Disability Advocacy at Church

4/4/2008 at 01:11 PM
Starting the inter-denominational organization “The Open Door” for disability access and awareness, just as the ADA laws were being passed, gave me a great deal of insight into how little many people of many faiths apply the lessons of their religions to people with disabilities.  It was a very long, hard struggle.

I had previously attended seminary at Union Theological Seminary in NYC (affiliated with Columbia), and I returned to Miami filled with enthusiasm, believing that if people understood how important it was for some disabled people to be members of a faith group, and to be able to enter the building (get up those steps), understand the service (signing for the deaf, and/or headphones), sing along (Braille hymnals), and finally, as a minister or deacon, have access to the alter and pulpit, they would simply make that adjustment.

How wrong I was.  Not only were people not interested in access, they were not even interested in knowing disabled people.  The group was grounded by the Episcopalian Cathedral, the leading synagogue, and an Islamic mosque (the only one in Miami at the time).  All three faith leaders agreed that this was a great idea, and went along with plans for an inter-faith awareness day.  It was in the planning for nearly a year. 

I slowly came to realize, however, as I tried to form a committee at each faith group, that there were simply no people interested in helping bring disabled people into the congregation, or in working on the event.  It was unbelievable.

There were exceptions, of course.  Some Christian churches (one Baptist church particularly stands out in my mind), had an over 15 year commitment to disability education and inclusion.  There was another synagogue in the city that was very proactive in building ramps and so on.

But by and large, no one really cared.  I remember going to after service “coffee hours,” and sitting alone in my chair as no one approached me, as I smiled and attempted to act inviting.  Those I approached seemed embarrassed, and moved away as soon as possible.

I later became the Episcopalian National Disability Representative, and still later served as VP on the Committee on Disabilities of the National Council of Churches.  At those meetings I learned that my experience was not unique.

Many denominations had, however, made an effort to begin to produce written and visual materials to educate member congregations, and it is my understanding that great progress has been made now.