Some Many Books,
So Little Time
Angela
Denise Davis
I am an avid reader. When I became
legally blind eight years ago, one of the first concerns I had was whether I
would be able to enjoy books again. It took me a while before I came into
contact with people who used book readers like the Bookport and digital
libraries like Bookshare.org, but once I found these resources I felt
reconnected to a world of words.
This week my internship has reminded
me of how connected I am to libraries and books. I had the pleasure of spending
some time with Jim Dickson, Vice President of Organizing and Civic Engagement
at AAPD. His recommendation of some books to read prompted me to create a bibliography
of texts to read over the next few months. I was especially stimulated by his
analysis on the connection between various civil rights movements, and his own
story of working as a community organizer.
One book that I am currently reading is
Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith, Disability and Inclusion by Mark Pinsky. The foreword
of the book was written by my supervisor, Ginny Thornburgh, who directs AAPD’s
Interfaith Initiative. The book tells the story of how congregations have and can
include people with disabilities within their communities of faith.
Last week, I sat in on a meeting to discuss
ways to promote the book so that others may read these wonderful stories. The
meeting was also preparation for an upcoming gathering of the Interfaith
Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC). IDAC’s mission is to “mobilize the
religious community to speak out and take action on disability policy issues
with Congress, the President and Administration, and society at large.” I serve
as an intern to the members of IDAC, and have been given the assignment of
helping to create strategies that would increase the number of sign ons to IDAC’s
Statement of Solidarity by the Religious Community Around Employment of People
with Disabilities.
I am very excited about my
internship because I think it is helping me think about how I might create
vocational opportunities from my passions of spirituality, social justice, and
embodiment.
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