Church Links

Churches and Disability

See also our notes on the Disability Discrimination Act.

Are we accessible, could we be more accessible, why should we be?

In many regards the Disability Discrimination Act put into law what we as Christians believe about disabled people, namely that they should be respected and treated as well as anybody else. This sounds simple but it is all too easy to fall into the trap of assuming that all we need to do is provide a ramp, toilets with disabled access and perhaps a hearing loop system. These are the things that most able bodied people notice and treasurers shudder at the thought of — but what about the disabled people themselves, what do they notice?

Perhaps the first question to ask is who are the disabled people? Disability can be obvious - it is easy to spot a wheel chair user or someone who is blind. On the other hand how would you know if someone has dyslexia? From a church’s point of view a person with a disability is anyone who would find it unusually difficult to join in activities or use facilities that are available to anyone else.

The real experts in this field are the people who have a disability, a first step is always to talk to them and gain their views. Be aware however, that significant numbers of disabled people may not be part of your worshipping community or use your premises simply because of the difficulties they face, or the fact that your building appears to them to be unwelcoming. The people you most need to hear from, therefore, may never get to your Church!

You therefore need to look wider and use your imagination. There are various resources available that will help with an audit of your facilities and activities.

A useful website to look at is www.throughtheroof.org Through the Roof specifically gives advice to enable ‘all Disabled People to Be Free To Reach Their God-Given Potential”. Their website can offer help and advice in a number of various areas and one of the Resources available is called “Removing Barriers”.

The Removing Barriers Resource is in the form of a questionnaire organised around four types of barrier that can restrict the full involvement of disabled people – Attitudes, Organisation, Information and Physical Access — and helps guide churches through a step-by-step checklist. In using the Resource Churches are also directed to other appropriate information and resources which will help them to address any areas which need some input.

No one expects Churches to make any changes needed overnight, however, it is important to make a start or to continue on the journey.

The Removing Barriers Resource can enable you to:

*Help your Church or Organisation to assess your current situation. *Help you identify what ‘reasonable adjustments’ could be made to improve the situation. *Provide information and signpost you to appropriate resources to help you make these improvements. *Enable your Church or Organisation to welcome and include disabled people more fully.

If you are still wondering ‘why should we’ or are looking for further information, here are some notes on the Disability Discrimination Act.