Tips to Increase Disability Inclusion in Your Parish

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 adults in the United States has a disability. These disabilities can include challenges with mobility, cognition, independent living, hearing, vision, and self-care. Recent estimates also show that about 17% of children, or 1 in 6, have one or more developmental disabilities. These can include challenges with learning, physical development, language, cognition, and behavior. The CDC has found that Autism Spectrum Disorder alone, affects about 1 in every 44 eight-year-old children in the U.S.A. and 1/3 of children with ASD also have intellectual disabilities. 

Despite the prevalence of those with disabilities in our communities, schools, families, and churches, many parishes still don’t know what type of services or guidance to provide to those in their number with special needs. In fact, people with disabilities are often said to be one of the largest unchurched populations in the United States. The Society for Disability Studies found that persons with disabilities are 40% more likely than those without disabilities to report that they never attend worship and that this trend is a direct result of barriers to participation — those being architectural, communication, or attitude.

So, how might a parish become more friendly to those with disabilities? Here are a few ideas and resources.

Check Out the National Catholic Partnership on Disability

This organization has a plethora of resources and information for parishes who are working toward expanding their worship, ministry, and other practices to better include those with disabilities. They link to best catechetical practices and family support resources. The organization provides services like trainings, consultations, keynote talks for events, and accessibility surveys/assessments. Their LAMB Inclusive Participation Assessment Tool (Language, Accessibility, Meaningful Participation, Belonging) is specifically designed according to the website to guide “the development and evaluation of programs, materials and/ or other resources for use in the Church, relative to accessibility or usability for all persons.”

Start a Parish Advisory Group 

“Nothing about us without us,” is a commonly used slogan among minority groups to communicate that no rules or policies should be made by anyone in the organization without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected by those rules or policies. 

Inviting individuals and families to participate in a group specifically made to advise church leadership on the needs of those members of your church with disabilities not only creates a bridge between those with disabilities and those without but can also ensure that your parish uses its time and resources wisely. This type of ministry can also provide a structured environment for people with similar experiences to connect with each other and can deepen and enrich a parish’s overall community development. 

Train Ministers to Invite and Recognize 

Including disability sensitivity training in the process of learning how to serve at Mass or minister in different programs at the church is a great way to increase options for those with disabilities. Consider this — when was the last time that the sacristan asked someone using a wheelchair to help take up the gifts, or might it be possible for the point person to invite a family with a deaf child to be the 9 a.m. Mass greeters? Pope Francis, again, reminds us that everyone is encouraged to participate in their faith and contribute in their own unique way to their community.

Increase Disability Awareness for Visitors:

• Have signage clearly visible near the entrance to your sanctuary and other buildings for resources like a quiet room or hearing aids and any other support you provide to visitors. Include this information on your website homepage as well.

• Continue to invite and assure parishioners that their family members with disabilities are welcome to Mass, youth events, and more! Even better — invite families with disabled members to share their needs with parish leadership through your advocacy group or parish advisory group.

• Make sure to include disability access information and resources whenever you host a newcomer’s gathering!

• Include disability access info in your bulletin every week with who to contact if a visitor wants more in-depth information. Don’t forget to include both an email and a phone number so that those who may have hearing or sight problems always have an option.

• Find even more tips on how to make your parish more disability-friendly to visitors and new members, in our blog “How to Comb Your Experience Through the Eyes of a Visitor. ”

In his message for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2020, Pope Francis said, “Prayer is a mission, a mission accessible to everyone, and I would like to entrust that mission in a particular way to you. There is no one so frail that he or she cannot pray, worship the Lord, give glory to His holy Name, and intercede for the salvation of the world. In the sight of the Almighty, we come to realize that we are all equal.” So, how does your parish work to include members with disabilities?

For more resources, ideas, and information about advocacy organizations that include a variety of Christian denominations, check out the Collaborative on Faith & Disabilities.

Interested in more content like this to help inspire your parish staff? Check out the "Parish Life" section of our blog.

Updated on 03-13-2024