Spiritual Dimensions of Trauma, Healing, and Resiliency
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) Religion and Spirituality Interest Network and RespectAbility presented a 4-part series on trauma, healing, and resilience in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Participants learned how people can heal from traumatic life events and generational trauma created by systems of oppression, how spirituality and community engagement can foster recovery and resilience, and ways service providers and faith communities can provide training and support to their staff. Presenters highlighted practical strategies to support people with IDD who experience trauma through spirituality, community, and the arts.
Trauma and Healing: An Overview
This workshop provided a view of trauma from the perspective of the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It explored the sources of trauma and the common effects of that trauma on both a biological and psychological level. The key ingredients for healing were explored and case studies were shared.
How to Talk About Trauma Informed Care, Faith, and Spirituality
Trauma informed care (TIC) has emerged as an approach for individuals and organizations in response to the growing awareness of the pervasive and long-lasting impact of trauma on health and wellbeing. Since the early 1990s, John Keesler, PhD has been involved with the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities community in various capacities. John’s work is dedicated to peer-reviewed scholarship about trauma informed care and IDD. Simultaneously, he has served in music ministry in different capacities with my faith community for about 30 years. John discussed creating a marriage of Trauma Informed Care and Faith.
Stronger Together: Heritage Christian Services’ Grief Support Team
Heritage Christian Services’ Grief Support Team works with people who are aging and experiencing life changes. This presentation about the team’s work reflected on why and how the team was developed, how the team provides grief support through music, dance, and art to people with disabilities and their chosen congregations, and how team members support one another with self-care in the process.
Spirituality and Healing Through Expressive Arts
The arts can be a connector to community, spirituality, and healing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn from our panelists about how expressive activities, like painting or performing, helped people experiencing grief communicate, reflect, and process their emotions.
