That ALL May Worship, a wonderful event held this past Saturday, celebrated the common call of all faith traditions to offer access, kindness and opportunity to all persons, regardless of disability.

The readings, poetry and videos at the multi-faith worship service were moving; The Verlezza Dance Company and the St. Augustine Deaf Choir performed beautifully.  Rev. Dr. Val Lassiter's discussion on  Building Inclusive Communities was motivational and the responders shared their stories and their lives with power and grace.

Too many people are isolated from the spiritual resources in their congregations. Part of creating a caring and supportive congregation is the need to break down barriers of access, both physical and attitudinal. These issues reside within every congregation of every denomination. Many workshops were held to begin developing a response to the need to raise awareness of, and reduce the stigma within, congregations regarding individuals with disabilities. Some of the topics included: Creating a physically accessible environment & beyond; Assistive Technology & Faith Communities; Religious Education and Rites of Passage for persons with intellectual and/or cognitive disabilities; Building Inclusive Communities; Disability & Spirituality and Words Matter—how sacred writings refer to disability & People First language, to name a few.