In an era where representation matters more than ever, the television industry stands at the forefront of influencing societal perspectives and norms. Attendees heard from panelists who are driving disability inclusion both on and offscreen, as they discussed strategies for success, challenges faced when advocating for inclusivity, and what it takes to achieve greater equity in the television industry. [continue reading…]
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Trauma informed care (TIC) has emerged as an approach for individuals and organizations in response to the growing awareness of the pervasive and long-lasting impact of trauma on health and wellbeing. Since the early 1990s, John Keesler, PhD has been involved with the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities community in various capacities. John’s work is dedicated to peer-reviewed scholarship about trauma informed care and IDD. Simultaneously, he has served in music ministry in different capacities with his faith community for about 30 years. John discussed creating a marriage of Trauma Informed Care and Faith. This webinar was the second in a four-part series from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Religion and Spirituality Interest Network and RespectAbility. [continue reading…]
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 understand the rights of individuals with disabilities and know how to support them.
On Thursday, February 29th, from 3:00-4:00pm ET/12:00-1:00pm PT, NACDL and RespectAbility hosted an engaging webinar that included a discussion of the basics of disability etiquette, language, and inclusion, and laid a strong foundation for how legal professionals can better serve individuals with disabilities who are involved with the criminal legal process as victims, witnesses, and defendants. [continue reading…]
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 tradition. During this exclusive event, we explored the intersections of ableism and antisemitism and the ongoing impact in Jewish communities, hearing from members of the team behind the making of THIRTEEN. Live attendees also saw a sneak peek of a clip from the film.
“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 this in context of access and belonging.
“Expanding our Tents to Create Belonging”Speaker: Rabbi Lauren Tuchman, Disability Access Consultant, Rabbinic Teacher
In this session, we explored together the important disability wisdom that can be foundational for creating caring communities for people with disabilities. Rooted in classic text and the contemporary Torah of Rabbi/Dr. Julia Watts Belser, we gained a deeper appreciation for the critical wisdom from disability communities and individuals that is often outside our tent. The session gave us tools to be more engaged, curious and open and create belonging.
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 disability and autism representation in the entertainment industry. Not only did each panelist complete RespectAbility’s Entertainment Lab, but they also each represent a variety of intersectional identities that make them the writers they are today.
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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 effects of that trauma on both a biological and psychological level. The key ingredients for healing were explored and case studies were shared. [continue reading…]
In celebration of the 15th anniversary of Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM), Rabbi Julia Watts Belser joined us in conversation about her new book Loving Our Own Bones: Disability Wisdom and the Spiritual Subversiveness of Knowing Ourselves Whole. In Loving Our Own Bones, which was the 2024 JDAIM Book Club Selection, Julia brings Jewish sacred texts into relationship with disability culture to deepen conversations about disability, spirituality, and social justice. We explored the intersections of access, ableism, and antisemitism in biblical texts and contemporary culture, learned how Shabbat practice can offer us spiritual tools for centering disability wisdom, and considered disability as a generative force that calls us to confront structures of exclusion and recommit to the work of building a more welcoming world. [continue reading…]
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Download Resource: Communications Accessibility Checklist
Download Resource: Tips For Building Disability Inclusion Together
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. [continue reading…]
Podcasting can be helpful for people to gain various skills that stand out to employers. Meet two RespectAbility National Leadership Fellows, who have both worked on a podcast. Their podcasting skills helped them receive their Fellowship offers, as our team was able to see their skills in action. Learn from RespectAbility staff and Fellows on how you can create or work on podcasts in various ways, including interview and narrative. [continue reading…]
