I am also working on creating resources for people like me who are unable to use the resources that the Church creates. I have converted Voices United and More Voices United into jpgs so I can load them onto my PDA. (My Dell Axim has died however, but I am now using an ipod touch).

I could also use some help as I am coverting thse files into MusicXML a new standard that allows the use of muiscal notation along with words. This will mean I and other will be able to customise these books to make them appear larger on my PDA. You can also use it to print custom size church bulletins that would include the music without loosing definition or being stuck to the sizes that your photocopier or computer are limited to. Also with musicXML you can print in braille, or load them into certain computer programs and have your computer play the music, already there are programs that can use this format to simulate guitars, pianos and other musical instraments(sp) through your computer. I could use some help with this as its a slow process using shareware.

Alex what a wonderful project!  Wishing you nothing but success.

As always, you remain one of my heroes.

LB

I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference.
Ellen Goodman

Greetings!

I too wish you success in your endeavours and minstry, Alex!

Hope, peace, joy, love . . .

Hey, Alex, you have come a long way since we first met. Good Job!

Thanks for the comments crazyheart and everyone else. I am a good example, of how actions taken by the church can lead to healing. But can anyone else share with us stories of how they have made their churches more accessible?

What are barriers?

Barriers are obstacles — things that get in the way of people with disabilities doing many of the day-to-day activities that most of us take for granted.

Barriers make going to Church impossible, or difficult, or they make it difficult or impossible for people to benefit in the same way that other people benefit from going church.

Some barriers are visible — like a building that has steps but no ramp. Others are invisible — like thinking that that a person with a speech impairment can’t understand you.

There are many kinds of barriers.

Architectural and physical barriers are features of Churches or spaces that cause problems for people with disabilities.

    Example: A hallway or a washroom that is too narrow for a person who uses a wheelchair, electric scooter or walker. Or a hymnbook that is too heavy for someone to hold, or has print that is too small to read. Or those who have attention problems and are presented with a complicated church bulletin that is too difficult to use, especially when they have to switch back between the bulletin, different hymn books, and a newsletter.

Information or communications barriers.

    Example: Signs that are not clear or easily understood, or a failure on the church to be listed with the local disability groups or websites, which is often the only way newcomer can tell if a churches accessible. Also many churches claim to be welcoming of sexual minorities, however they fail to say so on their website, or list their church in GLBT directories on the web, or those available through social service agencies.

Attitudinal barriers are those that discriminate against people.

    Example: Thinking that people with disabilities, or those who are different, are inferior.

Technology barriers occur when a technology can’t be modified to support various assistive devices.

    Example: A website that doesn’t support screen-reading software. 

Systemic barriers are an organization’s policies, practises or procedures that discriminate against people.

    Example: A hiring process that is not open to people with disabilities. (A good example is that although the United Church of Canada will ordain openly gay and lesbian people, those who are disabled are unable to become ordained, because in order to become ordained a person must first find a church that is willing to accommodate their disability or difference. Many Churches do not have wheelchair accessibility to the altar. Many of these churches have actually turned down money in order to make their churches accessible because of the association of government grants with gambling proceeds.  However when it comes to taking money from other people who make their living through gambling or other activities like building weapons of mass destruction, oppressing the developing world, the churches have no problem accepting money from these people. While those who think that this is a moral stance, people with disabilities will tell you that if you are not going to judge others who bring money to the church, why are you judging the disabled who have access to funds? It seems that many people in churches believe that within the money coming from gambling revenues is for the church, when however this money is actually for the disabled. 

Sounds, smells and light can be barriers.

    Example: Low lighting creates barriers for people whose vision is impaired. Organ music creates barriers to people with certain types of Autism, as does PowerPoint presentations since they both can overwhelm people and making sure they do not return. (1 in 150 people have some sort of autism, while many more people have much milder characteristics of autism. Many people are also allergic to strong scents and need a church which educates people not to wear scented products.

Based on http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/accessibilityOntario/accesson/understand_barriers.htm

Trying to make an ancient church building accessible is a challenge.  Both of my churches have accessible sanctuaries.  One of them has an accessible washroom on that level, the other will once we are done our renovations this summer.  But getting into the basement is a HUGE problem in both buildings.  Both are far too small to have space for a ramp, and equally too small to afford an elevator (installation is only part of the problem - elevators and lifts require regular, and expensive, inspections and maintenance).  Both churches would like to be accessible on both levels, but neither has any idea how to do it, and frankly, neither do I.  For now, we do the best we can - social events are almost always held on both levels, and able bodied people make sure that the upstairs is full, not simply the few people who have trouble with stairs sitting by themselves.

Similarly hearing issues - we have cobbled together barely sufficient radio-shack quality sound systems - adding a hearing assist system would cost more than the whole system.  It doesn't help that anyone currently with us who needs the system would refuse to use it.  I know from experience that if it is already there, some of those people will eventually try it, but their pride prevents them from admitting it.

Visual issues - we do a little better, but only a little.  We have large print Voices United books, although not More Voices (do they even exist?).  I have tried many times to convince people we should try printing large print bulletins, but again, no one is willing to admit that they need them, and printing them just in case we have a guest is a hard argument to make in a tiny church where we can count the random guests we get in a year on the fingers of one hand.  There would be an increase in cost, after all (more time for our bulletin secretary to create a completely new template, only to print 2 or 3 copies, which will mostly just be thrown out).

It's frustrating.  The barriers to churches that wish to be barrier free are enormous, even more so when cultural barriers are a part of the mix.

Sounds like your congregation is doing some good work and takes into consideration the needs of those differently abled.

I also believe that the way barriers can be delt with are different for small rural churches, then they are for large towns and big cities.

I also reject the idea that any church can remove all barriers and become barrier free. Some barriers are simple. outside our control.

However I believe we can work to remove the most important barriers.

One of the biggest barriers people face a societal and personal attitudes. Stigma, shame, guilt are all barriers to people to even asking for accomadition. Church people can play a leadership role in addressing these issues. (after all who would know more about overcoming guilt and shame then church people;-)

Also accomadations made for one type of disabilty can actually be a barrier to a person with a different disability.

What I want to do is encourage talk and create awareness of barriers. Hoepfully this will lead to the discovery of easy, inexpensive ways of overcoming barriers.

I know many of our churches are very old, but there are ways we can work around this. Also accessibility should be informing our decisions when we address unrelated issues, like sharing a building with another church. There are all sorts of reason some churches should be sharing buildings, accessibilty should be one of those reasons when looking at that issue.

I have a suggestion about the problem with getting people to use large print bulletins. This will not work for all people but maybe baby boomers and others who are computer friendly. 

Email out the program out to all people. Explain that people might like to be able to have the program ahead of time. Either to look up the hyms or the bible reading. Also mentions that they could print out the bulletin in their favorite fonts or sizes. However by default mail out the church program as an .rtf file with the defauly settings using large size fonts and that is easy printed on multiple letter size pages and then folded so the look the same when being used in church.

You could also appeal to those like to use gadgets. It's much cooler to use an ipod touch with which you can zoom in on the emailed program with your fingers then it is to be sitting in church using an 11 by 17 size paper for your program that screams I am growing older the first times you use it.

Don't ask if they want to recieve the email, make them ask to not recieve it.

And don't make any jokes about growing older, or sermons on disabilties on the same Sundays you promote the idea of people using the emailed program.

Excellent idea Alex, and it could also be part of the "greening" of the church!

LB - off to send this idea to my minister

Heard today that because we are a public building, the city of Ottawa will probably require seismic tests before we can get our building permit.  The whole project excluding permit was only budgeted for $30,000.  We have already spent $8000 trying to get the permit, and the seismic studies will cost more than the renovation as a whole.  So we will likely simply rebuild the aging stairs and walls.  Without being able to expand the structure, however, we won't have space for an accessible washroom.

So, because the city of Ottawa is a horse's ass, accessibility will once again be defeated.

RevMatt, if you allow your church to be used by other groups you may be eligible for grants from the Ontario governmnet for accessibility projects.  Churchs are not automatically allowed because (and you all know how I love government double speak) they are not considered "public" places. 

It is worth looking into since the rules have changed yet again.

Great job Alex - I'll check out the website shortly -

LB - The Trillium fund provides funding for fixtures, but not structure.  So they will help us pay for the toilet and hand rails, but we need to physically build new space in order to have somewhere to put them, and that's where the problem arises.

Well, that and my own personal moral objections, but most people just ignore those issues these days.

The city of Ottawa is obliged under law to make Ottawa barrier-free, by 2025 and obliged to change the way it does business in order to do so. It seems to me, (and I could help you finding out who at the city can make it happen) you should be able to have them waive the need for the study, or have the city do it at their expense if you can make the claim that you are making the renovations in whole or part in order to accomadate people with disabilities.

The city of Ottawa is obliged under law to make Ottawa barrier-free, by 2025 and obliged to change the way it does business in order to do so. It seems to me, (and I could help you finding out who at the city can make it happen) you should be able to have them waive the need for the study, or have the city do it at their expense if you can make the claim that you are making the renovations in whole or part in order to accomadate people with disabilities.

Ontario has  laws that few people at the city of Ottawa know about. It is The Ontarians with Disability Acts and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilitities. This is because the Ontarians with disability Act has no teeth, and the Accessibility law is newer, and is built based on process thought. It only has baby teeth now, (born January 1st) but under the law the teeth grow quickly.

It requires the city and all public insitutions, as well as the private sector identifiy barriers to people with disabilities and incorporate accessibilty into their short and long term planning process.

But when dealing with the city or any other public insitution, ask them if they have fullfilled their oblifations under the AODA, and the Human Rights Codes.

The public system those require that you disclose that this is part of your plan to make your building accessible. Once you do so you should be able to assert that the city can accommadate your request for help/ special status under its obligations to people with disabilities under the law to do so.

Alex,  what a great project.  As a mother of a profoundly disabled child this is near and dear to my heart.  We are fortunate to attend a newer church with an equally new building that is almost fully accessible. 

If there is anything I can do to be supportive or helpful please let me know.

One thought I had was the idea of simply volunteers.  For parents with special needs children even having a roster of volunteers (teens, congregants) who would be willing to provide 1:1 support for that child during sunday school and perhaps even during coffee time would be a wonderful for two reasons.  First it ensures the child is included in the program but secondly it gives the parent's a badly needed break!!!

This is really good news man.

I love the idea of a google calendar / ical available. My whole life is managed by my thunderbird calendar, I sync it to anything I can.

RevMatt said: ...Visual issues - we do a little better, but only a little. ... I have tried many times to convince people we should try printing large print bulletins, but again, no one is willing to admit that they need them, and printing them just in case we have a guest is a hard argument to make in a tiny church where we can count the random guests we get in a year on the fingers of one hand. There would be an increase in cost, after all (more time for our bulletin secretary to create a completely new template, only to print 2 or 3 copies, which will mostly just be thrown out).

I don't know what's the size of your bulletin and what photocopying machine you have, but we do our large-size printing via photocopier. The "normal" bulletin is on 5.5 x 8.5 " paper in booklet form. On top of the normal printing, our secretary enlarges the pages on 8.5 x 11" paper. Due to the limitations of our photocopier, the large-size printout is single-sided, but that's a minor concession. No reformatting necessary.

Alex you are doing a great job and I believe providing a service - it is one of your talents - you are endeavouring to be a good steward.

I am thinking of our own church building - if people with disabilities come in the back door does the elevator go to the lower level?  if they come in the front door they walk right into the sanctuary but when it comes time for coffee they have to take the elevator up to the hall level - the chapel is accessible but then when you come out of the chapel and want to go to the hall or lower level there are stairs in both directions as the elevator is in the centre of the building.  It seems to me that where you are in our building depends on how accessible it is -

Also because of so many allergies congregations have been endeavouring to get people to refrain from using perfumes etc for a long time - I stopped using it years ago - but I have run into people who are still using it.

I have known churches that print large print bulletins on a regular basis so they will have them ready if someone needs one. 

You raise a lot of good points in your topic Alex - I am very interested in what you are trying to do

Large print bulletins?   When I was church secretary I used to provide 3 or 4 each Sunday, just in case.  And I included a line at the bottom of the regular print bulletin but in a large, bold font  "Large Print bulletins are available.  Just ask the usher." 

Printing was easy - it just took a little bit more of my time  (Since this was my home church I considered myself a volunteer with an honorarium and I often worked more than the 8 hours designated in my job description.)

After I finished running the required number of copies of the regular bulletin on the photocopy machine, I simply change the size to a larger print so that a 5 x 8 became an 8 x 11 page.  Then I ran off my 3 or 4 copies using the bulletin cover as the back page.  When folded it looked the same as the regular bulletin, but it had to be turned sideways when opened. 

Most Sundays at least 2 or 3 of the large print bulletins were used.  I used one myself if it was available.  However, shortly after I left this practice was discontinued. 

RevMatt - the church across the street from mine installed an entry lift/elevator a few years ago - they built a very small new section on, outside the exisiting building, just big enough to accomodate a new entry & the lift - seems to have worked well.

Hi Special Mom,

I like the idea of volunteers. I also like the idea of focusing on kids and their parents. With adults its difficult to get them to request accomadations for themself, while parents will do almost anything including ask for accomdations for their Kids. I also like the idea because I believe that for parents and other caretakers that just do not need a break, but also a chance to meet with other parents and caretakers.

If you want to help there are two things I need help with. I am looking to set up an information section with links to various web sites that provide information on the needs of special kids, and special parents. Do you know of any good web sites or online resources? Sites that could be helpful to church volunteers staff, and others.

Can you right about any of your experiences (anonymously or otherwise) and share how you have been helped to overcome barriers. Or suggestions like the one about the volunteers. It could be just the last paragraph of your email or something longer.

Also do if you have any suggestions about anything let me know. I am open to anything.

Alex

What does our church do to inform or educate people. Does First have a no-scents, policy? I think I can remember seeing a sign that asked people to refrain from wearing scents.

I never wear scents, however I often buy scented products by mistake, also since I have a bad sense of smell and taste I often do not notice if their is a scent in the soap I use or the deorderant I buy. I usually buy one brand (Mitchem) but when I can not find it, I have difficulty finding a brand that has a no scense version.

Does any one know of good no-scents products.

[quote=mgagnonlv]

RevMatt said: ...Visual issues - we do a little better, but only a little. ... I have tried many times to convince people we should try printing large print bulletins, but again, no one is willing to admit that they need them, and printing them just in case we have a guest is a hard argument to make in a tiny church where we can count the random guests we get in a year on the fingers of one hand. There would be an increase in cost, after all (more time for our bulletin secretary to create a completely new template, only to print 2 or 3 copies, which will mostly just be thrown out).

I am writing an article on why people do not use or ask for things. Our bus strike ended last week and at a support group I attend we had a member come back for the first time. this was because he was unable to get transportation. However he was elgilble for Paratranspo . However he did not, and so he was more or less housebound for the whole strike.

I can suggest several 'practical solutions' however I hope to provide suggestions for long term systematic change that we can work towards. I also want to include why these changes could aid churches in other areas as well as accessibility.

It will be in a new topic thread when I finish it.

Our church is wheelchair accessible.  I don't think that it is well advertised though.

Funny that you should mention people who are autistic or otherwise hearing sensitive.  I don't think that I am/was autistic but when I was a child the sound of a large group of people making the 's' sound went through me like drills on either side of my head.  I went to an Anglican church where there is a lot of group reading and it just killed me.  I switched to a Baptist church and it was much better and only happened there usually during the singing.