Webinars Archives - RespectAbility

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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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…]

Road to NDEAM: Veterans with Disabilities

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Road to NDEAM: Educators with Disabilities

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Fireside Chat: Changing Attitudes by Amplifying Authentic Disability Narratives

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Changing attitudes means that we challenge stigma and amplify authentic narratives on disability. We’re proud to be a “nothing about us, without us” organization, led by those with a diversity of disabilities and other intersectional identities. Disabled people are the best experts on their lived experience, and we work to promote this reality across our pillars. Watch this webinar to hear from members of our Board and Staff about our work in this area, and our vision for the coming years.

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Fireside Chat: Developing Disabled Leaders

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Developing leaders means that we model the practice of training and empowering the next generation of leaders in disability advocacy across our pillars. This includes investing in our staff through professional development and building new pathways for employee recognition and advancement. We also created new policies to shape a workplace environment that centers equity and inclusion. In 2022, RespectAbility trained 34 Apprentices and ran three Labs for 52 disabled entertainment professionals. More than 400 people have graduated from one of our pipeline programs since 2013.

Watch the recording to learn from members of our Staff, and alumni of our pipeline programs, about our work in this area, and our vision for the coming years. [continue reading…]

Community Connectedness and Technology

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Throughout the pandemic, technology solutions provided opportunities for people with I/DD and their families to participate in what used to be inaccessible activities and environments. Today, tools such as virtual platforms, communication technologies, connected communities, and cognitively accessible solutions are applied in innovative ways to decrease loneliness and provide ways for individuals to access religious and spiritual environments. Our presenters discussed the utilization of technology solutions across domains and innovative approaches spiritual leaders are using to reach new audiences and allow greater participation from people with I/DD. [continue reading…]

Fireside Chat with RespectAbility’s Ollie Cantos and Ariel Simms

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Hear directly from RespectAbility’s President and CEO Ariel Simms and Chairman of the Board of Directors Ollie Cantos, as they celebrate the achievements of RespectAbility’s first decade as an organization, including achievements in developing leaders, changing policy, ensuring authentic representation, and creating more accessible and inclusive communities. They discussed their vision for RespectAbility’s next 10 years and the organization’s renewed efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

Learn more about RespectAbility’s 10th Anniversary virtual event series.

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From Assessment to Participation – Supporting Individual Preferences to Find Their Faith Community

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How do you determine ways to support individual spiritual and religious preferences? Evergreen Life Services has developed its own spiritual assessment practice. This presentation described how Evergreen utilizes its successful approach to support an individual’s preferences and participation in their chosen spiritual and religious expressions. The assessments include targeted questions that help create a pathway for providers to support individual religious and spiritual preferences and practices. The presenters from Evergreen shared the stories of peoples’ journeys to belong to their chosen faith communities. [continue reading…]

Q&A: Disney Junior’s Firebuds

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“Cleft Hood,” a new episode of Disney Junior’s hit series “Firebuds”, introduced Castor, a vehicle character born with a cleft hood. The episode was written by Emmy-Award winner Jeremy Shipp and inspired by his own son, Henry, who was born with a cleft lip and palate. Henry also voiced Castor in the episode.

Following a screening of the episode was a Q&A with Jeremy and Henry, as well as “Firebuds” creator/executive producer, Craig Gerber, speaking to the importance of onscreen representation. The conversation was moderated by Lauren Appelbaum from RespectAbility, who advised on the episode.