Everybody belongs. Everybody serves.
Disability
lynn
Michele
Staci
Ken 
Disability Concerns hosted their first fully online Leadership Training event this year! It was a very successful event that focused on the theme of agility.
30 years ago today, the US adopted landmark civil rights legislation called the Americans with Disabilities Act. The worst barriers faced by people with disabilities usually result from attitudes and environments that we all create and could change.
Have you considered the challenges face masks pose to people who are hard of hearing? Have you considered the struggles someone with social anxiety may feel when no one will go near them?
This document offers guidelines for planning meetings and events to ensure that all participants with visual impairments can participate fully and safely.
In this article, we offers tips and resources for providing the same information that sighted people benefit from to those with visual impairments.
This article addresses socializing issues for people who are blind or have low vision. It's presented in a format that names six common challenges and offers solutions for each one.
Shortly after the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, a team from CRC Disability Concerns recognized its importance for congregations, especially because the ADA explicitly excluded faith communities from its requirements.
Dr. Jay Dolmage is a professor at the University of Waterloo. Recently he spoke on Academic Ableism at Western Theological Seminary. He has shared many great resources with us in this article.
In listening to Chris, and in accommodating myself to his needs, I have learned a lot about him, about his disability, and about myself.
This journey started over thirty years ago when we received a call from a mom who asked us if her son could come to our church. Today, twenty five percent of our congregation is persons with developmental disabilities.
As in all other things, we need sanctification. To sanctify our spaces, our communications, and our attitudes, new ideas can help. Here are five ideas for belonging and an example for each.
We started captioning videos for people with disabilities. It turns out this also helps a bunch of other people.
At a recent RCA Classis Minnesota meeting there was a discussion about no-cost options for welcoming people with disabilities. Here are some of the strategies they wanted to share.
Because he couldn’t get in the door, safely use the restroom, or access the pulpit, Kyle Crist “decided to become a disability advocate out of necessity.” Listen to Kyle share more of his experience as a disability advocate.
Ontario friends!: "Our Doors are Open" are offering free workshops for congregations welcoming folks with disabilities and families until the end of November.
College for Students with Disabilities
This article has suggestions and resources to help your congregation considers having emotional support animals in your church.
Finding employment is never easy, especially if you have a disability. Here at Anchor we have had a number of success stories.
A couple girls saw Thayer’s dilemma and pointed out to him a few other apples hanging closer. “Get this one, Thayer. It’s a beauty!” But Thayer would not be swayed from his chosen apple.
On January 1, 2017, new accessibility requirements come into effect from the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Is your church ready?
Turning Barriers into Bridges presents Biblical, legal, and cultural reasons for making church communications accessible, and it provides specific guidelines to do so.
Even when people who have disabilities get to church, we sometimes struggle to minister to them. If Mephibosheth were here today, we’d have to carry him to the platform as we often can't accommodate wheelchairs.
Frequently I’ve heard people evaluate the benefit of ramps and hearing loops based on how many people with disabilities would use them. Now I understand why that kind of analysis misses the point.
Our Doors Are Open: Guide for Accessible Congregations offers different faith communities in Ontario simple, creative ideas and guidance to increase inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities during worship services, events, and community activities.
Rennie Feddema from Strathroy, Ontario, wonders whether your church is truly disability friendly.