Supporting Religion and Spirituality to Enhance Quality of Life of People With Intellectual Disability: A Jewish Perspective

The role of religion in enhancing the quality of life of many people both with and without disabilities has been examined from numerous viewpoints in the past (e.g., Bennett, Deluca, & Allen, 1995; Corrigan, McCorkle, Schell, & Kidder, 2003; Ferriss, 2002; Lewis, Maltby, & Day, 2005; Poston & Turnbull, 2004; Skinner, Correa, Skinner, & Bailey, 2001). Regular involvement in organized religious activities such as prayer has been positively correlated with numerous positive outcomes, including physical health (Idler & Stanislav, 1997; Selway & Ashman, 1998), life expectancy (Schnall, 2010), and happiness (Lewis, 2002; Lewis, Maltby, & Day, 2005; Siegel & Anderman, 2001). In addition, involvement in religious practice often provides all people an opportunity to become part of a community that can serve as a social base and provide outlets for inclusion and interaction with like-minded...