Is your church truly accessible?

There was a time in my ministry when this question was barely on my radar. The church I pastored had done some remodeling to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I thought it was enough — until disability suddenly became my personal reality.

In February 2000, my son, Danny, and I traveled to Colorado for a father-son ski vacation. On the drive home, we were involved in a rollover car accident.

Danny’s injuries were minor, but I suffered a broken neck and became paralyzed from the armpits down.

After several months of rehabilitation, I returned to the pulpit in a wheelchair. Despite my paralysis, I remained lead pastor until my retirement two years ago.

This certainly gave me new perspective on how our church was accommodating the disabled community.

Most church leaders believe all are welcome, but barriers remain that may suggest to disabled people they don’t belong. We must do more to eliminate these obstacles and welcome people as Jesus would.

There are many types of disabilities. My experience relates to mobility issues. With that topic in mind, below are questions every church leader should consider.

Is your parking lot welcoming to wheelchair users? Although I have limited use of my hands, I am still able to drive with hand/arm controls and use a ramp that comes out of the side of my van.

The marked-out area adjacent to a disabled parking spot is there to alert drivers to leave that zone clear for ramps or people with walkers. Some churches I have visited use that marked-out area as a spot to pile snow or park a youth ministry trailer. A visitor in a wheelchair who sees that might conclude people with disabilities are not welcome.

Make sure there is sufficient designated parking. The ADA requires a minimum number of disabled parking places. But why not add to that number by reassigning some existing spaces? Remember to choose spots on level ground.

How easy is it for someone using a wheelchair or walker to enter the front door of your facility? For starters, there should be a clearly marked, safe, and functioning ramp to the front door.

I recently visited a doctor’s office for the first time. When I arrived, a four-inch threshold prevented me from rolling inside. I called the office, and they eventually brought a ramp to help me gain entrance.

I’m certain I will not be going there again. A wheelchair user who has a similar experience at church might have the same reaction.

Additionally, opening heavy external doors is extremely difficult for people who use mobility assistive devices.

I often encourage able-bodied pastors and staff members to borrow a wheelchair and attempt to open the front door of their facility while seated. This exercise quickly highlights the need for automatic openers.

Do you and your leadership team know how to interact with people who have mobility issues? I’ve had greeters look past me and speak only to my wife — as if my being in a wheelchair automatically meant I also had cognitive or communication issues.

What if the reason we don’t have more people with disabilities in our churches is because
we have not been proactive enough about our accommodations?

Train team members to take a knee, talk with wheelchair users at eye level, and treat each person with dignity.

I visited one church where a well-meaning greeter said, “We have a special area for people like you.”

Trying to maintain a sense of humor, I retorted, “Oh, wonderful! Where is the section for good-looking people?”

Don’t assume a person in a wheelchair wants physical assistance either. Even if someone is struggling to pick up a dropped item, he or she might prefer to wrestle through the challenge independently. Rather than jumping in and potentially causing offense or embarrassment, politely ask whether you can help.

People with disabilities are more than just their disabilities. Encourage team members to view and treat each person as an individual.

How accommodating is your sanctuary? Some churches have disabled seating in the front. Perhaps the intention is to show honor, but people in wheelchairs often feel stigmatized and conspicuous already. Many of us would rather sit halfway back — close enough to feel connected without being so close to the front we attract unwanted attention.

In older facilities with fixed pews, the most likely place to park a wheelchair is at the end of a row. However, that can also feel awkward. Why not create space by modifying the length of one pew or removing an entire pew to make room for wheelchairs and scooters?

Locate disabled spaces on a level portion of your auditorium. Those of us with non-functioning abdominal muscles find it fatiguing to sit in sloping sanctuaries.

Small group Bible studies that gather in homes may inadvertently exclude people with mobility issues. In many homes, getting a wheelchair in the front door or using a bathroom can be a real challenge. Try to have at least one group that meets at the church or another wheelchair accessible location.

Are your restrooms not only legally accessible but also functionally accessible? Could someone like me — with no ability to grip — turn on the faucet or pull down a hand towel?

Are items like soap and towels within easy reach and close together? Imagine washing up and then having to use wet hands to propel a chair to another wall where the towel dispenser is located. Keeping a small stack of paper towels on the restroom vanity can solve this common problem.

Could someone who is seated reach the soap dispenser? If not, place a simple, home-sized pump on the counter next to the hand towels.

How do you as a leader use your words to model compassion and consideration for people with disabilities? I deeply appreciate it when a pastor or worship leader invites the congregation to “stand … if you are able.”

Using inclusive language sends a message to people with disabilities that you notice and value them. It also encourages others in the room to do the same.

The questions above are more pragmatic than spiritual, but our responses to such questions are spiritual.

What if the reason we don’t have more people with disabilities in our churches is because we have not been proactive enough about our accommodations?

In Luke 14:13–14, Jesus said, “When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.”

Jesus noticed and sought out those the culture marginalized. He often confronted and exposed societal barriers — whether religious, ethnic, economic, legal or physical.

Disabled people in our communities also face numerous barriers. What if the 21st-century Church followed Christ’s example and focused more on removing barriers to make the gospel accessible to all?

Doing so would shout, “Welcome! You belong here!”

Just imagine the beautiful impact for the kingdom of God if we all went well beyond what the law requires and fully embraced this call.

This article appears in the Summer 2022 edition of Influence magazine.