December religious holidays and celebrations are natural opportunities for houses of worship to embrace practices that welcome and support people with disabilities in all aspects of the community. One of the most common questions we get is, “Our congregation wants to include disabled people, but where do we begin?”
My answer comes in the form of a question. “Belonging is at the heart of inclusion. So, what gives you a sense of belonging in your faith community?”
This question shifts the conversation dramatically. Belonging is universal. It is the heart, the thing that anyone, disabled or not disabled, can answer. And that is where you start your holiday celebrations and events, with the tangible understanding that there is so much more to what we call “inclusion.” It moves thinking from “them” and “us” to simply “us.” It creates communities of people who share traditions, customs, rituals, and interests. Belonging is the manifestation of Gen. 1:26, that we are all created in the divine image.
