October 20, 2010

NEW YORK – Making faith communities more accessible to persons with disabilities is the topic of a unique interfaith documentary that may air on NBC-TV affiliates nationwide beginning November 14.

A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities is presented by the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission (IBC), a coalition of Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Orthodox and Catholic faith groups, as part of NBC's 2010 Horizons of the Spirit series.

The issue addressed by the program is critical, as it is estimated that 1 out of 5 Americans has a disability, says The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches. In the documentary, Kinnamon notes that both the faith community and the persons with disabilities lose when special needs aren't properly addressed.

"There's no substitute for face-to-face faith interaction," Kinnamon reminds the viewers, noting that faith groups, of all the organizations in society, should be at the forefront of facilitating the full participation of those with disabilities in every aspect of community life.

Other faith leaders contributing include: Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis, Bishop Peggy Johnson of the United Methodist Church; Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President of the Islamic Society of North America; Rev. Bill Gaventa, Director of Community and Congregational Supports at The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Others interviewed include Rev. Bill Bixby, Director Of Youth Ministry, ELCA; Imam Mohamed Magid, Executive Director, All Dulles Area Muslim Society and Rabbi Robert Levine, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, New York.

The documentary also features Rabbi Darby Leigh, spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai Keshet in New Jersey and one of the handful of deaf rabbis in the world; members of ELCA's DAYLE program where Definitely Abled Youth gather at the 40,000 strong triennial Evangelical Lutheran youth gathering; Pastor Beth Lockard, the leader of Christ the King Deaf Church; and Brandon Kaplan, a severely disabled boy with limited sight and speech who recently had the privilege of becoming a Bar Mitzvah.

NBC stations may begin airing the program at local times on November 14, 2010 as part of NBC's Horizon's of the Spirit series, in cooperation with the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission (IBC). The documentary is produced by Debra Gonsher Vinik.

A partial list of stations planning to carry the program can be found at http://www.interfaithbroadcasting.com. A trailer can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwCM2vtx42Q.

National Council of Churches USA