My job is to go and talk to youth clubs, Sunday schools, schools, churches, guides, brownies, scouts, WI etc. etc. etc., raising awareness of the work of Through The Roof, and giving my own personal experience of living with a disability, sharing some of the things that have helped me, and some of the attitudes that have hindered me. I will also share my testimony as a Christian where appropriate. I will answer any questions that anyone has.
I was born without eyes. This is a condition called Bilateral Alnophthalmia. It was a great shock to my family. My parents have 6 other children who have no disabilities at all. Despite this shock, and their questions as to why God had allowed this to happen, they wanted me to live a normal life. So I was sent to mainstream school from playgroup right through to A-levels.
I went to Trinity College of music on Saturdays for 3 years, and I love to sing. I especially love to sing to praise my saviour. I became a Christian at a very young age, and was baptised when I was 12.
Through The roof, being a Christian charity, base their beliefs on the God’s word. Here are some of the bible passages that we use to demonstrate that God loves everyone if they have a disability or not, and that he does nothing by mistake.
We are all created in God’s image, Genesis 1:27
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
(This scripture does not say “but God did not create disabled people, he created everybody and everything exactly as he meant them to be”)
God doesn’t make mistakes, Exodus 4:11
“So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?”
(This is saying that nothing has come about by accident. God plans everything, and can use everyone no matter how they feel that he can’t because of this or that reason.)
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The Lord looks at the heart, 1 Samuel 16:7
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
(It is more important that we are right with God in our hearts than what we look like or how we learn.)
We were fearfully and wonderfully made by God, Psalm 139:14
“I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are your works, and that my soul knows very well.”
(We were all made by God, wonderfully. It is amazing to look at the human body and think what it can do. Everything we are good at, or not good at, all our gifts and strengths are from God.)
Neither this man or his parents sinned, John 9:3
“Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”
(This verse states that disability is not caused by sin. It is not a punishment for sin. Sometimes God allows things to happen so that his glory may shine through it. I have been asked why I don’t ask for healing, and comments have been made that I obviously do not have enough faith because God hasn’t healed me yet. I know! That God could give me eyes just like that. And that he could give me all the visual knowledge to go with them. I know he could do it, but I do not believe that he wants to. I believe that he wants to use my blindness to glorify his name. I believe that he has called me to go and tell people about my disability, so that I can explain how God has helped me to cope with it, and show that I can live a normal life, as the normal person I am.)
We are all part of the Body of Christ and those that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 1 Corinthians 12
“No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”
(God uses people and things that look weak or unnecessary to show people his glory, and to show them how we are all equal even though we have different gifts, strengths, or weaknesses.)
All equal in Christ, Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
(We could almost say this scripture is saying that there is “neither disabled or non-disabled” because it only matters that your heart is right with God, not what you look or sound like.)
Go into the streets and bring in the poor, the crippled and the lame, Luke 14:20
“So that servant came and reported these things to his master.
Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and
The maimed and the lame and the blind.’”
(This is an illustration of God calling us all to be saved and to be with him in heaven. The invitation is open to all, including the disabled people.)
Through The Roof has lots of resources to help people learn how to be more inclusive, not just in their buildings, but by their attitudes. Please visit
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For more information and to get involved.
