Jess Hoffert: Standing and Knocking at the Door: Accessibility and the Church

“I’m going to let you in on a dirty little secret. The church is not accessible. And it doesn’t have to be.” That’s how Katie Smith began her presentation to a group of nearly 50 engaged listeners at last month’s COB Young Adult Conference at Camp Blue Diamond in Huntingdon County, Penn. Smith, who has just received a Master’s degree in Disability Studies from the City University of New York’s School of Professional Studies, cited the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which does not apply to religious organizations. Smith grew up in rural Appalachia, where coming of age with a physical disability can be a challenge. According to Smith, there are still people who cling to the idea that a person’s disability is directly connected to the committing of sin. “I’ve had random people give me ‘tips’ on how to be healed on church trips,” Smith says. “I’ve had people pray over me when I was visiting sick relatives in the hospital.” This “moral model” of disability has since become widely discredited, but Smith believes there’s much more work to be done for full acceptance and accommodation of people with physical and intellectual disabilities, especially in the church.

“Just being aware of the issue and asking ‘What can we do?’ means a lot,” says Smith. “The cost of being accessible is a fair concern, but a lot of what can be done doesn’t have to cost a lot or take much.” Smith credits her home church, Central COB in the Virlina district, for moving the youth room from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor after one of her major surgeries so she could continue to participate.

An additional challenge for Smith has been participating in

Brethren service opportunities such as workcamps. “When you have a disability, you have two options: suck it up or be segregated.” She hopes that in the future, the wider church will consider workcamps and camp programs that are less physically demanding and sensory-friendly. The denomination does offer a “We Are Able” workcamp each year for those with intellectual disabilities.

Smith challenged the group at this year’s Young Adult Conference to take a minority-first approach to church, considering those with special needs while planning worship services and wider activities. Considerations include railings and easy-to-open doors for those with mobility issues, closed captioning for those who are hard of hearing, large print copies of sermons and other materials for the visually impaired, sensory-friendly activities for people with autism, and dietary accommodations such as gluten-free bread at communion or sugar-free treats during children’s story.

“People are disabled, not by their bodies, but by a society that is not accessible to them,” Smith says. “We, as the church, should want function as Christ would. To me, this means including everyone, not excluding those that don’t look or act as you do.”

Here are some additional ways that Smith says the church and individuals can be more inclusive starting today:

• Use person-first language unless you know an individual prefers another method. Instead of “Katie is disabled,” say, “Katie is a person with a disability.”

• Avoid using pejorative labels such as “cripple” or “handicapped.” Avoid using words that you think might put a positive spin on a disability, like “handi-capable.” To many people with disabilities, words like “handi-capable” can come across as condescending and infantilizing.

• Do not assume that a person with a disability needs help. Ask before you start to help someone, as your helping may be more of a hindrance.

• If you have changed aspects of your building or room, make sure you have notified congregants with visual or physical disabilities. Also, regularly check to make sure that any assistive devices are functioning properly.

• When thinking of decorating your space for the upcoming holiday season, think about how your decorations might affect those with disabilities or sensitivities. For example, is the handrail easily accessible or is it decorated with garlands?

• If you are interacting with a person who is hard of hearing, make sure that you have their attention before you speak.

• Don’t decide what a person with a disability can and can’t do. If there is an activity that you are concerned might be difficult for a person, ask first. Don’t assume they cannot participate and exclude them.

• Do not comment about someone’s body or the way their disability makes them act.

• Talk to people with disabilities as you would talk with anyone else.

• Be aware that the person with a disability may be sensitive about their identity as a person with a disability. Do your best to include them in activities, even if this means changing your plans a little.