WELCOME

Accessibility �Coordinator Training

Hosted by the Baltimore-Washington Conference�Facilitator: Rev. Dr. Leo Yates, Jr., LCPC�Email: LYates@bwcumc.org

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Benefits of Having a Coordinator

• Supports the church�(Pastors & church secretaries can’t do it all)
• Lives into our Biblical Directive�(Luke 14 - The Great Banquet)
• Helps individuals with disabilities to belong
• Supports our discipleship
• The Church SHOULD be welcoming�(The BOD Social Principles)
• It strengthens the church’s hospitality
• It expresses grace (2 Samuel 9:1-13)
• Is a commitment & support to historically disadvantaged people

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Models of Disability

Learn more here

Preferred

Preferred

Preferred

Accessibility Coordinator

Responsibilities:

• Be a contact person for people requesting accommodations & assist with arrangements

• Train new ministry leaders & staff in disability awareness and be available to support requests / concerns

• Complete the church annual accessibility audit

• Plan monthly OR quarterly disability awareness activities

Accessibility Coordinator

Position Description

Accessibility Coordinator

Responsibilities:

• Be a contact person for people requesting accommodations & assist with arrangements

• Train new ministry leaders & staff in disability awareness and be available to support requests / concerns

• Complete the annual accessibility audit

• Plan monthly or quarterly disability awareness activities

•More responsibilities based on �your church needs & mission

Common Responsibilities

More Comprehensive Role

Click here for the Position Description*��* The footnotes are FULL of resources!

Annual Accessibility Audit

• It’s required by �The Book of Discipline
• Supports inclusion �(Social Principles)
• Multi-focused: outside,�inside, communications,�and attitudinal
• To be done annually

Common Church Barriers

• Architectural �(e.g., no ramps)
• Communication �(e.g., no large print materials)
• Attitudinal �(e.g., ableism & audism)
• Programs �(e.g., not using accessible curriculums)
• Technology�(e.g., not instructing Zoom for �beginners)

Check out the short list of common barriers �by the Anabaptist Disabilities Network.

Here’s an article about church ableism.

Accessibility �Audit Training

VIEW THE TRAINING HERE:� https://www.bwcumc.org/ministries/see-all-people/disability-ministries/

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Accessibility Audit�Strategies:

• Bring along last year’s audit �(what’s changed for the better or worsened)
• If possible, include a person �with a disability to also inspect
• Use a church survey to hear from �people (including people with disabilities)
• Consider taking pictures of problem areas to show leadership
• Share the report with the pastor and/or board of trustees

Accessibility Audit�Strategies:

Click here for a Disability Accessibility Survey postcard.

To be completed by church / community members.

Request individuals complete it

Guest / Visitor Cards

Click here for a Guest/Visitor Card.

Be sure someone follows up!

Disability Awareness� Activities & Events

Awareness ideas �from the ADA Anniversary�from Team Building�from A Day in Our Shoes

Awareness Dates�from �Disabled World

Do it monthly or quarterly! Promote various disabilities!

The BWC Disability Awareness Sunday is the first Sunday in February &/or observed any other Sunday.

Train ushers, greeters, and ministry/program leaders annually about disability awareness. Include it in confirmation classes and new membership classes.

Click here for a Church Activity Ideas or Church Training

Disability Awareness �- Reduces Ableism

And Ableism & Audism trainings also� increases disability awareness & inclusion!

The Church Disability training helps too!

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• The Kennedy Krieger Institute offers an Ableism Training.

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• Check out the Audism: Study Guide

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• Read over Pathways to Promise Catalog �Resources for Mental Health

The NY Government has a� Disability Awareness training.� Adapt it for your church.

Educating �Ministry Leaders

• Have people with disabilities on their radar for assistance
• Offer periodically to receive accommodation requests (& pass it on to the accessibility coordinator if needed)
• Be familiar with accessible rooms & bathrooms and where devices / materials are located
• Communicate accessibility or concerns with the accessibility coordinator & substitute leaders (filling in)
• Receive general disability awareness training
• Be flexible & sensitive to people’s needs
• Have a welcoming attitude
• Try to have accessible materials (large print / captioning / grade level)
• Review the Indicators of Welcome survey

small groups

Curriculums

Keep in mind when choosing curriculums:

• Large Print
• Multi-Sensory �(e.g., videos, text, digital version, group exercises, reading level, learning disabilities)
• Videos with captioning

Church Website

• Have a web page dedicated to accessibility that’s easy to find.
• Post an accessibility statement or policy on the church website.
• Use plain language for people of all grade levels.

Check your site here https://www.webfx.com/tools/read-able/

• Check your website for accessibility www.accessibilitychecker.org
• Check out this website tip sheet for accessibility.

Have a church �policy &/or statement

Have an accessible website

Disability Ministries �or Accessibility�Committee

• Click here for considerations or focuses.�
• The book, Deaf Ministries, has a chapter about this, as well as other helpful ideas!�
• Having a committee helps with this work!

Share Update Reports

Click here for a Report Template

Monthly Check-Ins & Topics for Accessibility Coordinators

Join a monthly 30-minute Zoom check-in that includes�topics and accessibility / awareness ideas! (Come when you can group.)

Resources

• Click here for the Disability Ministries Manual by the BWC Commission on Disability Concerns.
• The book, Deaf Ministries, has a chapter on disabilities and accessibilities, as well as other helpful awareness ideas!
• Click here for The Bible and Disability: Commentary
• Click here for Including People with Disabilities in Faith Communities

Training Evaluation

Click here to complete the evaluation. Thank you!�If having trouble with the evaluation, contact Rev. Leo at leoyjr@gmail.com

Want to learn even more, check out the FREE Accessibility self-paced recorded webinars through the ADANN.