Expanding the Circle

May we create a circle of belonging that includes all.

Kat Armas

Planning our new accessible Belonging cabin is expanding my awareness of those who are creating circles of belonging for people with disabilities. In just one day last week: 

• I learned about the Adaptive Climbers Fest, a rock climbing festival at Red River Gorge for people with disabilities.
• I was introduced to the Dot Experience Museum in Louisville, described as the “first inclusive attraction in the world to make every exhibit, image, and artifact accessible to everyone…”
• And I had an inspiring conversation with a university dance instructor who initiated a project to provide audio descriptions of dance performances for audience members with visual impairments.

This spiderweb photo taken at Cedars of Peace reminds me that everyone and everything inherently belongs because all life is woven together. Tragically, that web of life has been broken in countless ways. 

The Belonging cabin is more than an accessible building. It provides an opportunity to join with others in reweaving the broken web so that circles of belonging can expand to include all.