Inclusion and Accessibility
As Christians we want to be an inclusive church family and to welcome everyone to worship together. We want our church communities to be as accessible as possible in all ways for all people.
Diocesan Disability Forum
The Diocesan Disability Forum meets to support the work of the Diocese in becoming inclusive and accessible.
Disability Support & Inclusion – External Links
· additionalneedsalliance.org.uk – The Additional Needs Alliance helps churches to include, support, create places of belonging for, and spiritually grow children, young people and young adults with additional needs or disabilities.
· churchesforall.org.uk - this umbrella organisation brought together many organisations with the aim of creating a more inclusive church through resources and education, however the website no longer appears to work – does anyone know whether it still exists or has it folded?
· disabilityandjesus.org.uk - A website set up by three Anglicans with disabilities to encourage others with disabilities to share their experience of church and explore the theology of disability, working towards a more inclusive church as a result.
· gosign.org.uk - Formally Christian Deaf Link UK “Go! Sign” was inspired as a working name with a desire to obey Jesus’ commission to make disciples of deaf and hearing signers. At the same time they seek to find ways to improve local churches for a better accessible, discipleship growth, information and resources.
· https://www.shaftesburygroup.org/- Livability is the disability charity that connects people with their communities. We run disability care services and community projects for all ages.
o (Causeway) Prospects merged with Livability in 2016. They provide accessible approaches to congregational worship and teaching as well as fellowship groups for people with learning disabilities
o 'Travelling together'. Dementia is now being recognised more and more as an acquired disability and they have produced a load of information under 'Travelling together' link: https://www.shaftesburygroup.org/download/travelling-together/
· openears.org.uk - A non-denominational Christian charity (Registered Charity 284487) for people who have various degrees of impaired hearing, mainly (but not exclusively) those who communicate orally, assisted by hearing-aids and lip-reading.
· throughtheroof.org - A Christian Disability charity working to transform lives in the UK and overseas, with resources to help all.
· torchtrust.org - Torch Trust's aims can be summarised as enabling people with sight loss to discover Christian faith and lead fulfilling Christian lives.
· https://www.mindandsoulfoundation.org/- The Mind and Soul Foundation - exploring Christianity and mental health. Our website provides high quality resources to encourage, educate and equip the church and faith communities about mental health, combining good theology, good psychology and good medicine.