Dreaming of Accessible Worship Spaces by Juliet Donaldson

Accessibility Guidelines for UU Congregations: Creating Welcoming Congregations for People of all Abilities

admin4832 — 2024-06-14 15:38:26 UTC

Highly Interactive Family Worship

admin4832 — 2024-06-14 15:53:46 UTC

For about the last 10-15 years the UU church in Sharon, MA, has held a 25-minute family worship before the main service for anyone to attend. They introduce a theme, have turn and talk times. Children then attend RE during the main worship service.

Prayground Brochure from the Michigan United Methodist Church

admin4832 — 2024-06-14 15:56:00 UTC

The Intention Table - an experiment in Hands-On Worship

admin4832 — 2024-06-14 15:59:43 UTC

Ways of being accessible in worship?

2024-06-18 14:48:02 UTC

"I'm Gonna Lift My Sister Up"

2024-06-18 16:52:07 UTC

Sitting with thoughts about this song. The metaphor of being "not heavy" as a precondition or reason for being to be "lifted up" landed some kinda way for me. I was also aware during the song that we've been trying to avoid binary language ("brother/sister") in our congregation when possible.

Sound

2024-06-18 19:44:49 UTC

Having a place near the sanctuary where folx can hear and see the service without being in the louder space or the space with more people.

Challenges with accessibility issues?

2024-06-18 19:46:35 UTC

Simulation Based Programming

2024-06-18 20:02:39 UTC

DEI Check Ins

2024-06-18 20:06:37 UTC

Staff meetings have DEI check-ins every week. Those discussions are brought to the board for action. And then a plan or an update is reported back to the staff so we know the progress of things. It is a priority for the staff and the board.

Provide other spaces to access worship

2024-06-18 20:19:13 UTC

We added this family lounge when we completed our building expansion that provides a space for families to access worship in a comfortable informal space. We also have been finding that other common spaces are being used as alternative spaces for people to access worship because we have speakers that are broadcasting the service into other areas. This allows people to be in a space that is less crowded and where they feel less closed in and surrounded.

Dreaming Big: Having a DEI or Accessibility Team, where this is the concentration, and allows people a place to go to communicate needs and noticings.

2024-06-18 20:24:59 UTC

We can let children lead us!

2024-06-18 20:49:30 UTC

Things that get in the way of accessible worship (this was some of my material offered to the Neurodivergence Skill Up)

2024-06-18 20:54:48 UTC

I share in this video about why church isn't the words that are said (I mentioned this video in the worship breakout group, but I have to review it to see if this is the one where I talk about my own learning of that fact, as someone who uses a hearing aid and often can't hear).