Disclaimer: The information provided in this series is intended to offer practical guidance and facilitate discussions on challenging topics such as grief. Please note that we are not licensed grief counselors and do not provide medical or mental health advice. If you or someone you know requires additional support, we strongly encourage seeking assistance from a licensed professional.
Grief is a universal experience, yet it is often overlooked in the lives of people with disabilities. When unacknowledged, grief can lead to emotional distress, anxiety, and depression. Everyone deserves support, understanding, and the opportunity to express their emotions in ways that feel authentic to them.
To address this, the AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Interest Network has partnered with Disability Belongs™ and sponsors Karis Disability Services and Heritage Christian Services to create Seasons of Grief—a new on-demand video series that will explore grief through the lens of disability and inclusion.
This series will provide insights and practical strategies for direct support professionals, service providers, faith leaders, disabled individuals, and loved ones seeking to better support disabled people through loss. Featuring presenters from diverse faith and spiritual traditions, Seasons of Grief will explore the connections between grief, meaning, and spirituality through rituals and practices that offer comfort.
Grief 101: Understanding Grief and Loss
Dealing with grief and loss is a universal part of the human experience, affecting everyone, including individuals with disabilities. Everyone deserves compassion and support as they navigate the challenging emotions that accompany various forms of loss, such as death, distressing news that alters daily realities, someone close moving away, or changes in routine.
This video explores how we can come together as a community to recognize loss and support one another. Individuals with disabilities experience a wide range of emotions just like everyone, and it is just as important to offer support and, in some cases, help make the experience more accessible.
Watch the full video as Jess Jankowski (they/them), LCSW, discusses common experiences of loss and grief and how we can better support each other.
Rituals and Remembrance: Ways We Can Provide Support Through Faith Practices and Acts of Remembrance for Someone Who Has Passed Away
A discussion featuring Tammy Basser (she/her), Shelly Christensen, MA FAAIDD (she/her), and Diane Sturmer (she/her) focuses on how we can use our faith to support our community during times of loss. This conversation will explore ways to honor individuals with disabilities by ensuring their end-of-life wishes are respected. The video will also present creative ideas for commemorating someone who has passed away and emphasize the importance of drawing on the support of our faith community while grieving.
Neurodiversity and Grief: Exploring Grief and Loss for Neurodivergent Individuals
Rev. Bill Gaventa (he/him) explores the topic of grief and loss, particularly in the context of neurodiversity. He focuses on how these emotions may manifest differently in some neurodivergent individuals. Bill provides practical insights on how to be introspective when supporting someone who experiences grief differently than you may. He emphasizes approaching the situation from a standpoint of mutual support, recognizing that both individuals are navigating loss together.
Additionally, Bill shares a video created by autistic adults titled Grief Is A Spectrum Too, which features personal stories about grief and autism.
Reframing Hope: Honoring Disabled Individuals and Loved Ones’ Final Wishes and Dealing with Grief
Join Keith Dow (he/him) and Sarah McKenney (she/her) for a discussion on the importance of understanding loss and practical end-of-life planning. We will explore how to honor the wishes of individuals at the end of life, particularly focusing on the unique ways that some disabled individuals communicate their preferences. This conversation will also address how we can provide care and support to our loved ones, ensuring that their wishes are respected and fulfilled with compassion.
Resource: Thinking Ahead Workbook
Grief Rituals and Traditions: Sharing Personal Perspectives on Disability, Access, and Grief Across Some Different Religions
Listen to personal perspectives from spiritual leaders representing various religions as they discuss common rituals and faith traditions related to grief and loss. Explore ways to make these practices more accessible for individuals with disabilities, allowing them to fully participate in the rituals. We recognize that denominational practices vary; these insights are meant to help you consider how to make your own practices more accessible and supportive. Learn about perspectives in Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. You can also download the additional guides on these specific faiths and some ways to make these practices accessible.
AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Network 