Red Door Church, St. Jude School and Visionaries + Voices receive inaugural award for accessibility and inclusion efforts
Red Door Church, St. Jude School, and Visionaries + Voices were recently honored with the inaugural Community Champion Award from Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services for their commitment to accessibility and inclusion. All three organizations are exemplary in their efforts to create welcoming environments where people with disabilities can fully participate, contribute, and thrive.
Red Door Church – An intentional approach to accessibility
For Red Door Church leaders, accessibility begins with listening. Operations Director Jenna Laver says they always ask, “How can we support you and what do you want to do?” From there, members work together to understand what will make a person feel welcome and included.
They’ve created worship materials in alternate formats for members with visual impairments, provided sensory support so people can fully participate in church activities, and created Red Door Deaf Connection for members who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Those intentional efforts, said Alicia Hopkins, make Red Door Church “a place where I feel like I belong.”
St. Jude School – Expanding decades of inclusion, partnership
For more than 40 years, students from neighboring St. Jude School and Margaret B. Rost School have learned, performed and grown together. Fifth-grade students from St. Jude regularly spend time learning alongside peers with disabilities at Rost. Together, they build friendships and discover common interests like art, music and more.
With help from parents, the partnership expanded beyond the classroom this year. “This place is full of energetic willingness and the desire to do something,” said Julie Nagel, assistant principal at St. Jude School. “It’s not just one or two people spearheading this. It takes a village. It takes family.”
Cathie Gates, who has volunteered at Rost School since 1986, has witnessed the partnership’s impact across generations of students. “It’s a wonderful environment of inclusion, learning and fun,” she said.
Visionaries + Voices – Accessibility is not an “add-on”
Visionaries + Voices (V+V) has grown from small beginnings to a well-known haven for artists with disabilities. “At V+V, accessibility isn’t something we add on. It’s part of who we are,” said Executive Director Robyn Winkler. “We work hard to create spaces where artists with disabilities can fully participate, lead, and thrive.”
The arts organization has two studios that offer artist residencies, public exhibitions, community classes, partnerships, and more. Inclusive culture and a focus on creative expression have helped Visionaries + Voices stand out for decades.
“Everyone is encouraged to be themselves and let that transform into art, which makes people feel included and productive,” said volunteer Pam Remmel.
The Community Champion Award for Accessibility and Inclusion recognizes organizations creating a more accessible and inclusive Hamilton County. Nominations are accepted all year and may be submitted by community members, people with disabilities, family members, providers, employees, or organizations. Learn more about the award and submit a nomination.
