

Episode 165: Stephanie Tait - Disability Theology is for Everyone
May 3, 2021
Stephanie Tait, an advocate for disability theology, delves into the intersections of disability, faith, and culture. She critiques traditional views that see disability as brokenness, promoting an inclusive perspective instead. Tait shares her personal journey with health struggles and challenges within faith communities, addressing systemic ableism and the need for genuine accessibility. Emphasizing the importance of recognizing diverse experiences, she advocates for a shift in church teachings to embrace disability theology and incorporate underrepresented voices.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Stephanie's Chronic Illness Journey
- Stephanie Tait's chronic illness journey spanned 15 years before diagnosis with Lyme disease.
- She grappled with internalized ableism before embracing disability as a core identity influencing her theology.
Healing as Restoration of Belonging
- Healing stories in the Bible often reflect societal exclusion, not physical deficiency.
- Jesus' healings restored belonging rather than simply fixing "broken" bodies.
Ableism Is Structural, Not Just Overt
- Ableism is systemic and structural, not just overt hatred.
- Society is built for certain bodies, creating unintentional exclusion of disabled people.