Worship

Church, synagogue, mosque, or temple: all of these religious and spiritual communities represent an important part of community living. Many of these congregations need help to remove barriers of architecture, communications and attitudes that exclude people with disabilities from full and active participation. These links along with links on the Advocacy and Empowerment page may help individuals to remove the obstacles to worship that alienate many people with disabilities.

• Accessible Congregations
• Making places of worship more accessible
• Some examples of accessible worship communities
• Link to a Wheelchairs and Worship Discussion

Accessible Congregations

• Council for Jews with Special Needs
• Disabilities Concerns (DISC) - a project of the United Methodist Church.
• Family Village Worship Center - religious/faith/spiritual resources for those who have disabilities.
• House of Worship - resources on faith and denomination.
• Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors - this website includes some resources and a community survey. Some have been converted to webpages here on the WheelchairNet site.
• Religion & Disability Program - at the National Organization on Disability (NOD).
  • Check out their three "Interfaith guides"... they are excellent and well worth $10.00!

Making place of worship accessible

• Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries - accessibility survey.
• Christian Council on Persons with Disabilities - checklist to build awareness.
• Congregational Resource Guide - information on how your congregation can become more accessible for people with disabilities.
• Cooperative Baptist Fellowship - resources that can assist churches in becoming more accessible to people with disabilities.
• ELCA Worship - frequently ask questions about accessible worship place.
• Making Liturgy Accessible - planning for people with special needs.
• Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors - this website includes some resources and a community survey. Some have been converted to webpages here on the WheelchairNet site.
• Paths to Equal Opportunity - information on helping congregations become more welcoming and inclusive.
• R. A. Lacey Architecture - information on creating an accessible church.

Some examples of accessible worship communities

• Accessible Houses of Worship - accessible congregations in Greater Cincinnati.
• Episcopal church of the Holy Spirit - accessible church at Waco Texas.
• Scottsdale Bible Church - Disability-Effective Ministry, Scottsdale, AZ.
• Shepherd Center - accessible place of worship in Atlanta.
• St. Peter's Episcopal Church - in Weston, Massachusetts.
• National Presbyterian Church - accessible place of worship in Washington, DC.
• Submit yours through an a "Contact us" email message!

Last Updated: 3-2-2006