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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