Watch Recording In the United States, disabled individuals are over-represented as both victims of crime and as those accused of crimes compared with their non-disabled counterparts, and this overrepresentation is even higher for those with disabilities and other marginalized identities. As a result, it is critical that all professionals working in the criminal legal system [click to continue...]
https://vimeo.com/919295991 Read transcript For Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), RespectAbility hosted a conversation about the upcoming film THIRTEEN. Based on a true story, THIRTEEN is a short film about a mother fighting to have a Bat Mitzvah for her disabled and terminally ill daughter in a synagogue that refuses to break from [click to continue...]
“A Holistic Perspective on Supporting People with Disabilities” Speaker: Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD, Senior Director of Faith Inclusion and Belonging, RespectAbility Spirituality can be a framework in which to support disabled individuals and those who love them. A holistic perspective demystifies disability and stigma, and centers on what is important to an individual. This session explored [click to continue...]
The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (TCIEA) has been introduced. This bill aims to eliminate certificates that allow employers to pay individuals with disabilities below minimum wage. Over the next five years, we would see a significant shift towards fair wages for all individuals, regardless of their disability status. If passed, this legislation will [click to continue...]
On February 6, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that it will retain the current American Community Survey (ACS) disability questions for 2025 and work closely with stakeholders in the disability community to ensure that future questions better account for the various types and levels of disability. In October 2023, the Census Bureau had suggested modifying [click to continue...]
With legislatures around the country in full swing, you may be headed to your state capitol or statehouse soon. Effectively communicating with a state legislator to advocate for a piece of legislation involves careful planning, clear communication, and maintaining a professional demeanor. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process, from reaching out [click to continue...]
On February 8, Kansas joined the ranks of 15 other states that have already abolished or are in the process of phasing out subminimum wages for individuals with disabilities. RespectAbility is pleased and encouraged that a bipartisan, cross-section of states is moving to ensure that people with disabilities are earning real pay for real work. [click to continue...]
Monthly Employment Update for People with Disabilities According to the latest National Trends In Disability Employment (nTIDE) report: The labor force participation rate for people with disabilities grew from 39.6% in January 2023 to 40.5% in January 2024. This continues an upward trend we have observed throughout the past year and remains close to the all-time highs. [click to continue...]
https://vimeo.com/914519366 Read transcript We celebrated the work of Jewish disabled writers and filmmakers. Learn from Asha Chai-Chang, a two-time Netflix writer/director Fellow and Emmy nominated producer; Eden Hadad, a writer/director with a penchant for crafting cinematic tales about bad people with good hearts; and Ava Rigelhaupt, a writer, consultant, actress, public speaker, and advocate for [click to continue...]
https://vimeo.com/911595112 Read transcript Download PowerPoint This workshop, the first in a four-part series from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Religion and Spirituality Interest Network and RespectAbility, provided a view of trauma from the perspective of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It explored the sources of trauma and the common [click to continue...]
