Jill is a published author and conference speaker in the field of disability theology. She gained her doctorate in disability theology in 2014 at Queen’s University Belfast. Her pioneer work, God Beyond Words, which explores how God comes to us in loving, revealing and relational ways, regardless of our cognitive abilities, was shortlisted for the Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing in 2019. In addition to her work with Tio, Jill is Adjunct Professor of Disability Theology at Western Theological Seminary, Michigan and Consultant to Western’s Centre for Disability Ministry.
Jill’s passionate interest in intellectual disability and theology has developed over many years and represents an integration of her academic background and her personal experience as the mother of Rebecca, who has profound and complex intellectual disabilities. She is married to William, a pastor, and they also have two sons, Ben and Alex.