"For my house shall be a house
for all people." Isaiah 56:7

It is necessary for special needs folks both young and old to experience belonging and inclusion within God's houses. Historically folks with disabilities have been "cared for" but in their own homes or residential living facilities. Forthright measures are slowly and thoughtfully being employed to improve physical structures and instructional plans. Because children with special needs parents' are used to having them included, according to the LRE and Americans with Disabilities Act laws, they appropriately assume this will take place in their own church educational environments.

We as churches need to recognize the talents that people with special needs can bring to our congregations. We need to facilitate Jesus Math - instruct the one while leaving the 99! Of course we cannot heal the ailment with a touch as Jesus but we certainly can touch them in a loving manner. This will convey a magnitude of warmth and acceptance for these members of God's family.

Written by Pat Challenger

Awareness-Raising Activities

1. Arrange a time to have an awareness potluck. Split your group in half. One group is the caregivers and the other group is care recipients. Caregivers must get food for the care recipients and feed them. Discuss the experience afterward. How did this experience feel? If you were this dependent, would you stop going to church? What was it like to have someone totally dependent on you? Would you bring your family member to church if they required this much care? How could the church be helpful in a situation of so much dependence?
   
   
2. Take a field trip through your church building in a wheelchair. Have the group problem solve and really discover the obstacles together. Invite a physical therapist to join you, if possible.
   
   
3. Invite a special guest with a leader dog or service dog. Find out the difference between the two. Find out how to remove barriers for these brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe someone in your congregation would be interested in becoming a foster puppy family. These families raise puppies for one year; then the puppies go on to be trained as service or leader dogs.
   
   
4. Invite a group home for the developmentally disabled to come for dinner and an activity night. Plan games that would include everyone. Advanced planning and research is very important. Consult a special education for game ideas. You might also visit the group home in advance to help begin relationships. Make sure staff comes with the group home residents. This is very helpful and important. You could have a campfire night. Sing all those favorite camp songs and tell those great stories!
   
   
5. Have a "Book of the Week" club for children. Highlight a special book for each week. Have children and adults read this book and recommend others. You could even start a "Special Needs" section in your church library.
   
   
6. Host a "Special Olympics." Try different games in a wheel chair, with a visual impairment, hearing impairment, or another disability. Encourage and help others. That is how we all win! Maybe your church could go as a group to a wheelchair basketball game. It is amazing to watch!
   
   

*Note: You could combine some of these activities. Be creative as you explore ways to dig through the roof of your church! Remember the people who brought their friends to Jesus for healing and wholeness.

Submitted by Cindy Barnum-Steggerda

Congregational Self Evaluation

Becoming an accessible congregation is an ongoing process. Over time, new members join the congregation, and the needs of long-time members change. These lists are meant to provide a beginning to becoming a more inclusive congregation. Another step is to survey the congregation to assess their current needs. The Anabaptist Disabilities Network (ADNet), a Mennonite organization, has created a congregational survey.

Physical Accessibility

1. How much of the building is wheelchair accessible (aisles – 36”; 5’x5’ turnarounds)? Also check bathroom facilities and water fountains. The easiest way to check is to go around the building in a wheelchair.
   
   
2. Are there places in the sanctuary for wheelchairs or are they relegated to a side aisle in the back?
   
   
3. Is the sanctuary well lit?
   
   
4. Is there handicap parking (8’ wide spaces with 5’ wide aisles)?
   
   
5. Are there curb cuts or ramps for wheelchairs to enter the building?
   
   
6. Are large-print materials (bulletins, hymnals, business meeting agendas) made available?
   
   
7. Do stairs and ramps have handrails? Are they at appropriate heights (32” and 36” respectively)?
   
   
8. Are the stairs well lit?
   
   
9. Are ramps sloped appropriately (no more than 1’ rise per 12’ length)?
   
   
10. Examine the doors. Are they 36”? Are they too heavy? Can they slam shut on a person? Door handles are easier for people to use than doorknobs.
    
    
11. Does the church have a sound system? Are microphones used during all parts of worship and other church events? Are Assisted Listening Devices Available?
    
    
12. Is transportation available to church events for people who can’t drive?
    
    
13. Are there visible signs indicating the location of accessible bathrooms, ramps, elevators, etc?
    
    
    

Congregational Life Accessibility

1. Are ushers and greeters familiar with accessible features of the congregation (assisted listening devices, pew cuts, large-print materials)?
   
   
2. Are persons with disabilities actively involved in the congregation (worship leaders, greeters, ushers, helping set up for meetings, etc.)?
   
   
3. Are persons with disabilities included in regular or special Sunday school classes?
   
   
4. Are deacons or other members available to provide periodic respite care for families of persons with disabilities?
   
   
5. Does the congregation observe Disabilities Awareness Month (October)?
   
   
6. Does the congregation’s mission statement include persons with disabilities?
   
   
   

Funding

Funding is often where enthusiasm for the inclusion of persons with disabilities comes to a screeching halt. Too frequently churches say, “We’d like to be more inclusive but we don’t have the money.” So, here are some ideas:

1. Assess the needs of current members. If you have limited funds, it makes sense to use them where they will meet immediate needs.
   
   
2. Start small. Printing large-print bulletins and purchasing a few large-print hymnals are inexpensive ways to improve accessibility.
   
   
3. Create a non-lapsing fund in the church budget for accessibility improvements. Add a designated amount to the fund each year.
   
   
4. For large projects, seek out external sources of funding. There may be grant money available.
   
   
5. Host music-fests, potato bars, car washes etc. to raise money for a specific project.
   

More ideas for raising funds are available in:

Directory of Grants for Organizations Serving People with Disabilities (2000). Edited by Richard Eckstein. This book provides a directory of over 700 foundations that have a history of giving grants for disabilities issues.

Money and Ideas: Creative Approaches to Congregational Access (2001). Religion & Disability Program, National Organization on Disability. This booklet gives fund-raising and creative strategies to help churches raise money to become more accessible.