“When you get an award for doing something you love so much, it’s confusing almost… It’s like being commended for eating chocolate.” Jan Benton, 2012 Roundtable Harry A. Fagan Award recipient, opened her address to nearly 100 Roundtable members and friends with a laugh.
Jan opened her talk with a reminder and a challenge to attendees: “[Persons with disabilities] aren’t exceptional or special. They’re just folks who want to live their lives. If you give them that box, you’re setting them aside with sentimentality. Rather than that, you need to be seeing the people behind the disability and appreciating them for who they are. They are people who want to have friends, want to work, and want to live a life of faith.”
“However, they do need protection from exploitation and abuse,” she continued, “and may need services to live independently. That’s where we come in.”
Jan recognized early on and throughout her address how important her community has been to her work. She was supported in person by her husband Martin and team of co-workers, who, Jan said, frequently stretch her to go outside her comfort zone. Joe Dunn, SFO, who entered the Secular Franciscan community with Jan in 1979, also joined her at the table. As she has recognized, and those who know her well can attest, her SFO family and vocation has been instrumental in forming, supporting and guiding her in ministry.
Jan shared her personal story that brought her to ministry and advocacy for and with people with disabilities. When she was in her 20s working in a nursing home, she came face to face with issues of elder abuse among very vulnerable people. Through the course of her work, she became friends with Gail, a woman with cerebral palsy, with whom she became very close. It was through this and other significant relationships that she began to understand her vocation in this work. 
Jan also told the story of Debbie, a woman who called Jan to ask if she could volunteer in the CCD program at their parish, and let Jan know she had cerebral palsy. Jan said she was immediately open to Debbie’s participation because she had known Gail. Debbie admitted to Jan that “this was the hardest call [she] ever made,” because she was worried she would be told she couldn’t volunteer.
The story served as a reminder for all Award Banquet attendees to examine our own ministries to ensure they are inclusive as well as inviting for people with disabilities.
Later, Jan encouraged us, “Assume people with disabilities want to be involved in your meetings and events and plan accordingly.” She lifted up the example of the recent Catholic Charities USA Martin Luther King Day awards gathering in which, just days before the event, Jan requested interpretation services for a friend. Without a second’s hesitation, CCUSA staff members agreed to find someone to provide this service.
Jan also presented the many challenges to life and dignity with which we are currently confronted. She shared, “We are fighting for our very lives: the right to be born, the right to needed health care, the right to not be asked to donate our organs prematurely… and to die a natural death without the suggestion that suicide might be the ‘compassionate choice’ … which has been called the ‘ultimate elder abuse.’”
It is clear that we have our work cut out for us in advocating to protect life and promote dignity for all people throughout life, especially those made most vulnerable.
At the root of Jan’s work is Catholic social teaching. “You can’t be in this work without a deep gratitude for Catholic social teaching because it gives us the understanding of the dignity of every human life. At the same time, it’s fighting for justice for dignity for people to live a life, and to have rights and responsibilities,” Jan shared.
She also said that she “grieves over the disconnect between life and justice communities” which represents lost opportunities to witness to our Catholic faith. She also, however, rejoices in the efforts in recent years to bridge this divide through the gift of our Catholic social teaching, and noted that the ministry of the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities is a “clear bridge” in this work. She also encouraged participants to “imagine the force we can be, as Catholics, when we consistently witness to our beliefs and values.”
Jan offered that the Harry A. Fagan Award is an affirmation of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and the strong disability advocates who fight each day for their rights and their lives. Jan’s inspiring personal story as well as her humility and steadfast commitment to justice stirred and encouraged the entire Roundtable community present.
Watch video clips from Jan’s address and Roundtable member Jerry Freewalt’s tribute to Jan.
Photos by Tom Hopkins.
