Organising the Body

The Church, as the Body of Christ, is made up of all its different parts who all have a role to play.  Disabled people bring different experiences and insights because of their disability, that will enrich the church.  Ensuring the church is accessible and fully includes disabled people enriches the entire body.

Disabled people need to be involved in the following points to ensure that the church is able to reach its full potential, and is inviting to all people.

Policies

• Are disabled people involved in the shaping of policies from the very beginning? 
• Consider – who are the people within your congregation who can provide Godly wisdom and insight, disabled or not?  The experience and knowledge of a disabled person may not just be on disability!
• Have you a policy on accessibility of premises and good practice guidelines and procedures for removing, altering, avoiding or providing an alternative to physical barriers?
• Is someone responsible for carrying out regular checks to ensure that the induction-loop system for hearing-aid users is working?
• Is someone in the church responsible for ensuring that speakers use the microphone?
• Is there someone in the church that people know they could go to if they find it difficult to access services?
• Are there accessible service sheets in alternative formats for blind and partially sighted people? E.g. giant print, audio, braille?
• Are these accessible in British Sign Language for deaf people (whose first language is British Sign Language and English is therefore their second language.)

Church Meetings

• Is the layout for your church meetings conducive for disabled people to be fully involved? e.g. is there an induction loop and, therefore, a microphone for people to use? Can people speak into a portable microphone or do they have to go to the front to use one?
• A welcoming church meeting is not only one where material needs are catered for, but more importantly where the attitude of people is open and welcoming, and where those who serve are prepared and helpful.
• Do you need to allow extra time for the meeting? - e.g.:
  - deaf people can't read the screen or documents and watch the interpreter at the same time.
  - hard of hearing people can't lipread and read at the same time.
  - blind people can't read the screen or documents given out at the meeting - will the contents be read out?

Leadership

• Have you considered how disabled people are equally able to serve in positions of leadership, so opportunities of developing a disabled person’s leadership skills should be seen in the same light as anyone else’s?
• Are you looking actively for the Talent given to every individual, rather than making assumptions of what that talent may be?
• Is your Leadership team committed to ensuring your building or the premises that you use are as accessible as possible for disabled people? Are they aware of the legal requirements relating to ‘physical features’ under the Disability Discrimination Act?
• Have your church leaders received any disability awareness training?
• Is there any reason why you do not have any disabled people in leadership at your church?
• Do you have suitably qualified interpreters to enable British Sign Language users to be involved in leadership? If necessary, do you know how to find independent interpreters if the British Sign Language user is involved in a confidential meeting or discussion?
• Is there any reason why you do not have any people with learning disabilities in ministry at your church? - there are many ways to include people, depending on ability: as a welcomer, usher, helping with coffee, etc.
• Does your leadership actively look for ways the church can be enriched through including those with learning disabilities?
• Have you prepared all papers in alternative formats or electronic form?

Building Design

• Where possible, we need to ensure that the church is fully accessible.  Is there a commitment to refurbish your facilities and adopt the principles of inclusive design?
• Look beyond physical access to creating an environment suitable for people with learning disabilities and those with sensory impairments
• Is the lighting suitable for partially sighted people? Is the general lighting good enough for people to read large print while the majority of the congreagtion are reading the screen?
• Is there always good light on the British Sign Language interpreter, even if other lights are switched off? Is there a plain background for the interpreter?
• Are steps marked so that the edges can be clearly distinguished?
• Are the main thoroughfares clear of obstacles that people might not see?
• Can some seats be moved to accommodate guide dogs?
• Do you have warning lights for fire alarms as well as sound alarms?

Church Publicity & Website

• On your website or in church publicity, do you give details of any access issues or restrictions there may be for disabled people in using your church facilities?
• Are your publications available in an accessible format , with an option for large print?  Consult with people in your congregation to find ways of making your communications easier to access.
• Is your website accessible by blind and partially sighted people?
• If you have regular British Sign Language interpreters at your church, have you thought about including a British Sign Language video clip on your website that includes all the key information?
• Do you advertise the availability of interpreters or the induction-loop system for hearing-aid users? (If you do advertise, are they always available or do you need to know in advance to make arrangements?