Advancing Access and Belonging We are pleased to share the successful conclusion of our ‘Raising Awareness and Advancing Disability Inclusion in the Christian Community’ project. This program was made possible through a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. During [click to continue...]
Technology is expanding access to faith and community, transforming worship spaces into environments where disabled people can fully belong, participate, and lead. As faith communities work to become more inclusive, tools like assistive technology, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence are creating new possibilities for connection and spiritual growth. Screen readers like JAWS and NVDA enable [click to continue...]
Media portrayals of disabled people are often limited to antiquated tropes or couched in ableist assumptions. Ensuring the lived experience of disabled people in faith-based content affirms that every human being has value and must be treated with respect. Uninformed portrayals of disabled individuals can lead to misconceptions that foster harmful biases and inequitable practices. [click to continue...]
Community and belonging are central to many faith and spiritual traditions. Yet, people with disabilities face many barriers to access and inclusion. Addressing these barriers acts as a catalyst not just for participation, but for true belonging. Shifting the conversation from “can people with disabilities attend our worship services?” to “who is missing from our [click to continue...]
The words we use to talk about disability influence how people feel, how they are treated, and how fully they are included in our communities. At Disability Belongs™, we believe that respectful, accurate, and inclusive language is a cornerstone of true belonging.
Welcoming disabled individuals into leadership brings fresh perspectives, challenges stereotypes, and deepens the sense of belonging for all. When leadership is truly inclusive, faith communities become more compassionate, equitable, and reflective of the diverse people they serve. Varied Perspectives and Experiences People with disabilities bring unique insights shaped by navigating a world not always designed [click to continue...]
As we begin the spring season, we recognize several important religious observances happening across different faiths. Embracing and accommodating these events within our faith communities fosters inclusivity and respect for all traditions. It’s essential that we create spaces where everyone, regardless of ability, can fully engage in these celebrations. Religious Observances That Happened This Month [click to continue...]
Accessibility is not just a checklist to tick off; it is an ongoing commitment to ensuring that all members, from every background and belief, feel truly valued and embraced.
We are happy to announce the launch of our pilot project Raising Awareness and Advancing Disability Inclusion in the Christian Community, made possible by a generous Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Through our Raising Awareness and Advancing [click to continue...]
Every year on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nissan (April 22 on the Gregorian calendar this year) Jewish people celebrate Passover by hosting a seder. How can this ritual be engaging and meaningful for all guests, including children, teens, and adults with disabilities? Find tips you can use right here!
