The NIC Committee on Accessibility was honored to host its first Disability Education Summit for the conference on Sat., Sept. 26, at Bethany of Fox Valley UMC in Aurora. They welcomed approximately 30 church leaders from 13 churches across Northern Illinois for a time of worship, learning, and community.

Church leaders gathered for learning, discussion, and the sharing of ideas and resources to strengthen disability inclusion and justice. Photo courtesy of the Committee on Accessibility.

Participants attended workshops on affordable accessibility, disabled leadership in the church, disability theology, neurodivergent justice and many other topics exploring the intersections of disability and justice. They also learned from one another as they shared what their diverse congregations have done to strengthen disability inclusion and justice in their ministries.

The summit provided space to ask questions, share stories, and gain valuable resources and tools for worship, classroom, and church leadership settings. Disabled clergy and lay leaders in the conference had opportunities to share their experiences, discuss common barriers and challenges for disabled leaders in the church, and answer questions about their ministries, writing and practices for overcoming ableism and inaccessibility.

Rev. Alexander Dungan speaks to participants the Summit. Photo courtesy of the Committee on Accessibility.

The Committee on Accessibility extends its gratitude to Bethany of Fox Valley UMC for its generous hospitality, along with all the volunteers, workshop leaders and worship leaders who helped bring this event together.

We pray this pilot event provided valuable resources for leaders to take back to their ministry settings and sparked new questions and a deeper passion for disability justice across the conference. We look forward to returning with even more workshop leaders, resources, and opportunities for connection at next year’s Disability Education Summit.

If you were unable to attend and would like resources from the summit or simply want to connect with the Committee on Accessibility, please contact co-chairs Rev. Alexander Dungan or Christina Crusius.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this wonderful event possible!