When Hospitality & Belonging Become Hard: Faith Community Strategies for Responding to Adults with Varying Needs
Fred Craddock once said, “Just because everyone is welcome does not mean anything goes.” Join AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Interest Network and Stone Belt as we welcome expert guests to share their experience and insights in the coming months.
Setting the Stage: Boundaries and Belonging
February 23, 2022 2:00 PM (East)
This webinar was a discussion with Bill, Joanne, Sarah, and Amy about “on the ground” challenges around offering belonging in spiritual communities and connection between supportive boundaries and belonging. Together emphasizing that all behavior is communication AND that not all behavior goes for anyone in a faith community activity. You can now watch the recording at the link below!
 | William (Bill) Gaventa, MDiv author, speaker, trainer, and consultant |
 | Sarah VanderZee McKenney, MDiv Spiritual Support Coordinator @Stone Belt |
 | Joanne VanSant, MDiv, DMin Pastor and Chaplain @Friends to Friends Community Church and Eastern Christian Children’s Retreat |
 | Amy Petre Hill, JD, MDiv Founder/Community Chaplain/Pastor @Mental Health & Inclusion Ministries |
Seeing and Understanding Behavior Through the Lens of Support
March 16, 2022 02:00 PM (East)
This webinar focuses on positive behavior supports and we welcome an expert on positive behavior supports to share. This webinar emphasized how all behavior is communication and addresses the stigma and language around the term “behavior” that is unhelpful and disempowering. You can watch the recorded webinar at the link below.
 | Melinda Jones Ault, PhD Associate Professor and Counselor @University of Kentucky |
 | Belva C. Collins, PhD Professor Emeritus @University of Kentucky and the University of North Carolina |
When Hospitality & Belonging Becomes Hard:
Faith Community Strategies for Responding to Adults with Varying Needs
April 27, 2022 02:00 PM (East)
Many congregations are hesitant to open themselves to welcoming people with IDD into worship and the shared life of faith communities. Direct service providers and agencies can help. This webinar discusses how three faith communities and service provider partner with the larger community, agencies, and experienced individuals within the congregation to offer belonging and provide behavior supports.
 | Beth Lang Specialized Ministries Coordinator @Colorado Community Church |
 | Cindy Merten, MA Director @Christian Education & All Abilities Inclusion Ministries |
| Sarah VanderZee McKenney, MDiv Spiritual Support Coordinator @Stone Belt |
 | Rabbi Baruch (Bobbie) Rosenberg Founder and Spiritual Leader at Ohr HaOlam |
Boundaries and Belonging: We are Called to Create Boundaries without Exclusion or Chaos
May 18, 2022 02:00 PM (East)
This webinar offers a discussion of sacred scriptures and theological reflections that support the connection between helpful, supportive boundaries in faith communities and authentic belonging for people of all abilities.
 | Rabbi Norman Cohen Founding Rabbi Emeritus @Bet Shalom Congregation |
 | Dilshad D. Ali Blog and Content Editor @The Haute Take (media arm of Haute Hijab) |
 | Thomas Reynolds, PhD, MTS Theologian | Associate Professor of Theology @Emmanuel College at the Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto |
AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Network 