Interfaith Disabilities Network
What we’re about
BDI’s Interfaith Disability Network (IDN) is fundamentally about connections.
We connect the faith community with the disability community.
We connect faith leaders with critical resources to promote change.
We connect people with disabilities to church membership.
We connect questions to answers.
IDN is the interfaith community’s go-to resource for accessibility, diversity, and inclusiveness issues. From advice to tips to in-depth consultation, IDN offers the level of support necessary to successfully integrate people with disabilities into places of worship.
Why our mission is needed
Inclusiveness and compassion are fundamental tenets of most world religions, yet a large portion of the population is all too often overlooked. People with disabilities comprise 20 percent of the American population, yet they traditionally are not represented within congregations.
In fact, a 2000 National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey found that though 84 percent of people with a disability state that their religious faith is important to them, less than half attend a religious service at least once a month.
This is a population that deserves to fully participate in the community and being fully welcomed into the faith community is a critical component. IDN recognizes this and has crafted the program and tools to encourage this type of outreach.
IDN benefits
Customized advice is available via one-on-one consultation throughout the year. Our annual disability summit creates the opportunity for brainstorming and idea sharing among faith leaders.
IDN’s Web site offers 24/7 support and a wealth of resources. With the click of a mouse, IDN members can access information about:
Accessibility
-Online accessibility checklist
-Helpful tips for ADA compliance
-Ideas and How-to’s for accommodating different types of disabilities
-Recommended vendors and discounts
-Links to other disability organizations
Communication
-Library of disability-related sermons
-Conversation starters for encouraging diversity
-IDN member profiles
-IDN logo download
-Link Library to outside resources
-IDN member chatroom, sorted by disability topic
-Guest author columns and profiles
-Webcasts on hot topics
Fundraising
-Listing of disability/accessibility-oriented funding sources
-How to write a successful grant
-Consulting services for members
Outreach
-Searchable database by religion, location, and congregation size
-Disability Mentor directory
-Side-by-side comparison of religious doctrines regarding disability with an expanded section for personal diversity statements of IDN member organizations
-Find-a-worship-buddy classifieds
-Event calendar
For more information about IDN, contact:
Mark Crenshaw
mark.crenshaw@bobbydodd.org
678.365.0073
For information on how to invest in IDN, contact:
David R. Pass, CFRE
david.pass@bobbydodd.org
678.365.2260