Join Disability Concerns at the Faith Inclusion Conference (For Free!)

The CRC and RCA Disability Concerns ministry invites you to participate in a virtual conference with us. The Faith Inclusion Network’s mission is to promote awareness of and provide support for the inclusion of people with disabilities and their families into faith communities. This year the conference brings together an excellent group of speakers who provide a wealth of information in the area of disability welcome, belonging, and inclusion. 

Disability Concerns is trying a new approach to support your work as advocates by purchasing a group access pass to this excellent conference. This is your invitation to join us—at no cost to you!

Simply email us at [email protected] to sign up for this event for FREE! 

As part of our group, you will have the opportunity to engage in 3 ways:

1. Live presentation followed by Zoom meet-up.

Together, we will connect to the live presentation as Erik. W. Carter speaks on Tuesday, April 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 PM Eastern on “Believing, Belong, and the Pathways to Both.” 

At the end of the event, CRC and RCA advocates will come together to discuss his presentation for an additional hour.

2. Recorded presentations followed by Zoom meet-up.

Join us March 21 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm Eastern for a group conversation via Zoom. Prior to the CRC and RCA Zoom meet-up, you will be asked to watch the following presentations:

• The recorded conversation by Ron Sandison titled “A Display of God’s Glory: Equipping Individuals with Disabilities for Ministry.”
• A recording of your choice from the pre-recorded sessions listed later in this document.

At our Zoom meet-up, we will start by discussing Sandison’s presentation and then follow up with hearing from all of you about the presentation you chose to view.

3. At Your Leisure

As a perk for signing up for this conference, you will have access to all the pre-recorded presentations (listed below), as well as three additional live Zoom events. We are excited that this pass gives you access to an incredible number of opportunities to grow and learn in the area of disability welcome, belonging, and inclusion! The pre-recorded presentations will be available to view until May 2022. 

Virtual ZOOM Schedule:

(You can join live or wait until you are provided with the recording of the following presentations)

• Tuesday, February 22 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern “The Community for All Initiative” with Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD

• Tuesday, March 1 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern “Reimagining Faith and Disability within Community” with Anne Masters, Ph.D, FAAIDD

• Tuesday, April 5 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM Eastern “Motivation and Strength for the Weary” with Ron Sandison, M.Div.

We will come together as a group to watch and discuss this presentation via our own private Zoom link. Note: you will also receive a link to the recording of this presentation. 

• Tuesday, April 26 from 6:30 PM  to 7:30 PM Eastern “Believing, Belonging and the Pathways to Both” with Erik W. Carter, Ph.D.

National Guests and Presenters 

All of these presentations will have their own recording link that we will forward to you. We will discuss Ron Sanderson’s presentation that is highlighted, and encourage you to listen to as many of these presentations as you wish, and choose one you want to share about at our Zoom meeting on March 21. 

• Elizabeth Barnett “Filling Your Toolbox: Tips For a Successful Service”

• Howard Blas with Maya Albin “Keeping Our Communities Engaged Virtually During and After the Pandemic”

• Howard Blas “Ancient Jewish Sources Informing our Current Disabilities Inclusion Work”

• Catherine Boyle “How Special Needs Parenting Prepares You For Ministry…”

• Rebekah Dyer “Faith & Disability”

• David Eckert “Pastors and their Mental Health”

• Kristin Faith Evans “How Caregivers Can Advocate for Their Own Spiritual and Mental Health”

• Joanna French “Becoming Enabled: How to Make the Gospel Accessible for All”

• Doc Hunsley “Myth Busting: How to get Senior Leadership on Board with Disability Ministry”

• Doc Hunsley “Volunteers: The Lifeblood of Your Ministry!”

• Samantha Jones “Keeping Ministry Safe for Everyone”

• Tom Jones “Siblings – The Forgotten Family Member”

• Anne Masters “Raising a Son or Daughter with a Disability – Believing in Possibilities”

• Lida Merrill “Care of the Direct Support Professional”

• Michelle Munger “The Tension of Accommodation”

• Bronwyn Murphy “Equipping People to Thrive: Recruiting and Training Diverse Leadership Teams”

• Bronwyn Murphy “What’s in a Name? Seeing the Imago Dei”

• Jolene Philo “Managing the Long Term Effects of the Pandemic”

• Ron Sandison “A Display of God’s Glory: Equipping Individuals with Disabilities for Ministry”

• Ron Sandison “Overcoming the Hopeless Complex – Autism & Mental Health”

• Barb Stanley “Relaunching Disability Ministry – Turning Obstacles into Opportunities”

• Diane Sturmer “With, Not For ‘Valued Roles in Faith Communities for All’”