Interfaith Disability Connection
The Shepherd Center and
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
Present:
That All May Worship: Beyond The Ramp
A Discussion of Religion, Acceptance and Inclusion
August 3,2008
Shepherd Center Atlanta, GA
Interfaith Disability Connection (IDC), The Shepherd Center and the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta will present this educational conference Sunday, August 3 at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Titled, That All May Worship: Beyond the Ramp, this one-day event will focus on how religious communities can make their houses of worship even more accessible to those with disabilities. Topics will go beyond eliminating physical barriers and discuss creating services and programs in which all members can easily participate.
The event will be led by Rabbi Lynne Landsberg, Reverend Al Mead, Imam Furqan Muhammad and Ginny Thornburgh; four leaders in religion and disability education.
Leaders in religious communities and disability communities, advocates and friends are invited to take part in this conference on religion, acceptance, and inclusion. Attendees will gain the knowledge, resources and motivation to make positive changes in their religious communities.
Rabbi Lynne F. Landsberg is Senior Advisor on Disability Issues for the Union for Reform Judaismâ??s Religious Action Center and Department of Jewish Family Concerns. She is currently a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Justice, Peace and Religious Liberties Committee and chair of the CCAR Committee of Disability Awareness and Inclusion.
Reverend Al Mead is the Associate Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church and believes â??God has given us all the ability to Transcendâ?. He has served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the 1996 Paralympic Organizing Committee and as a CBS Sports commentator for the Games. A Paralympic gold and silver medalist Mead was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Imam Furqan Muhammad is the Resident Imam at Masjid Al-Muminun in Atlanta. He possesses personal experience that has made him a tireless advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the Islamic community. Imam Muhammad currently serves as a member of the Board of the Interfaith Disability Connection
Ginny Thornburgh is Vice President and Director of the Religion and Disability Program at the National Organization on Disability in Washington, DC. Mrs. Thornburgh is a nationally recognized authority in matters at the intersection of religion and disability. Thornburgh is the author and editor of many insightful guides that focus on the inclusion of people with disabilities in congregational life. These guides include That All May Worship: An Interfaith Welcome To People With Disabilities (written with Ann Rose Davie), Loving Justice: The ADA and the Religious Community, and From Barriers to Bridges: A Community Action Guide for Congregations and People with Disabilities (Written with Janet Miller Rife).
Conference Agenda*
12:30 - 1:30 Registration and Box Lunch (Kosher lunches available)
1:30-1:40 Welcome and Invocation
1:40- 2:20 Reverend Al Mead
2:20- 3:10 Rabbi Lynne Landsberg
3:10- 3:40 Breakout Sessions led by Speakers
3:40- 3:55 Break
3:55- 4:40 What I Wish I Could Say to My Congregation About Welcoming a Person Like Me - Facilitated by Ginny Thornburgh
4:40-4:55 Break
4: 55- 6:00 Interfaith Worship with Challenge and close from Ginny Thornburgh
*Schedule subject to change
Registration details and fee information coming soon.
For more information visit www.interfaithdisability.org or email idc@bobbydodd.org.
