Abstract
Most Christian special education teachers respond to a call to teach children with disabilities and are inspired to share the plan, purpose, and perspective of Christ; in other words to have the mind of Christ (Tucker, 1996, p. 29). This paper examines how the Old and New Testament traditions permeate the way people with disabilities are perceived in Western culture. An examination of the Old Testament shows a perception of disability as connected with sin, a manifestation of God’s punishment and exclusion of people with disability from the temple (Winzer, 1993, p. 17). The New Testament provides narratives of compassion and inclusion of people with disabilities in the covenant of Christ. Christian special education teachers need to recognize their true calling as one of hope and compassion. Christian institutes of higher education are charged to ensure special education teacher candidates examine their own perceptions of disability with a Christian worldview lens in order to enable full participation of children with disabilities.
Recommended Citation
Thorsos, N. J. (2011). Christian Special Educators Responding to the Call to Serve: The Perception of Disability with a Christian Worldview Lens. International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal, 7(1).