logic about her sexual orientation being not
> important
>>is that her client never had the legal right to marry, so he
> could not be
>>within her value system, even if he wanted to.
>
>>Best regards,
>>Lisa
>
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org [mailto:acb-hsp-bounces at acb.org] On
> Behalf Of
>>peter altschul
>>Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 7:24 AM
>>To: Acbhsp
>>Subject: [acb-hsp] Remediation That the Tolerant Left Won't
> Tolerate
>
>>Remediation for those the tolerant left won't tolerate
>>  David Cortman
>>  In January 2009, Julea Ward, who is a Christian, was a graduate
>>student in the counseling program at Eastern Michigan University.
>>She was nearing the end of the program and had accumulated a 3.91
>>GPA.  Then she was expelled.
>>  Why? Well, EMU asked her to counsel a client in a manner that
>>would have violated her Biblically-based faith and values.
>>Following standard profession practice, she asked her supervising
>>professor whether it would be okay to reassign the client to a
>>different counselor.  EMU expelled her from the program for
>>making this simple referral request, and because of the religious
>>beliefs that motivated it.
>>  Unfortunately, media reports on Ward's lawsuit often claim that
>>EMU expelled her for refusing to counsel gay clients.  This is
>>simply untrue.  She asked for the referral because her religious
>>beliefs prevent her from providing counseling on any non-marital
>>sexual relationship.  This means Ward would raise the same values
>>conflict regardless of the sexual orientation of the client
>>seeking such assistance.
>>  Put simply, Ward would raise the same conflict and seek a
>>referral regardless of whether the client was homosexual and
>>seeking counseling on a non-marital sexual relationship (which is
>>the context in which her referral request arose) or if the client
>>was heterosexual and seeking counseling on a non-marital sexual
>>relationship.  The "gay animus" angle often seen in media reports
>>is dead wrong.
>>  It is also important to note that referrals, including those
>>based on values conflicts, are common and accepted in the
>>counseling profession.  The code of ethics for the profession
>>contains two provisions endorsing the practice of referring
>>clients.  Ward acted consistent with these provisions, and with
>>the advice of her supervising professor, by having a client
>>reassigned in a situation where she believed another counselor
>>would be better suited to meet his needs.  The profession is,
>>after all, most concerned with serving the best interests of
>>clients.  And sometimes, a client's best interests are served by
>>working with a different counselor.
>>  Rather than approving Ward's simple request to refer a single
>>client, EMU initiated disciplinary proceedings against her.  EMU
>>also informed Ward that the only way she could remain in the
>>counseling program was if she agreed to undergo a "remediation"
>>program aimed at changing her "belief system."
>>  Unsurprisingly, Ward declined the "remediation" program.  And
>>who would agree to such a thing? It is hard to imagine any
>>student agreeing to change their beliefs as a condition to
>>getting their degree.
>>  In addition to the Orwellian "remediation" program, the
>>disciplinary proceedings also involved EMU professors putting
>>Ward's religious beliefs on trial.
>>  For example, during Ward's final disciplinary hearing, Suzanne
>>Dugger, one of EMU's counseling faculty, asked Ms.  Ward whether
>>she viewed her "brand of Christianity as superior" to other
>>Christians who may disagree with her.  And Perry Francis, another
>>EMU faculty member, told Ward he was going to take her on a
>>btheological boutb and then directly attacked her understanding
>>and interpretation of scripture.
>>  Throughout these things, Ward remained steadfast, refusing to
>>abandon her religious convictions or violate them as a condition
>>to getting her degree.
>>  What is amazing about Ward's situation is EMU's harsh and
>>drastic reaction to her request to refer a single client.  Rather
>>than honoring Ward's simple request (which, again, was consistent
>>with the professional standards regarding referral), EMU expelled
>>an academically stellar student and, in the process of doing so,
>>targeted and attacked the religious beliefs that motivated her
>>referral request and told her she had to change them to get her
>>degree.
>>  Now, instead of being a Christian and a graduate student at
>>EMU, Ward is but another Christian whom the tolerant left will
>>not tolerate.
>>  David Cortman serves as senior legal counsel with the Alliance
>>Defense Fund at its Atlanta Regional Service Center in Georgia,
>>where he heads litigation efforts to defend and reclaim the First
>>Amendment rights of public school students across the nation.
>>Cortman joined ADF in 2005, and is admitted to the bar in
>>Georgia, Florida, and the District of Columbia.  He has practiced
>>law since 1996 and graduated magna cum laude from the Regent
>>University School of Law, where he earned his J.D.
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