Building Communities of Belonging 2015

God created everyone in His image and with intrinsic value. This one-day conference will share practical strategies to develop and strengthen ministries of belonging, integrating people and families impacted by disability.

Focusing on church contexts, the theme of 2015 is "Connecting the Body: Fostering relationships, developing gifts and overcoming barriers to belonging." Join us as we learn, share and network together through workshops and our keynote speaker.

Keynote Speaker

Erik Carter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his graduate work in the area of severe disabilities at Vanderbilt University and his undergraduate Work in Christian Education at Wheaton College. His research and teaching focuses on strategies for supporting meaningful school inclusion and promoting valued roles in school, work, and community settings for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He has co-authored five books, one of which is Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities: A Guide for Service Providers, Families, and Congregations (Brookes Publishing). He has co-authored more than 100 articles and book chapters and was the recipient of the Distinguished Early Career Research Award from the Council for Exceptional Children, the Early Career Award from the American Association for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the Patricia Sitlington Research Award from the Division on Career Development and Transition.