DISABILITYPRACTICING INCLUSION

DisAbility Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church

Sharon McCart, Chair

M.Div.

Former Special Education Teacher

Barriers to Inclusion

•What keeps people with disabilitiesfrom being included in church?

•What prevents them from participating fully?

Types of Barriers

•Architecture•Communication•Awareness•Attitude•Others?

Architectural Barriers

• Stairs• Rough pathways• Narrow doors • Obstacles• No seating choices• What else?

Communication Barriers

•Print too small

•No hearing assistance

•No sign language or captioning

•Unknown/unclear expectations

•Others?

Lack of Awareness

• Don’t know anything needs to be changed

• Don’t know what to change or how

• Never learned anything about disabilities

• Other?

Attitude

•Everyone should be like us•Lack of compassion/empathy•Don’t want to change•Unfriendly/unwelcoming•Other?

Other Barriers?

What other barriers can you think of?

Removing Barriers

•How can we break down the barriers

and practice inclusion in our

congregations?

Architecture

•Ramps•Wider doors•Grab bars• Signage•Pew cuts

More Architecture

• Lifts, elevators•Accessible restrooms•Railings•Automatic doors

Communication

• Large-print bulletins•Assistive Listening Systems•Accessible website• Live captioning•ASL interpreter

Awareness

Disability Awareness/Access Sundays

Awareness

Training for Sunday School teachers and other leaders

Awareness

•Disability Study/ Bible Study

•Disability Ministries Team

•Guest speakers with disabilities

•Training for church leaders

•Identify everyone’s spiritual gifts

Attitude

Address different learning styles

Attitude: Change Worship!

• Intergenerational and hands-on!•No “Shush” or “Sit still!” •Fellowship, crafts, worship, supper•More lively and interactive•Don’t dumb down, but use easy-to-understand language with visual aids and engaging stories

Attitude•Fragrance-free Zone•No-Shush Policy•Accessibility Welcome Kiosk

Accessibility Welcome Kiosk

A one-stop place to find:•Large-print bulletins and copies of the sermon

•Large-print hymnals

•Hearing assistance devices•Print version of all Powerpoint slides

Assistance

•Companion/buddy/mentor

•Additional assistants in classes

Assistive Listening Systems (ALS)

•FM and Infrared systems

•Inductive loop systems

•All speakers use a

microphone

•Committee Microphone

System

For those who are Deaf

•Live-Captioned worship

•Videos need to be captioned

or in print

•ASL interpreters

•Printed copies of the sermon

and other spoken word

For those who are Blind

•Describe all videos and pictures

•Braille hymnals and bulletins

• Service animal policies

•Assistance when needed

•No obstacles in aisles, hallways

Outreach Programs

•Camp

• Employment

•Housing•Working with people with disabilities

Commitment

What barriers will you try to remove?

1.

2.

Resources

• www.umdisability.org

• Newsletter—The Voice

• Accessibility Audit

• New World Outlook, May/June issue

• Response, May issue