During the spring semester, church members had the opportunity to learn from Anna Woodham on Wednesday nights on the topic of Neurodiversity and Belonging. Participants discussed the impact of neurodiversity, and of disability in general, on daily life and particularly on being welcomed and included at church. In addition to an excellent four-week class, Anna provided a list of recommended resources to learn more about these topics on our own.
Two books from her list, My Body Is Not a Prayer Request by Dr. Amy Kenny and On the Spectrum by Daniel Bowman Jr., recount the authors’ personal experiences with disability, describing how both their disabilities and others’ reactions can impact their lives at work, school and home, as well as giving ideas for how they could be better included within their church communities. What are Dr. Kenny’s top ten “I dream that churches would…”? What would make it easier for Mr. Bowman to volunteer at church? If you would like to learn from their experience, drop by the Media Center (across from the Fellowship Hall) and check out one or both of these books; they will be on display through the end of August.
—Beth Olson, Media Center Director