Interfaith Disability Connection would like to thank you all for your time, support and knowledge that made this year’s conference an amazing one. The number of participants exceeded our expectations and lead to a wealth of information and knowledge shared by all. 

"The conference was lively, informative, faith-filled , and honoring of all people, with and without disability."

   - Ginny Thornburgh, Director, Interfaith Initiative, American Association of People with Disabilities

To re-inspire participants and inspire and inform those who could not attend we have posted the following key findings from breakout sessions from the conference:

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

• Hospitality requires that our congregations go above and beyond the Americans with Disabilities Act (http://www.interfaithdisability.org/ada_and_religion.php)

• People with disabilities are the experts about welcome and hospitality to people with disabilities engage them.

• Sometimes disabilities are invisible 

• Empathy/ Sympathy for people who have disabilities

• Our congregations have to reflect G-D- (Would what we are doing in our   congregations lead a visitor to the conclusion that G-D is “nice?”)

• All People want to be valued (One Group highlighted Gifts Abilities Talents Experience and Skills)- All Groups discussed getting people with disabilities involved on the basis of their gifts-possibly surveying to discover those abilities

• Self-Advocacy –The voices of people with disabilities should be LOUDER and more evident- All groups mentioned advocacy-in one it was a fine line between pushing and convincing about the right thing to do.

•  PEOPLE with disabilities are PEOPLE not their disabilities

•  Access to facilities, programs, and transportation are important

• Create ALLIES (People who are aging and people with disabilities who share similar concerns)

•  Shut-ins are really shut-out

•  Community Support is crucial (http://www.interfaithdisability.org/start_a_support_group.php?rid=2&mid=99)

• Build relationships across the congregations and in collaboration with fellow congregants develop strategies

• Open eyes (if possible), doors, and hearts to issues

• “If you build it they will come.”  
  

COMMUNICATION

• Ensure that everyone is in the loop regarding your congregation’s accessibility-        
  create cheat sheet for receptionist, put a statement about inclusion on your congregation’s web site, in bulletins, newsletters, etc.

• Create a guide to your congregation’s accessibility/inclusion features

•  Plan for the presence and participation of people who use service animals

• Ask questions about specific accommodations on your congregation’s membership form.

• Survey people with disabilities about accessibility/ accommodations that need to be made.
  Ask them to rank the needs in order of importance to assist with prioritizing

• Every Group mentioned the importance of changing language around disability. Although there is much conversation regarding disability and language best practice in the disability community is person-first-language. This convention begins with the person first and then the disability. Person-first-language recognizes that disability is but one aspect of an individuals reality.

• Many participants wanted to encourage their congregations to adopt person-first-language.
  

RESPITE CARE

• Every group mentioned the importance of respite care

• Connect with & learn from congregations/organizations who are already offering respite

• A Success Story from Interfaith Disability Connection about a respite program (http://www.interfaithdisability.org/success_stories.php#Circle)

• The Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (http://www.e-lcr.org/svcmin-circlefriends.htm)

• FOCUS (Families OF Children Under Stress) http://www.focus-ga.org/ 

• Mount Bethel United Methodist Church  (http://www.mtbethel.org/menu272/Special-Needs-Ministry)

EDUCATION

• Start an inclusion committee that includes people with disabilities as the experts on accessibility, recruit allies (people who are aging, family members, friends, etc.). Ensure that people with many different types of disabilities are represented

• Consider working with the existing hospitality committee in your congregation to integrate inclusion into the work already being done in your congregation

• Contact the Interfaith Disability Connection for assistance with best practices in this area.

• Have your committee do an assessment of the current level of access/inclusion in your congregation to provide a baseline for improvement

• Offer people with disabilities opportunities to lead throughout the year (not just during disability awareness observances)

• Offer Disability Awareness Workshops in your congregation (IDC can provide guidance and assistance in this area) Begin by educating children in your community- Provide training to ushers/greeters