1. Extending Hospitality and Receiving the Gifts of
People Leaving Northern Wisconsin Center
The Project Homecoming
Guidebook for
Faith Communities

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A Publication of
People First Wisconsin
Written by Mary Clare Carlson
Edited and Formatted by Amy McGrath
Made possible with funds from the
Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities
This publication was funded, in part, by the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities using federal funds
provided under P.L. 106-402 through a grant authorized by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities and the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The information reported herein was compiled pursuant to the
State Plan on Developmental Disabilities. Grantees undertaking projects with Council sponsorship are encouraged to
express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent the
official position or policy of the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities.
October, 2004

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Contents
______________________________________
• About Project Homecoming
• Introduction
• Call to Action
• Project Homecoming’s Mission
• History of Disability and Institutions
• How to Organize Your Resettlement Efforts to
Support People Leaving Northern Wisconsin Center
• Getting to Know the Person First
• “Hands On” Suggestions for Supporting a Person Who
Left Northern Wisconsin Center
• Sustaining Relationships and Support Over Time
• Resources

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ABOUT PROJECT HOMECOMING
Project Homecoming grew out of
a project between the Wisconsin
Council on Developmental
Disabilities and People First
Wisconsin. Both organizations
wanted to offer a personal and
unique response to the individuals
who were relocating from
Northern Wisconsin Center and
their guardians. Inspired by the
work of the Faith Inclusion
Network and refugee
resettlement efforts, the idea
for Project Homecoming was born.
Project Homecoming is a group of
clergy, lay ministers, members of
faith communities, community
builders, parents and self-
advocates who care about
strengthening our local
communities by ensuring all people
are welcomed, valued and able to
“live their gifts” in the
community.
Project Homecoming looks to
connect faith communities with
persons leaving Northern
Wisconsin Center. Project
Homecoming believes that faith
communities can be powerful
allies when working in
collaboration with family and paid
support staff to ensure a person’s
happiness and safety in the
community.
Project Homecoming believes that
faith communities can provide a
familiar and friendly place of
welcome for people with
disabilities who are new to a
community. Members of faith
communities can act as bridges to
the wider community and create
opportunities for meeting new
people and forming new
friendships.
If you would like more
information or would like to join
the efforts of Project
Homecoming you can call the
Wisconsin Faith Inclusion
Network at 1-608-267-3909 or
send an email to
projecthomecoming@juno.com or
call People First Wisconsin toll-
free at 1-888-270-5352 and ask
for Mary Clare Carlson.

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Introduction
At the heart of all faith traditions is
the gift of hospitality or welcome to
the stranger. Refugee resettlement
initiatives support people who are
relocating to the United States to
build new and more hopeful lives.
Faith communities are now called to
embrace a new resettlement model.
Citizens with disabilities who were,
many years ago, removed from their
communities and admitted to state-
run institutions, are now being given
the opportunity to return to their
home communities and build new and
more hopeful lives.
These citizens with disabilities will
have many experiences similar to
foreign refugees. Some will have lost
contact with some or all of their
family members. Some will have
experienced abuse or neglect over the
years. Many of these citizens with
disabilities have experienced a
complete loss of control over their
lives, where choices of where and how
to live was long ago made by someone
else. Like foreign refugees, language
and communication may be difficult
for them. They will need to find
housing and medical services. They
will need to find jobs or other
meaningful activities to fill their days.
The people living in the community will
largely be strangers to them, and vice
versa. They will be frightened about
the changes taking place in their lives.
Yet, these citizens with disabilities
moving from Northern Wisconsin
Center will be full of hope.
Faith communities are places of hope.
They can provide a familiar and
friendly place of welcome for people
moving from the state-run centers.
Faith communities can be a bridge to
the wider community and of
supportive friendships. Faith
communities can be powerful allies
when working in collaboration with the
families and paid support staff of
people moving from Northern
Wisconsin Center.

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Call to Action
The following are some reflections
from clergy and self-advocates across
Wisconsin about the value of faith
communities welcoming the gifts of
persons with disabilities. Some of the
reflections are personal. All of the
reflections remind us of the key role
that faith communities can play in the
resettlement of people leaving
Northern Wisconsin Center and making
new homes in the community. Hopefully these reflections will inspire all
of us to grow in our faith and will call us to put that faith into action.
“A favorite hymn that spans
many of the Christian traditions
begins each verse with the
phrase ‘Just as I am’ and ends
each verse with the phrase ‘I
come, I come.’ We have sung
this song in our congregation
for many years. We have
preached and studied the
message of God’s unconditional
love for us. Yet the most
effective teachers of that
message to our congregation
have been those with
disabilities, especially those
with significant and life-long
disabilities. I remember Alan,
who moved to our community
from Northern Wisconsin
Center. Alan was a living
lesson in authenticity. He was
authentically glad to be in
community every time he was
at church. It never occurred to
him to act pious or perfect. He
never worried about being liked
or loved by the community or
by God. He simply trusted that
he was. He came to church,
prayed, sang with feeling (even
if out of tune), received the
sacrament, did volunteer work
and enjoyed his place of
belonging here at Saron.
Alan was a lesson for each of
us in the art of self-acceptance.
The gift Alan gave us was more
powerful than anything we gave
him. He helped us to live in
front of God with authenticity.
The wonderful thing is that
while he was uniquely Alan, the
gifts, which he brought to the
congregation, are often found
in people with similar
disabilities and different

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abilities. Since Alan passed
away, our community has
received and welcomed two
others who teach us the same
lessons and give us similar
gifts.
They give us, the gift of
acceptance, the gift of
confidence in God’s love for us,
the gift of loving the
community and the gift of
authenticity. What
congregation can afford to pass
up such gifts?”
Pastor Jim Kasperson
Saron Lutheran Church, Ashland, WI
“My name is Barry Kress. I
am 42 years old. My
challenges include a seizure
disorder, Tourette’s
Syndrome and clinical
depression. I am a member
of People First Wisconsin. I
live in Milwaukee.
I am of the Jewish faith and
I made my Bar Mitzvah in
1975. I go to services on
Saturdays at the Jewish
Home. Rabbi Pontas is my
rabbi. He has helped me in
so many ways especially
since my mother’s death.
My faith has sustained me
through some truly awful
times. I have experienced
much grief and loss. My
Jewish faith is what I have
held on to.
Respect and dignity have
been wonderful gifts that I
have received from
belonging to the Jewish
community. Making my Bar
Mitzvah was so important to
my self-esteem and sense of
worth. My family and my
rabbi were so proud of me.
Other people with more
significant disabilities than
mine can make their Bar
Mitzvah.
Everyone needs a place to
belong and be valued. We
all need to serve God no
matter our limitations. Even
Moses had a speech
impediment. No one is
perfect. God chooses to
work through our
imperfections.”
Barry Kress
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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“I was hungry, and you gave me some food. I was thirsty, and you gave me
something to drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you
clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’”
Matthew 25:35-36
Christians have pondered these
words of Christ from the earliest
days of the faith to present times.
They are challenging words. They
remind us of a very central tenet of
our faith: Christ is to be found in
those who are seeking to belong.
He is present to us in those who
seek our fellowship and friendship.
In other words, Christ has situated
himself right in the middle of our
human family.
When our congregations reach out
to someone making the transition
from life within an institution to life
within a community, we are taking
the words of Jesus to heart. Our
church families can offer the
nourishment of acceptance and
support. We can help those who
are moving into new life and new
beginnings to feel that they are
strangers no longer. And in time
we learn that those we have
welcomed have always been one of
us. We can offer those beginning a
life of new hope and freedom,
outside of an institution, one of the
most precious, holy gifts of all: we
can say to that person, in the
name of Christ, “Welcome! You are
a member of this community, and
we need you, and your gifts, and
your struggles, so that together we
can more fully be the Body of
Christ.”
The poet Robert Frost wrote,
“Home is the place where, when
you go there, they have to take
you in.” Jesus tells us that we are
to welcome all in his name. As our
brothers and sisters are making
the change from institutional life to
life in our midst, they need to know
the reality of “home”. Let’s pray
that our faith communities can find
meaningful and hopeful ways to aid
in that process. Our mission, our
ministry, and our very lives
depend on how we respond to just
such a call.”
Fr. Scott Leannah
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
Dousman, Wisconsin

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“My name is Lisa Gilson. I live
in my own apartment. I have
four different part-time jobs
working in the community. I
like to say I have “challenges”
instead of “disabilities”. I like
to say I have “Up Syndrome”
instead of “Downs Syndrome”
because it is more positive and
that keeps me more positive. I
am a member of People First
Wisconsin.
I belong to Holy Family
Catholic Church. I serve as a
lector and as a Eucharistic
minister. I also play guitar at
church. About three years
ago, I took vows in the Secular
Third Order of St. Francis. I
was inspired to join the Third
Order by other members. I
saw how they publicly declared
their love for God and I
thought I can do that too! I
also wanted to be close to God
like St. Francis and St. Clare.
I would like to tell everyone
that I have been totally
accepted by my faith
community. It is good for
people with challenges to be
with the rest of the community.
If given a chance we are able
to do many things. If given
the opportunity we can
accomplish so many things.
Even people who have a lot
more challenges than I do,
have a place in our faith
communities.
No matter how much someone
understands, God is still in
their heart. Jesus has given
me many talents and is helping
me use them. You and your
faith community can help
people with challenges to
discover their talents and help
them to use them.”
Lisa Gilson

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Project Homecoming’s Mission
Project Homecoming is a group
of clergy, lay ministers,
community builders, members of
faith communities, parents and
self-advocates who care about
strengthening our local
communities by ensuring all
people are welcomed, valued and
able to “live their gifts”.
Project Homecoming believes
that a community that has no
place for people who cannot
speak, or walk or do higher
mathematics is impoverishing
itself. When a community cuts
itself off from people with
disabilities, it also denies part of
what it means to be human. By
welcoming people with
disabilities, the community is
strengthened. By embracing the
gifts of people with disabilities,
the community is enriched.
Project Homecoming works to
create partnerships with faith
communities, people moving out
of Northern Wisconsin Center,
their families and paid support
staff. Project Homecoming can
help your faith community to
identify how it can best
contribute to this new
resettlement model.

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History of Disability and Institutions
Over a hundred years ago, states in
this country created institutions to
serve people with disabilities. At
that time, institutions were the
states best efforts to humanely
respond to the needs of persons
with disabilities and their families.
Times have changed. There have
been tremendous advances in
medicine, technology and service
practices. This has led a majority
of states in this country to begin
closing their state-run institutions
and serve people with disabilities in
the community. Now communities
have the opportunity to benefit
from the gifts and talents of
persons with disabilities – the gifts
and talents that have been hidden
too long by segregated settings
and limiting stereotypes.
People who will be moving out of
Northern Wisconsin Center have
developmental disabilities. This can
mean many different things. Some
people may have difficulty in
walking. Others may have
difficulty in using their hands.
Some people read others do not.
Some people have difficulty with
their vision, others their hearing.
Some people need to be on the
move and have trouble sitting still.
Some people need encouragement
to go out. Some people can speak
with their voice, others use sign,
some use technology and still
others use their behavior to
communicate. All of them have
some difficulty in learning. All of
them need some assistance in their
daily living. Every faith community
must get to know each unique
individual that they welcome.
Getting to know the person first
and their disability label second is
the key. Some people may say they
have “special needs” but that is
misleading. All of their needs are
quite ordinary, like food, shelter,
clothing, transportation, love,
friendship, safety, and a sense of
belonging. Their needs may be
quite ordinary but often they
require extraordinary means to
meet those needs. Paid community
supports can meet many of those
needs. But love, friendship and
belonging must be given freely by
other community members. This is
where faith communities are
crucial. Faith communities can
respond with extraordinary means
to show people love and give them a
place to belong.

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How to Organize Your
Resettlement Efforts
to Support People Leaving Northern Wisconsin Center
There are many different ways that a faith community can respond to the
resettlement needs of people leaving Northern Wisconsin Center. The
following ideas are merely guidelines. Your faith community can choose one
or combine them or create your own - whatever best utilizes the gifts and
talents of your unique faith community.
Family Sponsorship
Family sponsorship involves the
commitment of an individual or
family to act as a “bridge” between
the person moving from Northern
Wisconsin Center and the faith
community. The family will develop
a personal relationship with the
person and will introduce that
person to others in the faith
community. The family will support
the person in participating in
activities in the faith community
and the larger community as well.
Resettlement Team
A resettlement team is made up of
a variety of volunteers from the
faith community who are
committed to meet together over
time to help connect the person
moving from Northern Wisconsin
Center to the faith community.
The resettlement team will develop
a welcome plan that addresses the
needs of the person moving from
Northern. This will include such
things as outreach and hospitality,
assistance in finding resources like
housing, employment and medical
services, coordinating donations of
household items, and informing the
faith community of the social
justice issues persons with
disabilities face very day.

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Circle of Friends
A Circle of Friends is a group of
people who agree to meet on a
regular basis, over time, to help
the person moving from Northern
Wisconsin Center to achieve
certain personal goals. The Circle
will be a diverse group of faith
community members, the person’s
family, friends and paid support
staff as well as other citizens from
the community. Project
Homecoming can offer facilitation
assistance in this process.
Getting to Know the Person First
Spend some time with the person.
Often the person will not be able to
use words to tell you about his/her
life. Observe what makes the person
smile and laugh. Observe what
frustrates the person, causes anger
or anxiety. Go see where the person
lives. Meet the paid support staff.
See what the person does during the
day. Ask to hear stories about the
person from family members or
others who value the person. Ask to
look at photo albums.
You must always go beyond the label
to get to know the individual person.
Search for similarities between your
personalities – it may surprise you.

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This section contains suggestions for supporting a
person who has moved to your community from
Northern Wisconsin Center. These activities can be
done before the person has moved, during the
actual move and/or after the person has moved.
It is hoped that the faith community will get to
know the person before they move and continue
the relationship with the person after the move.
The categories of support are as follows:
DONATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
CONNECTIONS
RELATIONSHIPS

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Donations
IGather donations of new household items
that the person may need – this is a great
activity for school-age children and teenagers
IOffer a collection to help offset the cost of
the specialized transportation services the
person needs
IHold a fundraiser to raise money to pay for
accessibility modifications for the person’s
home or for needed accessible technology
IGet donations from local businesses of
material and/or labor to help make home
modifications
IHold a fundraiser to purchase software that
helps a person with little or no reading skills
to use a computer

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Contributions
Here are some examples of how a person who has moved
from Northern Wisconsin Center could contribute to your
faith community. Maybe you can use them or maybe they
will ignite your creativity to develop some examples of your
own.
I A person could be a greeter/minister of
hospitality at your faith services.
I A person could help prepare and serve meals to
people who are homeless.
I A person could help set up or clean up for
activities at your faith community like fish fries
and spaghetti dinners.
I A person could be part of a choir even if the
person cannot read music – like playing the
tambourine or the triangle.
I A person could be a lector - if needed a support
person could stand beside the person to help with
any difficult words.
I A person could help stuff bulletins and assist
with large mailings.
I A person could be a part of processions.
I A person could help clean the worship space.
I A person could help with collections.

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I A person could volunteer to help with projects of
the faith community such as Habitat for
Humanity.
I A person could help with child care.
Get to know the person and try to build
upon the person’s gifts and talents
I A person who likes to stir could help in the kitchen.
I A person who has a great smile could be a greeter.
I A person who loves music could help with the choir.
I A person who needs things to be straightened could
help clean up.
I A person who likes children could help with child care.
I A person who likes folding paper could help with
mailings.

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Connections
I Identify good neighbors, realtors and landlords to assist
in locating suitable housing
I Identify local doctors and dentists that will accept
Medical Assistance
I Identify resources at your faith community like a parish
nurse that could benefit the person
I Identify companies that could employ the person or
provide a work experience
I Identify possible volunteer opportunities for the person
I Identify activities in your faith community that the
person could participate in
I Identify activities in the larger community that the
person could participate in
I Identify persons in your faith community who might be
interested in being hired to support the person
I Identify persons in your faith community who might be
interested in developing a friendship with the person

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Relationships
IOffer rides to the person
IOffer to sit with the person during faith services
IOffer to help the person volunteer at your faith
community
IOffer to develop a friendship with the person
IOffer to celebrate holidays and birthdays with the
person
IOffer to hang out with the person at the local
coffee shop or mall
IOffer to do arts and crafts with the person
IOffer to cheer on the person at Special Olympics
events
IOffer to go to concerts, plays and movies with the
person
IOffer to bake cookies with the person
IOffer to garden with the person

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Empowerment through Relationships
One of the most important
things that your faith
community can do is to
empower the person who
has moved from Northern
Wisconsin Center.
Supporting the person so
that they can contribute to
the community is crucial to
your hospitality efforts. If
all one receives is charity,
one never truly becomes a
member of the community
and the community is
impoverished. One must be
a contributing member of
one’s community – no matter
how small that contribution
is.
Get to know the person and
try to avoid situations that
are difficult for them.
Some people do better with
one-on one attention and
struggle in large group
settings. Some people are
shy and like to work behind
the scenes. Some people
are bold and need to be
part of the action. Some
people love being in large
groups. Some people love
lots of noise. Some people
need a quieter space. Get to
know the person.
Theologian Henri Nouwen
stated it very well when he
wrote, “The question is not
‘how can we help people with
disabilities?’ The more
important question is ‘how
can people with disabilities
give their spiritual gifts to
us and call us to love?’”
We all bring our unique
gifts to the table. It is
important that all those
gifts are valued and
welcomed. This is especially
true for those whose gifts
have been overlooked for so
long.

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Sustaining Relationships and Support
Over Time
Simple things hold people
together. Simple things like
sharing places, meals and
celebrations. Reciprocity, a
free exchange of help and
support, holds people
together. Sharing songs,
dances, rituals and traditions
are also important. Faith
holds people together. So
does sharing stories that
carry memories and values.
If the things that hold us
together are so simple, how
come we so often fall apart
and grow distant? Simple
things hold us together but
the simple things require an
investment of time. It is not
so much what we DO for each
other but that we make time
to simply BE with each other.
The people moving from
Northern Wisconsin Center
are no different. They need
you to be with them not
worrying so much about what
you can do for them.
Being with someone whose
vulnerabilities are so visible can
be challenging. To touch
another person’s vulnerability,
one must come face to face
with one’s own vulnerabilities
and limitations – and accept
them. This will be one of the
greatest gifts that people
moving from Northern
Wisconsin Center will give your
faith community – and the most
difficult for your community to
receive.
As your faith community
journeys with this person who
has moved from Northern
Wisconsin Center, remember
that any one
friendship/relationship will be
more successful over time if it
is surrounded and interwoven
with many other relationships/
friendships. Share the journey.

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Resources
If you want to make connections with disability resources in
your community, the following groups can help you.
ARC Wisconsin 1-877-272-8400
People First Wisconsin 1-888-270-5352
Project Homecoming
Wisconsin Faith Inclusion
Network
1-608-267-3909
Wisconsin Council on
Developmental Disabilities
1-608-266-7826
Wisconsin Coalition for Advocacy 1-800-708-3034

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