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The intersection of spirituality and disability has given rise to a variety of initiatives and programs across faith traditions. All of these elevate the importance of faith in the lives of many disabled people and those who love them. Shelly Christensen, Rev. Ben Bond, Rev. Bill Gaventa, and Hannah Roussel discussed why sacred communities need to raise awareness to create a culture of belonging. The presenters talked about their experiences creating grassroots faith and disability initiatives, offered tools and resources, and provided wisdom from different sacred traditions and communities.
Speakers
Shelly Christensen, MA FAAIDD, is RespectAbility’s Senior Director of Faith Inclusion and Belonging and co-founder of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). Shelly will share how JDAIM, recognized in February, has unified the global Jewish community to amplify the voices of people with disabilities and mental health conditions.
Reverend Bill Gaventa is a Board Member at RespectAbility, and the founder of the Institute on Theology and Disability. Bill will talk about the need for multifaith theological study.
Reverend Ben Bond is the Faith Inclusion and Belonging Associate at RespectAbility, and a founding member of the Disciples of Christ Disability Justice task force.
Hannah Roussel is a Faith Inclusion and Belonging Fellow at RespectAbility in the Fall 2023 cohort. Hannah will share accessibility tips that can be implemented in your community.
