Past Events Archives - Page 4 of 29

Private Sneak Peek and Conversation: THIRTEEN

poster for THIRTEEN with a mother, her daughter, and a rabbi in the background 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.

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2024 Bikur Cholim Conference: JDAIM 2024 Webinars

“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.

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Celebrating Jewish and Disabled Creativity During JDAIM

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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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Trauma and Healing: An Overview

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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…]

Loving Our Own Bones: A Conversation with Rabbi Julia Watts Belser

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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…]

Graphic advertising RespectAbility webinar titled Building Disability Inclusion Together. Includes headshots of the four speakers who were part of the webinar

Building Disability Inclusion Together: How to Increase Disability Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion in Your Faith Community

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Download Resource: Communications Accessibility Checklist
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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. [continue reading…]

Gaining Marketable Skills Through Podcasting

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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…]

Graphic advertising RespectAbility’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, sponsored by Wells Fargo, featuring headshots of host Nikki Bailey, featured speakers and award recipients Nicole Homerin and Elizabeth Kim, and entertainment from musician James Ian and DJ Sabeerah Najee, plus a performance from StraightUp Abilities.

RespectAbility 10-Year Anniversary Celebration Event

graphic advertising RespectAbility's 10th anniversary celebration on November 2nd with headshots and titles of host Nikki Bailey, speakers Elizabeth Kim and Nicole Homerin, and entertainers James Ian, Sabeerah Najee, and Straight Up Abilities RespectAbility celebrated 10 years of fighting for full inclusion of people with disabilities! The 10th Anniversary Celebration Event, featuring Platinum Sponsor Wells Fargo, not only celebrated the many wins within the disability community over the last 10 years, but also helped RespectAbility prepare for an even more successful future.

Attendees joined us for dinner, music and dancing with DJ Sabeerah Najee, live entertainment from musician James Ian and the disabled dance troupe Straight Up Abilities, and so much more!