I hope this newsletter finds you well as we prepare for the upcoming seasons of Thanksgiving and celebrations of God in our lives. There is much going on in the division and many ways for you to participate!
Author: aaiddreligion
Message from the President, August 2013
Dear Friends,
I hope this letter finds you well and enjoying some summer moments. This newsletter will focus on highlights of the annual conference. As always, it was a great combination of learning, networking, rich discussion and fellowship. Dinner was fantastic and wonderful fun!
Next year’s annual conference will be June 23 – 26 in Orlando FL, a very fun place to be! I hope you can make it.
AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Division Business Meeting Notes June 6, 2013
Present:
- Anne Masters, President
- Don Healy, Recording Secretary and Treasurer
- Sister Gabrielle Kowalski, Cardinal Strich University
- Kimberly Bane, California Baptist University
- David Morstad, Bethesda Institute
- Shelly Christensen, Vice President
- Tom Boehm, Vanderbilt University
- Neil Cudney, Director Pastoral Ministries at Christian Horizons
- Bill Gaventa (by telephone)
The meeting opened at 8:08 am with an opening prayer by Shelly.
Finance Report
Continue reading “AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Division Business Meeting Notes June 6, 2013”
AAIDD Religion and Spirituality Division Spirituality and Congregational Participation Action Plan Feedback
Introduction
There is strong interest in the division to affirm and facilitate support of spirituality and congregational participation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The consensus is that a key area of need is facilitating conversation with service providers to include spirituality and congregational participation supports in individual support plans.
Religion and Spirituality Resources Available
Friends and Colleagues,
I am in the process of culling resources, or, as realtors say it these days, “editing” one’s home and belongings. Over the years, I have been given extra copies of books or magazine issues that were going out of print, and a video. These are dated resources but still good. If you want some for your own collection or to give out to people in trainings, here is what I have:
Continue reading “Religion and Spirituality Resources Available”
Message from the President, May 2013 (Conference Edition)
Dear Friends,
The AAIDD annual meeting is almost upon us, June 3 – 6 in Pittsburgh PA. Register today if you haven’t already.
Continue reading “Message from the President, May 2013 (Conference Edition)”
Message from the President, April 2013
Dear Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter. Our dear friend, Nella Uitvlugt, died suddenly Wednesday evening, March 21. She was a powerful force in this work, as well as a good friend to many. In fact, friendship was at the center of her ministry, in its simplest and most powerful form, though she was also Executive Director of Friendship Ministries. You can view and add your own testaments for Nella here. Please keep her family and co-workers at Friendship Ministries in your prayers during this difficult time.
Remembering Nella Uitvlugt
It is with a very heavy heart that our Division shares the news of the sudden and unexpected death of our dear friend, Nella Uitvlugt, Executive Director of Friendship Ministries of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Reaching Out in Faith with Contemporary Forms of Media
My review for this newsletter was prompted by a number of things. I recalled a conversation with another member of AAIDD about being cognizant of the issue of age appropriate materials when reviewing products for purposes of religious education with persons with special needs. Recent interactions with “twice exceptional” (both gifted and disabled) persons who have been struggling with finding a place to fit in came to mind.
Continue reading “Reaching Out in Faith with Contemporary Forms of Media”
December 2012 Message from the President
Dear Friends,
I hope this edition of the Religion and Spirituality Division newsletter finds you well. Some among us may still be coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. For my own part, I am still catching up from the loss of power for a week, which is why this newsletter is delayed (sorry). However, my experience was nothing near what many had or are still dealing with.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to our survey! There were 48 of you who did so, approximately 39% of our membership. There is a brief summary of it in this edition of the newsletter. The results are consistent with conversations I have had with many of you:
- A desire for increased opportunities for networking, education and sharing of resources via internet-based platforms,
- Interest in ways of engaging within the division beyond the annual conference due to budget constraints,
- Raising awareness with service providers of the validity of spirituality and congregational participation for individuals with I/DD and
- Guidelines/suggestions for how to do this.
Your responses will really help to guide the work of the executive committee. A few of you expressed interest in helping. Thank you, we will be in touch!
AAIDD Religion & Spirituality Network 