Judith (Judy) Heumann was the definition of perseverance and determination in her fight for equity for all people. Considered “the mother” of the disability rights movement, Judy Heumann has been a part of almost every pivotal moment in the movement ever since. After being turned away from her elementary school for being seen as a [click to continue...]
When I was first offered the position of Faith Inclusion and Belonging Associate at RespectAbility, I was told, to my utter shock, that on my first day of work, I would be meeting Judy Heumann. Getting to meet your all-time hero on your first day on the job is a remarkable experience, and learning that [click to continue...]
Late one Sunday night last October, my phone rang. I panicked because late night calls never bring good news. “Who is calling so late?” I grumbled. One glance at the screen and I had my answer. It was actually good news. “Hi, Judy,” I said. “I’m so glad you called!” A month earlier I texted [click to continue...]
Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month for 2023 is almost over. In March, the Faith Inclusion and Belonging team will evaluate RespectAbility’s first JDAIM since I joined the team. We will be reaching out to many of our national and community colleagues to find out what they promoted during JDAIM and how our Faith [click to continue...]
This year I was fortunate to bear witness to the transformative work done during Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion Month (JDAIM). One of my favorite events during JDAIM was at Temple Emanuel in Boston. I hit the road from my apartment in New Haven, Connecticut around 6 a.m. to make it for our first [click to continue...]
The Faith Inclusion and Belonging team is pleased to welcome three new apprentices to our team! They will be working on leadership skills and contributing to the growth of the department as we continue to develop our multifaith space. Below, read more about them! Kylee Tyndall Greetings! My name is Kylee Tyndall and I am [click to continue...]
When I was offered the Faith Inclusion and Belonging Associate position at RespectAbility, I felt I was coming home. The intersectionality of faith inclusion and disability is at the heart of my calling, woven through the very fabric of my being. I have lived with dyslexia my whole life (what an ironically hard word to [click to continue...]
I didn’t know what to expect when I met Bobby Silverstein. I had met many great disability icons, but Bobby was sort of a mystery to me, a name that I always knew, but knew very little about. It was thus with some trepidation that I invited him to share an introduction reflecting around 30th [click to continue...]
The holidays can be busy and stressful for many people. The hustle and bustle of decorating, shopping, or for some, being alone or missing a loved one, can be overwhelming. Some push through to the point of not taking care of themselves, while others may withdraw. Everyone copes differently, and there are numerous strategies one [click to continue...]
Grief is a primary feeling for those who have lost someone close. We will go through grief with every single person who has ever loved. Grief is an emotion that can come with loss. People who are grieving may experience complex emotions like feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, anger, sadness, numbness or confusion. In 2017, my [click to continue...]
