Emotional & Relational Accessibility
Privacy, Consent, & Boundaries
Why it Matters:
Respecting privacy and consent is an act of love and trust. Everyone deserves the assurance that their personal information, stories, and needs will be treated with dignity. When churches honor clear boundaries and seek consent before sharing or assisting, they build a culture of safety and mutual respect.
How to Do the Work:
- Ask before offering physical help or sharing someone’s personal story or prayer request.
- Obtain explicit consent before taking or posting photos or videos of individuals, especially disabled members.
- Keep personal information about accommodations, diagnoses, or support needs confidential.
- Provide private spaces for sensitive conversations or pastoral care.–boundaries/safety…
- Model and teach consent as a core part of pastoral relationships and ministry practices.
- Develop written guidelines on privacy and boundary-setting for all staff and volunteers.
Respectful Interaction & Language
Why it Matters:
The words and attitudes we use shape the culture of our community. Respectful language and interaction affirm each person’s humanity and worth. Choosing language that honors disabled people’s identities and experiences reflects a church grounded in love, humility, and justice.
How to Do the Work:
- Use person-first or identity-first language based on the individual’s preference.
- Avoid phrases that equate disability with brokenness, tragedy, or sin.
- Listen more than you speak when learning about someone’s experience of disability.
- Offer equal respect to all participants, regardless of speech patterns, assistive devices, or communication methods.
- Encourage the congregation to ask respectful questions rather than make assumptions.
- Include training on inclusive and anti-ableist language in staff and volunteer orientation.
Training, Accountability, & Feedback
Why it Matters:
Sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture requires commitment and accountability. Ongoing education helps leaders and members grow in awareness and skill, while feedback ensures that accessibility is not a one-time project but a continuous process of care.
How to Do the Work:
- Provide regular accessibility and disability awareness training for staff, volunteers, and ministry leaders.
- Establish clear roles for accountability, such as an accessibility coordinator or inclusion committee.
- Offer multiple ways for members to share feedback or report barriers safely.
- Review accessibility practices annually and set measurable goals for improvement.
- Celebrate progress and learning, even when small, to keep momentum alive.
- Partner with disabled leaders and external consultants for training and evaluation.
Autonomy, Comfort, & Flexibility
Why it Matters:
True inclusion honors each person’s autonomy and comfort. Every individual should have the freedom to participate, rest, or engage in ways that meet their needs. Flexibility in worship, fellowship, and ministry reflects the grace and compassion at the heart of Christian community.
How to Do the Work:
- Allow people to choose how and when they participate in worship or activities without pressure.
- Provide flexible seating, rest spaces, and alternative participation options.
- Respect the use of mobility aids, assistive technology, or communication devices.
- Recognize that accessibility and comfort look different for each person—ask rather than assume.
- Train leaders and volunteers to respond supportively when someone needs to step out, rest, or adapt an activity.
- Encourage a culture where flexibility is seen as a strength, not an inconvenience.