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Always room for improvement

Mark Twain once said, “Courage in not the absence of fear. It is acting in the face of fear.”

When it comes to disabilities, especially the newly injured, fear is definitely a factor in the way people behave. It’s not just the fear of the unknown, it’s also the fear of perception – how will and what will others, my friends, my family and people I meet feel about me? Those born with disabilities often grow up knowing that there’s something “different” about them and often adjust very well because it’s all they have ever know. Yet still, there’s a yearning to be like everyone else.

People as a whole cannot take away disabilities, only God can do that. Yet there are things we can do to make people more comfortable with their various situations. Luke 6:31 says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you (NIV).” This is so true. And, if just for a moment we could put ourselves in the position of the disabled, I think we would have a whole new perspective on how we treat them. This is not to say we are doing something bad – just that things could be better.

Think about how you act and talk when around people with disabilities. Do you talk to them like they are a little child – a high pitched voice and looking as though you are coaxing a smile from a baby? Or totally the opposite –you ignore them and speak to people accompanying them?

There’s always room for improvement in everyone. Think about this and practice Luke 6:31. People with disabilities desire and moreover deserve to be treated like everyone else. Doing this will help mainstream them into a community where everyone feels equal.

Common courtesy, common sense, and respect; three things we all have a right to.

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April is National Volunteer Month

April is National Volunteer Month and the week of April 20th-26th 2025 has been set aside as National Volunteer Week.  This year, as in all previous years, we have the opportunity to recognize those within our communities who freely give their time in unpaid work.

National Volunteer Week was established by Presidential Proclamation in 1974 as a way of honoring these amazing volunteers and thanking them for donating their time to charitable causes and to bring attention to services that wouldn’t exist otherwise.

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in the U.S.  In 2018 the U.S. Department of Labor reports that over 77.3 million people volunteered through an organization at least once.  And there are undoubtedly millions more who did volunteer works without doing so through a formal organization.

Mays Mission for the Handicapped has long recognized the importance of volunteers.  Since 1997 we have supported a Faith in Action Caregivers Alliance in which we call upon volunteers within our community to provide caregiving and other services to the frail elderly and disabled.  This program could not have succeeded without volunteers.

Mays Mission employees have also volunteered to help other organizations thereby helping to foster and support the spirit of volunteerism within our local community.

This April would be a great time to volunteer in your community. Your time is a gift! If you need some ideas on how to help, on Monday Mays Mission employees visited with veterans at a nursing home passing out some of our ‘gift paks’ containing stationary and the residents loved it. We can also provide you with free brochures full of ideas and information like ‘The Spirit of Volunteerism’ and ‘Faith In Action Caregivers Alliance’ at no cost to you. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities here at Mays Mission who would love for you to have them. Just call us or email us at info@maysmission.org and let us know. Thank you!

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Driving With A Disability

( pictured on the left, our founder, E.W. Mays )

Driving is often seen as a symbol of freedom and independence, but for millions of individuals around the world living with disabilities, it can also represent a unique set of challenges and triumphs. Driving with a disability often comes with physical and financial complexities that other drivers don’t face. Here is a great guide someone recently shared with us and we wanted to share with all of our supporters as well:

https://www.gervelislaw.com/driving-with-a-disability

Thanks for checking it out and if you would like more information on helping individuals with disabilities call us or email us at info@maysmission.org today.

Learn to put people first, not their disability!

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Programs

A Bible for Alec

Alec, our newest employee at Mays Mission for the Handicapped, is a proud participant in our On-The-Job Training Program for individuals with disabilities. Through this program, which is only made possible through our generous donors, we welcome individuals with disabilities like Alec and teach them skills and help them obtain independence. Alec has told us “I find working here to be calm and relaxing,” Alec says “It’s super therapeutic to me.”

Alec, who has been turned down so many times from other employers, says his life has changed in so many ways since he started working here. He told us he has gained confidence, has been able to earn and save money, and is growing his relationship with the Lord.

As Alec has gotten closer to the Lord he told us he wished he had a Bible. Today we surprised Alec in the middle of his work duties with a brand-new Bible just for him! Alec was filled with joy after receiving this gift.

If you would like more information on our on-the-job training program for individuals with disabilities, or if you would like brochures to pass out to employers in your area on the benefits of hiring people with disabilities and giving these individuals the gift of independence, call us toll free at 1-888-503-7955 or email us at info@maysmission.org today. Thanks for all you do for the disabled and God bless your kind heart.

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Programs

Spring

With the spring season upon us we begin to look for signs of new life.  Driving through a pristine country setting or even dashing through a city subdivision one spots evidence of the seasonal change.  It may be the first daffodil reaching out to grab a ray of sunshine or seeing a frolicking foal bouncing through a fresh green pasture.  Whatever the case may be, everyone can see that new life has begun.

Using the above as an analogy, when people with disabilities see changes happening, it is probably time to make an appointment with your doctor.  Depending on the disability, change can be a positive or negative thing.  This is especially true with diabetes.  Changes in skin color, easy bruising or a sore that will not heal is a signal that something may be going awry and need to be checked out by a physician or healthcare professional.

Diabetes is one of those diseases that is very unpredictable and affects seven percent of the US population.  Thirty percent are undiagnosed (National Diabetics Information Clearinghouse)!  With early detection and proper treatment diabetes may be manageable.  Left undetected and untreated, diabetes can be fatal.

Make it a point to have your blood sugar checked yearly.  What better time than spring?  The sooner diabetes can be diagnosed the sooner treatment can begin and adjustments can be made to our lifestyles to assure a longer and better quality of life.

If you would like more information on how you can help, call us toll free at 1-888-503-7955 or email us at info@maysmission.org today. Thanks for all you do for the disabled. And please comment in the comments section if you have some helpful, healthy ideas you would like to share. Thanks!

Share your abilities and volunteer at a special needs camp in your area.

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Programs

February is “Heart Awareness Month”

February is “Heart Awareness Month” and Valentine’s Day brings to mind a time to show our love to those we care about. In addition, February has become associated with the Random Acts of Kindness program. Random acts of kindness are especially appreciated by caregivers, the elderly and those in hospitals and nursing homes.

Here are some suggestions to make this a special time of year. Most can be adapted to individuals as well as the various care facilities in your community:

              Volunteer to read out loud to individuals or care                             facility groups.

              Drop in for a chat and bring a treat such as a                                   ready-to-heat casserole.

              Arrange for a two-hour housecleaning session.

              Volunteer to take an elderly neighbor out to run                              errands.

              Send scenic postcards to patients in a local care                              facility that don’t have any relatives.

              If you have musical talents, volunteer to lead a                               sing-along session at a local care facility.

              Enjoy baking? Drop off a plate of cookies or some                          cupcakes.

              Enjoy gardening? Help a neighbor plant or weed                             their garden.

For more great ideas on volunteering call us or email us at info@maysmission.org for free copies of our brochures ‘Faith In Action Care Givers Alliance’ or ‘The Spirit of Volunteerism’ today. These brochures were produced by employees with disabilities here at Mays Mission for the Handicapped.

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A new year

We are now a few weeks into this new year. Right now some good questions to ask might be “What did we accomplish last year?  Are we better off in any way than we were 365 days ago?  What can we do in this new year we have embarked upon to improve our lives and the way we live?”  Better yet, what can we do to improve the lives of others, especially those with disabilities?

The dictionary describes an “advocate” as one who publicly supports or suggests an idea, development or way of doing something.

Here at Mays Mission, our primary goal is to aid and assist people with disabilities.  Yes, putting to work those who may have difficulty finding gainful employment is one facet of our purpose yet there is so much more.

Public education regarding the abilities and capabilities of people with disabilities is of utmost importance.  You see, through our various programs and direct mail, we have the opportunity to inform and educate the public throughout the country that given the opportunity, people with disabilities can become productive citizens.

We have seen scores of people with a variety of disabilities come and go here at Mays Mission while others have chosen to stay with us.  It’s heartwarming to know that some have bought their own homes, learned to drive and purchased automobiles, while some have moved on to bigger and better opportunities.  Seeing people succeed and become more independent where at one time hope seemed lost is an indescribable feeling.

We’ve set out goal; to aid and assist people with disabilities.  Won’t you please join us?  Email us at info@maysmission.org to learn more about our programs and see how you can be an advocate for people with disabilities this year. And your comments are always welcome in the comment section. Thanks!

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We have only begun our work

As our founder E.W. Mays said, “We have only begun our work.” Great strides have been made over the past five decades – about the time Mays Mission was founded. We have seen the passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Yet statistics show a vast majority of disabled individuals cannot find employment.

We feel that most employers meet the disability before they meet the person – that is to say that we, as humans, have a terrible habit of “judging a book by it’s cover,” assuming that an individual with an obvious disability is not suited for employment or simply cannot do the job. How wrong we are.

We encourage you to ask an employer if they have considered hiring individuals with disabilities. You could be the one that makes a difference in the life of a physically or mentally challenged individual.

If you would like more information, please call us at 1-888-503-7955 or email us at info@maysmission.org. Let’s all help make an employer aware of the potential of people with disabilities.

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“Who Were Those Wise Men?”

Here at Mays Mission, we love to receive Christmas cards from our friends. We tape them up on the walls for decoration so everyone can enjoy them. Many of the Christmas cards will have the manger scene which almost always includes the star above the manger. Some will have the three wise men, or Magi, or kings, bringing their gifts to baby Jesus. But just who are those three guys? We did a little research just so we can tell you what we learned about them.


The Bible tells about these “Magi” in Matthew. Here’s what we know for certain:

They were astrologers.


They came from the east.

They recognized the new star as fulfillment of ancient prophecy proclaiming that the long-awaited Messiah had finally come to earth.
They traveled thousands of miles to bring gifts to the new-born Messiah and to worship him.


That’s about it! Tradition and history can add some possibilities of great interest concerning these Magi. The Magi were a religious caste and one of the six tribes of Media (an ancient kingdom located in what is now northern Iran). Our modern day word magician comes from the magi because they were known for practicing magic. They also interpreted omens and dreams and offered astrological sacrifices. Before Jesus, they worshiped only the elements, fire, air, earth and water, especially fire.


We don’t really know how many of them there were. Scholars based the “three” on their three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh they brought with them to give to baby Jesus. These men were truly wise men because they went looking for God. They didn’t expect God to come looking for them. They recognized baby Jesus as the Messiah for the entire world—not just for the Jews. They took gifts to the Messiah—they didn’t expect God to give them gifts.


Those who are wise still seek and worship Jesus today, not for what they can get—but for who He is.


The family of Mays Mission wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas. If you would like to help us advocate on behalf of individuals with disabilities in your area call us or email us at info@maysmission.org and we can send you free brochures to pass out in your community. These brochures were produced by individuals with disabilities here at Mays Mission.

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The Greatest Gift

It’s that time of year again – the Christmas season. The brightly colored autumn leaves have fallen to the ground, announcing a time of rest and relaxation for many living things. We’ve stuffed ourselves with juicy Thanksgiving turkey and loads of luscious desserts from our bountiful buffets. People are putting up the Christmas decorations and the malls are calling for us to come and shop.

In all the hustle and bustle, let’s not forget the “reason for the season,” the birth of Jesus. He came to us just as foretold by prophets of old (Isaiah 7:14). Without his birth, there would have been no atonement for sin. We would still be sacrificing bulls, lambs and doves – presenting our sins to a high priest once a year. If He hadn’t come we would be unable to enter the most holy place – the throne room of God – are present out prayers and petitions (Hebrews 4:15, 16). He came that we might have abundant life (John 10:10).

As we enter this holiday season, let’s not forget those who might have difficulty getting out and about. Offer a ride to a friend with a disability or someone who may have difficulty navigating a shopping center or mall. Offer to shop for someone who may be unable to get out for whatever reason. A little kindness and friendliness and a show of care and compassion may be just the ticket to make someone’s Christmas time a little more stress-free.

I can think of no better verse – no better gift, than what is the quoted scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God bless you all! And thank you for supporting people with disabilities!