Many of our London Churches have worked hard to improve accessibility over the past 10 or more years. It is now far more common to find step-free access, accessible toilets, hearing loops, large print books and leaflets and many more provisions that make attending possible and more comfortable for disabled people. However, we often don’t tell anyone about this and so the misunderstanding that Churches are dark, cold, inhospitable and inaccessible places continues.
So, if you have provision in your building and your church community to welcome and include disabled people, why not shout about it? Create an access information area on your website with information about your building, pictures and even short film clips, that will reassure disabled people that if they attend they will be able to get in, move around, access the facilities and take a full part in the worship and life of the church. Make the link to this area big and bold and put it close to the top of your website home page so it can be easily found.
Many disabled people research the places they go to as they want to be sure they will be welcome and will be able to access all they need in a building. So, why not let the world know about the welcome and facilities that you offer?
There is a guide to ‘creating an accessibility area on your website’ within the 360 Accessibility audit tool that is downloadable from the disability ministry area of the diocesan website.
https://www.london.anglican.org/church-and-parish-support/diversity-and-inclusion/disability-ministry/the-360-accessibility-audit
This is a step by step guide to what you might include in the information.
John Beauchamp, the Diocesan Disability Ministry Enabler is able to advise on this and John is always keen to hear about good practice from across the diocese. So if you already do this or are inspired to set about achieving it, email John and let him know john.beauchamp@london.anglican.org
