The 5784 High Holiday Guide to Inclusive Congregations

by Shelly Christensen

Respectability’s 5784 High Holiday Guide to Inclusive Congregations takes the guesswork out so you can ensure every holiday event and service you offer is accessible and inclusive. This is our most comprehensive edition yet! We know there are many things clergy and synagogue staff need to do to prepare for the holidays. The 5794 High Holiday Guide will help to provide inclusive and accessible participation for members and guests with disabilities.

Access the Guide here.

Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD, is the Senior Director of Faith Inclusion and Belonging at RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

Shelly is a pioneer and leader in the faith community disability and mental health inclusion movement. Her passion for this work is anchored by her experiences as the parent of a child with autism. Long before she was an emerging leader in the field, Shelly was trained as a parent advocate, unwaveringly holding the school accountable for her son’s rights to a free appropriate public education as mandated in the IDEA. The family’s synagogue and religious school their three sons attended treated all children with equity and respect, seamlessly adapting education to meet each child’s needs and ensuring a lifelong connection to their Jewish identity and community.