1. UCEDD and Seminary Preservice and Community Education
Harold Kleinert
November 13, 2007
AUCD

2. A Step Towards Community Education….
“Call to Hospitality” conference, co-sponsored by the Human Development Institute (Kentucky UCEDD) and the Lexington Theological Seminary in November 2006.
Designed to bring clergy, professionals, and families together to learn about establishing truly inclusive faith communities.

3. A Joint Endeavor….
Included national speakers (Dr. Nancy Eiesland, Rev. Bill Gaventa, Kathy Buldoc) who touched upon
Theology of disability and inclusion
Practical strategies for faith inclusion directed towards clergy and seminary students, individuals with disabilities, families, and developmental disability professionals.

4. A Joint Endeavor Cont…. With a Local Inter-faith Panel
That explored dimensions of hospitality within varying faith traditions
And the approaches that specific congregations have taken to make their faith communities more inclusive.

5. Building Upon Initial Efforts…. A Pre-service Dimension
A Family Mentorship Approach for Seminary Students
Inclusion of a parent panel in the Pastoral Care class – January 2008
Development of individual family mentorships for seminary students (based on the model used for our pediatric developmental rotation) – January 2008

6. Family Mentors… Will Be Assigned to Individual Seminary Students
Seminary Students Will Participate in a Minimum of Two Activities with the Family
Hopefully One of Those Will Be a Religious Participation Activity!

7. Evaluating This Effort…
We Will Ask Seminary Students How This Has Changed Their Outlook or Awareness of the Needs of Families and Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
The Challenges They Noted for the Family’s and Individual’s Faith Participation
Effective Strategies They Noted For Their Family
And Their Own Recommendations!

8. Contact Info
Harold L. Kleinert, Ed.D.
KY UCEDD – Human Development Institute