Greeting Persons With Disabilities: Suggestions for Ushers and Greeters

We all contribute to the climate of our church, and ushers and greeters can be trend-setters and models for the congregational environment. They put the welcoming arms of the church around the shoulders of all who come to worship. Ushers and greeters promote a climate of friendship, acceptance, and surrounding love, and they enable the warmth of respect and the certain knowledge that we are all children of God.

An understanding of the varied needs of persons with disabilities will help ushers and greeters become more comfortable in their jobs. Questions they most often ask are, "What is appropriate?" and "What do I do in case of an emergency?" These helpful suggestions from the United Methodist Church will help answer both questions.