Disability Access
Made in the image of God
In Britain, there are 9.5 million adults who have a recognised disability (Disability Rights Commision, 2006): that is over one-fifth of the adult population. A further 700,000 children have one or more disabilities.
95% of us will experience disability at some time during our life. If you became disabled and wanted to continue attending your church, how easy would that be? Paul, the apostle, wrote: "those parts that seem to be weaker are indispensable". If we believe that the Christian Gospel is for everyone, then we need to include disabled people in the life of our churches.
There is a wide range of disabilities, some obvious, many hidden. Installing a ramp for a wheelchair does not mean that your church is welcoming to all. Having a loop system installed is not enough if it is not in full working order and switched on for all services and meetings. Having a welcome team is not enough if they don't understand the needs of people with Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, or people with learning difficulties.
The biggest thing you can do to make your church more welcoming to people with disabilities is to ask them how you may help. And listen to their answers. You may not be able to change your church immediately – installing a ramp for wheelchair users may not be simple – but you might be able to change a flickering light bulb to help someone on the Autistic Spectrum feel more comfortable, or be able to help people with limited mobility get to the altar rail. Take people’s suggestions seriously, and be aware that no two people’s experiences, or disabilities, will be the same.
At a national level, the Church of England's Committee for Ministry of and Among Deaf and Disabled People (CMDDP) seeks to support and encourage the ministries of Deaf people, people with disabilities and the ministries of all those who work with them.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) has produced a Guidance Note on churches and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which you can download below, or click here for more information on the DDA. You can also download the first newsletter for Disability Advisers below.
We recently held a Sensory Service at Beveley Minster, for people with and without disabilities. You can read about this and see photos here.
If you would like help making your church more friendly and welcoming towards people with disabilities, please contact the Revd Linda Shipp, Diocesan Officer for People with Disabilities, on 01642 701777 or revlmshipp@btinternet.com.
Every Disabled Child Matters
EDCM is a consortium campaign run by four of the leading organisations working with disabled children and their families: Contact a Family, the Council for Disabled Children, Mencap and the Special Educational Consortium. Between them, the campaign partners represent over 770,000 disabled children and young people in the UK.
EDCM was established in September 2006 and continues to campaign to raise the political profile of disabled children and their families within central and local government. EDCM wants Westminster and local government to:
- Give disabled children and their families new rights to the services and support they need to lead ordinary lives.
- Invest in new resources to make sure these rights can become a reality. This will be achieved through funding to sustain, embed and build on Aiming High for Disabled Children.
- Give disabled children and their families a new level of priority, and work with them to improve the services they receive.
To find out more, visit the EDCM website.