Rights of People with Disabilities

Promoting the Rights of People with Disabilities

The Islamic Society of North America is a Steering Committee member of the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC), which seeks 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. IDAC is a diverse, nonpartisan coalition of religious and religiously affiliated organizations whose core spiritual values affirm the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.  As a project of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), IDAC brings the powerful and prophetic voice of the faith community to the 21st Century disability agenda. IDAC’s 2012 public priorities consist of urging the federal government to enable and expand opportunities for people with disabilities for independence and community living, employment, education, and access to health care. Click here to check out IDAC’s Facebook page.  Don’t forget to “like” us!

Resources for Promoting Inclusiveness for Muslims with Disabilities

To learn more about leadership initiatives on including people with disabilities, click on the following resources:

• Disability in Islam: A Guide for Khutbas, Seminars, and Workshops, created by the EquallyAble Foundation (endorsed by the Islamic Society of North America and the Islamic Circle of North America)
• “Promoting Inclusiveness for People with Disabilities,” an Islamic Horizons article on the American Muslim community
• “Where Do We Go from Here?”, a document providing steps to help make your masjid and community center more inclusive
• Global Deaf Muslim
• JJ’s List (an online tool where people with disabilities can rate businesses and services on accessibility)
• “Improving Inclusion for Muslims with Disabilities” blog
• Congregational Accessibility Network

Click on the following for stories about Muslims with disabilities:

• “We Will Not Be Hidden,” a video of American Muslims with disabilities shown at the 2009 ISNA Convention in Washington, DC
• Read about Safiyyah Amina Muhammad and Leila in the book, Amazing Gifts: Stories of Faith, Disability, and Inclusion
• PBS Religion & Ethics episode featuring the community of Masjid Waarith Ud Deen in Irvington, NJ
• Video of Mona Minkara’s 2009 Commencement Speech at Wellesley College
• “A Disabled Society,” a poem written by the late Imran Sabir from Glasgow, read aloud by Imam Zaid Shakir at the 2012 ISNA Convention
• Living with Blindness: Lessons from the life of Imran Sabir, a book about an exceptional Scottish Muslim with a severe disability