Disability and Caregiving- A Pastoral Care and Counselling Perspective

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Foreword It gives me immense pleasure to write this foreword for the book. Disability and Care giving A Pastoral Care and Counseling Perspective by Enthung Ening whom I have known and guided for his doctoral research at the United Theological College (UTC), Bengaluru. I am delighted that Dr Ekontluing Erung has published his doctoral research work that has a direct impact on contextually relevant implications for pastoral ministry in India. The book is based on the premise that "The experience of primary caregivers of persons with severe disabilities is highly demanding and causes higher stress impacting various aspects of their lives. The coping patterns under stress situations appear to be a key factor that determines the sense of wellbeing among primary caregivers. This book, therefore, attempts to identify the role of pastoral care and counseling among primary caregivers of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Nagaland and to explore select models of stress management and interventional measures.

Dr Ezung discusses the theoretical framework of disability that forms the basis for understanding the mindset and prejudice of society and the various challenges faced by PWDs and their primary caregivers. In the theoretical chapter on stress and coping patterns of primary caregivers, the theories of stress developed by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe (Stimulus-based model of stress), Hans Selye (response-based model of stress), Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman (transactional/Interactional model), and others have been discussed. Regarding patterns, emotion-focused, problem-focused, meaning-focused. relationship-focused, spiritual-focused, and social support systems were properly dealt with in the book. The author details that caregivers employ a broad range of coping mechanisms to deal with the multi-faced stress factors in caring for someone needing constant help, care, and support.

The author highlights the plight of persons with disabilities (PWDs) whose disability is linked with sin, curses, and punishment from God for wrongdoings. The author argues that despite the several provisions enacted for PWDs to foster their full acceptance, inclusion, and participation in society, they are often shown negative attitudes by the church and society at large.

Preface Dr S. Ekonthung Ezung in his book, Disability and Caregiving: A Pastoral Care and Counselling Perspective has displayed his innovative and sharpness in presenting a very important topic. Disability is a topic known to all but we prefer to keep it hushed until the condition affects us personally. Disability is a condition in God's creation and not outside God's creation; hence the topic becomes vital in talking about God's economy of creation. Disability is a life condition that requires living with assistive agents, humans, or tools. In this book, the author has discussed thoroughly how the assistants or caregivers experience stress as they care for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

While discussing the joy of assisting other humans to live and thus fulfill the divine call for bearing one another's burden of life, the author has employed various scientific tools of measurement and methods of discovering data. Each of these variables, demographic measurement, stress level measurement, theological measurement, and gender or age-wise measurement are so efficiently brought out. These are tools not only for the topic of study here but for general usage. For instance, talking about stress and methods of coping with it applies to general human conditions, not only related to the primary caregivers of PWDs. That way the reader is informed and equipped for its application in other stressful situations. Stress is sometimes considered the third major killer of humankind. If so this book majoring in the study of stress and how to cope with it should be a good instrument to fight the killer.

Knowing the author's ability to express, and articulate his thought, hard work, and seriousness to investigate, I am not surprised that he has come up with this book as a valuable gift for the readers. This book will make the readers not only appreciate the intricate methods of social research but also love and accept PWDs within the great family of God's creation. This fulfils also the worldwide cry for realizing 'A Church of All and For All.' It is regrettable to say that the church has so long neglected PWDs in its ministry.

**Contents and Sample Pages**