Religion and Spirituality Division of the AAIDD

Don Healy has recently volunteered to review select materials of interest to members of the Religion and Spirituality Division of the AAIDD. Don introduces himself and the revews below:

I am a retired Professor of Special Education from Western Illinois University Quad Cities (Moline, Illinois), and was the brother/guardian of Tom Healy, a person with multiple disabilities. Before Tom passed in 2005, he and I participated in a program called Special Persons Encounter Christ and I still volunteer there on a weekly basis. At our 2011 meeting in St. Paul I agreed to, upon request, review disability ministry materials at the request of anyone who wished me to do so for purposes of including my reviews in the newsletter. We concurred on my evaluating the following attributes when reviewing materials. The Division puts a high value on products that:

• Are respectful and person-centered regarding persons with disabilities.
• Are consistent/acceptable within the spiritual orientation of the group(s) publishing the materials. I may need to contact some of you with assistance in this regard.
• Promote inclusive rather than "separate but equal" practices for our special friends and the faith communities in which they are participating.
• Describe practices that employ sound, research based methodologies for the populations that they are designed to serve.

Since I will be trying to “bring in” each review as succinctly as possible, should you wish more input or information from me or information as to how to contact the publisher please feel free to email me at DE-Healy@wiu.edu. I look forward to this opportunity to assist the Division in this capacity.

You can read Don's first review of Beyond Suffering: A Christian View on Disability Ministry here