CHRISTIAN VENUES ASSOCIATION

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Workshop Presenter’s Bio-graphical Data Form

Lindsey Gale – Bio

Lindsey is an occupational therapist, a minister’s wife, and has studied theology

to Masters level, lecturing in both Sydney and Melbourne. She is currently
employed by CBM Australia in the Luke14 team, where she develops resources
to assist churches, theological colleges and other Christian organisations
improve in accessibility, understanding and welcome of people with a disability.

Lindsey attends Donvale Presbyterian church, where she is beginning work with
the leadership of the church to build inclusiveness throughout their many
programs and services. It is exciting early days for Luke14 at Donvale.

Shorter:
Lindsey is an occupational therapist, a minister’s wife, and has studied theology
to Masters level. She works for CBM Australia in the Luke14 team, where she
develops resources to assist churches, theological colleges and other Christian
organisations welcome and include people with a disability.

Joanne Webber – Bio

Joanne has worked in disability practice across the community, education and
employment sectors for 15 years. Joanne’s focus has been on empowering the
individual in strategies to improve their self advocacy skills whilst also
embedding inclusive practices within mainstream service provision.

Joanne has been responsible for a number of innovative national resources

supporting individuals with disabilities including the development of tertiary
transition CDs for students with hidden disabilities, the “One and All” Inclusive
Practice Guide and the “Inclusive Technologies Resource Kit”. She has most
recently worked in the DEEWR funded National Disability Coordination Officer
program enhancing the mainstream inclusion of people with disabilities in
education and employment.

Through personal and professional experiences with disability in education and

employment, Joanne is able to determine and implement effective disability
inclusive strategies in a range of community, education and employment
settings.

Joanne is currently undertaking research through a PhD exploring the tertiary

transition experiences for individuals with learning disabilities and is working as
the Inclusive Development Officer for CBM Australia with a focus on disability
inclusion in the international development context.
 CHRISTIAN VENUES ASSOCIATION
Connect10n

Workshop Title:
Inclusive Christian Communities - Christian Camping for People with Disabilities

Workshop Description:
20% of Australia’s population live with a disability. Disability is a normal part of
the human experience, and people with a disability are in every community and
walk of life. This means disability is in the local church!

In Luke chapter 14 Jesus has given the church a mandate to be inclusive, to “Go
out quickly… and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame… so that
my house will be full (vv21, 23).

The short-term community of Christian camping is an excellent place for a

church to really rub shoulders with members with a disability and come to
appreciate the burdens they are dealing with. However, this is only possible if
the campsite is accessible. If not, then the annual family camp becomes another
church activity that families living with a disability don’t attend.

How does a campsite improve its accessibility? Luke14 – Disability Inclusive

Christian Communities is a new initiative of CBM Australia to equip the Australian
Christian community to “build a better welcome” for people with a disability and
their families. Jo Webber and Lindsey Gale from the Luke14 team will be
presenting a practical interactive workshop on what this welcome looks like in
the context of Christian camping, and how to go about improving the
accessibility of your campsite.