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Throughout the month of November, the Center for Faith and Disability would like to share with you several practical strategies that can help congregations become communities of belonging and flourishing for all. Our prayer is that these strategies will make your focus on disability more biblical, normative and transformative.
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These practical strategies are excerpted from a guidebook called, "Welcoming People with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families: A Practical Guide for Congregations." Click the image to view the entire guidebook.
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Strategy #1: Undertake congregation-wide disability awareness efforts. Why is it so important to foster awareness and understanding of disability?
Often, the biggest barrier people with disabilities and their families encounter are not inaccessible stairs, but unwelcoming stares. Some congregation members have had few opportunities to get to know the people in their community with autism, Down syndrome, or a variety of other developmental disabilities. They may be uncertain about how to welcome and converse with someone who has a disability. And they may be unaware of the supports that would enable active participation in congregational life.
Thoughtfully sharing information about disability and the importance of welcoming everyone can have a powerful impact. At the same time, many people are simply unaware of the presence of people with disabilities already in their congregation or living in their neighborhood. Almost one in five Americans has a disability and nearly one in three families has a relative with a disability.
Ideas:
- Assemble a small team of ministry leaders, family members, people with disabilities, and others to collectively reflect on the extent to which programs and activities convey a clear recognition that people with disabilities are present and participating in congregational life.
- Emphasize themes of welcome, inclusion, and accessibility within congregational brochures, websites, bulletins, and other materials.
- Educate religious leaders and staff about how to talk respectfully about disabilities and to communicate effectively with people with disabilities and their families.
- Reflect on how many members with disabilities are only loosely involved because supports are unavailable or they anticipate they might not be welcomed.
- Some congregations set a regular time each year to hold an inclusion awareness service or other disability awareness events.
- Host a panel discussion on disability-related topics and invite people with disabilities and their families to share.
- Periodically offer training in disability etiquette. Promote people-first language and positive views of disability in all of your communications.
- Initiate a congregation-wide survey to find out who in your community is impacted by disability and how you might best support them.
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