Pathways
Award honors churches who ‘open doors to all’
Although one in five Americans copes with some type of physical, sensory, mental or emotional disability, far too many houses of worship are not very accessible, notes the Pathways Awareness Foundation in Chicago. So the foundation is campaigning to change things with a national contest that includes $1,000 award grants to help churches "open their doors." The foundation was established in 1988 to heighten public and professional awareness about early intervention and inclusion of children with physical differences. It started promoting access to worship facilities of all denominations with its Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Award, first with Chicago-area congregations in 1977, and then nationwide three years ago.
The awards program, which has separate entries for children and adults, requires an explanation of steps already taken to welcome persons with disabilities into worship services, ministries and leadership roles - plus an idea on how the $1,000 award grant would enhance these efforts.
The foundation's website offers a fount of information to help promote awareness of these needs including newsletters, examples of model churches, questions for discussion and lesson plans for teachers.
Accommodations cited include curb cuts, a ramp to the altar, brighter lighting, sign language interpreters and disability
etiquette training. "It's attitudinal, too," says spokesperson Joanne Meyer. "People usually don't purposely exclude anyone; they just don't intentionally include worshippers of all abilities."
The foundation also offers materials to help congregations to participate in Inclusion Awareness Day, which took place this year on September 28.
The heart of the program is to provoke discussion about areas of affirmation, communication and accessibility that helps congregations to see how they can be caring and inclusive of all people.