If bars are more accessible than altars,
If theaters are more welcoming than churches,
If the producers of PBS are more sophisticated about communication access than our liturgists,
If the managers of department stores know better how to appeal to those with disabilities than our church leadership,
if the publishers of popular magazines are more knowledgeable about alternative formats than those who produce religious materials, then we have failed to meet Christ's challenge to us all.
-- Mary Jane Owens
By Paul Black
PEORIA – The Rev. H. Russell Ewell gave a challenge to the churches of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference in becoming more aware of people with disabilities – Get Started!
Beginning his presentation, he shared the above selection by Mary Jane Owens and noted the competition is steep.
“When you consider that about 20 percent of the U.S. population are persons with disabilities, that is a large audience that many are writing off,” Ewell said. “A larger share of persons with disabilities do not participate in weekly worship because the message is they are not invited.”
Recalling a disability meeting at a church, Ewell said the elevator was broken and there was no other entry without climbing stairs. “Some offered to carry us up those stairs but they were old and steep so we had to meet outside the church.”
Barriers for participation come in a variety of ways: