2057 Creating Accessible Congregations
Accessibilities Committee, UUA

 

Presented by UUA Accessibilities Committee: Dr. Helen Bishop, Catherine Carpenter, Jacqui James, Vincent Licenmziato, and Gene Burr.

"I know this rose will open," we all sang together. Following the song, Dr. Helen Bishop said, "I know we can and will do this work," expressing her faith in the Accessibility Committee she chairs, and in UU congregations that are improving accessibility at their congregations. The Committee believes that, "Attitudes are the real disability." Education about and awareness of handicapped people are keys to improving accessibility.

Perhaps you think "accessibility" merely involves installing a wheelchair ramp. If so, you have barely begun to think about the many problems faced by some people. For example, how accessible is your church to the hearing impaired or the visually impaired? And have you thought about chemical sensitivities, or the psychologically or emotionally impaired? Do you know some disabilities such as chronic pain are invisible? Do you need help thinking through the issues? The committee can help you. Email jjames@uua.org to make contact. You can do an audit of your facilities by using the tools at: http://www.uua.org/faithinaction/jtwacc/access2.html. Yet refitting buildings can be expensive, especially if yours is an historic church building. The Accessibilities Committee offers creative, imaginative and custom solutions through members like architect Gene Burr.

Do you know how to interact with a handicapped person or do you avoid handicapped people because you feel awkward? Why not talk to the person, ask if you can help, and ask specifically how. Try not to make assumptions. You can obtain advice at http://www.uua.org/faithinaction/jtwacc/access3.html. But above all, accept that we are all going to get it wrong sometimes, so let's all agree to forgive each other when that happens.

Other sources of information were provided. Basic information can be found at http://www.uua.org/faithinaction/jtwacc/access1.html; the National Organization on Disability site, http://www.nod.org; and the March 2002 issue of the UUA's "InterConnections," available at http://www.uua.org/interconnections/membership/vol5-2-membership.html.

Reporter Mike McNaughton;Web Designer Anna Belle Leiserson

 

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