The schedule for the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has just been released and I am glad to see that the film Praying with Lior is on the schedule. I have heard about the film for several months. It is a documentary a boy named Lior Liebling who is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah.
The film’s description from the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival’s web site says,
“Ilana Trachtmanâ??s affecting documentary presents a real-world story of faith, the heart wrenching challenges of a child with disabilities, and the complex relationship Lior shares with family, friends and community.”
A number of friends who have viewed the film have commended it to me. I will definitely go see the film during the festival.
If you live in the Atlanta area you should try to see the film. It will be shown on the following dates:
Sunday, January 20, 2008Â at 11:50 AM
Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 2:20 PM
Both showings will take place at the LeFont Theater in Sandy Springs.
You can get more information about the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival here.
Many times I have heard parents and others lament the fact that children do not come with instruction books. This article from LDOnline.org suggests that parents who have children with disabilities create an instruction book that will introduce the child to leaders who supervise the child’s activities. (teachers, coaches, therapists, religious education volunteers, etc.)
I can certainly see how such an instruction book (the author suggests 1-3 pages in length) might prove helpful. It seems to me that such a resource might serve to overcome some initial barriers that can stand in the way of inclusion in community activities.
Have you ever provided such an instruction book as an introduction for your child who is transitioning to a new activity or place? How did it serve your child? If you have not done this previously is it something you would consider
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta has done much work to become more inclusive of people with disabilities. The story of UUCA begins with the presence of one extraordinary young man and it continues today with a determination to continue on the journey toward full-inclusion of people with disabilities and their families.
Click here to read the success story.
Included with the story is a link to the the letter that the children of UUCA sent to the congregation’s Board of Directors about obstacles for children with disabilities who wanted to attend religious education. Read it and consider way the children in your congregation might be included in ability awareness.
This article in Christianity Today highlights a new Bible Study from the Methodist Church in the United Kingdom titled: A Word In Time . I find it interesting that the author if the article writes about how the study is accessible to people who have disabilities.
The article made me think about the ways technology has help people with and without disabilities gain access to information that they might not have had access to previously.
Has the availability of technology made it easier for you to access information? Has this technology made access to religion/spirituality easier? I would love the hear from readers about ways that technology has change the way you approach your religious traditions/obligations.
Here is an article about a wonderful conversation taking place at a recent conference in Washington, DC. I find the article particularly important because it discusses the importance of accommodating people whose disabilities are invisible.
