Accessibility Audit Introduction

C H A P T E R II N T R O D U C T I O NChildren and adults with disabilities have gifts and talents to contribute to their communities. Many of them want to go to church, and have services to offer to God.Our faith community has been working for some time to improve the accessibility of its churches. What a blessing it would be if we could progress to the point where there were no longer any churches inadvertently excluding people with disabilities: no more architectural barriers preventing anyone with a disability from entering or fully participating; no more attitudinal barriers keeping persons with disabilities from feeling welcome; all churches offering accommodations and supports to remove communication barriers for individuals with sensory disabilities; and all people with disabilities who want to worship at the United Methodist church of their choice, feeling welcomed and included, but most important of all—feeling valued!People with disabilities, as all people, long to feel valued. In order for this to happen, our congregations must not stop at being welcoming and accessible; they must go beyond that, for it is when people with disabilities are provided opportunities to participate in their churches in meaningful ways that they experience inclusion. Since the 2nd edition of the Accessibility Audit for Churches, newer accessibility guidelines have become available from federal agencies committed to accessible design. Congregations have shared fresh ...