Signage

• Signs are mounted with centerline 60-inches from the floor
• Signs include Tactile or Braille formats
• There is a fire alarm system with both flashing lights and audible signals

 

Entryway

• The main entrance is accessible
• There is a covered drop off area where people can keep their equipment dry when it is raining
• The entrance provides direct access to the main floor, lobby, and elevator
• All rooms are available by routes within the building that are at least 38-inches wide
• Routes have space for a person using a wheelchair to reverse direction

 

Elevators and Lifts

• There is an elevator that provides access to the basement
• The call buttons in the hallway are no higher than 42-inches
• Call buttons are marked with raised text and braille
• The elevator can be used without assistance
• There is clear space for a person using a wheelchair to approach and use the elevator
• The controls are between 15- and 48-inches high

 

Grounds/Outside

• There is clear signage that directs members and visitors to accessible entrances
• There is a policy to remove snow
• Curbs on the route have curb cuts at drives, parking, and drop-offs
• There is an accessible playground
• The memorial garden is accessible

 

Interior Movement

• The routes of travel to all rooms do not require stairs
• The carpeting is low-pile, tightly woven, and securely attached along edges
• The doors have more than a 32-inch clear opening
• The door handles are less than 48-inches high
• Door handles are operable with a closed fist

 

Ramps

• The slopes of ramps are no greater than 1:12 (Slope is a given as a ration of the height to the length, at least one foot of ramp length is need for each inch in height)
• The ramps longer than 6-feet have railings on both sides
• The railings are sturdy and between 34- and 38-inches high
• The width between railings or curbs are more than 36-inches
• The ramp is non-slip
• There is a 5-foot long level landing  at the top and bottom
• The ramp rises no more than 30-inches between landings

 

Parking

• We have accessible spaces
• We have a parking space accessible for a van
• The accessible spaces are adjacent to the accessible entrance
• There is adequate lighting in the parking areas so that people can see and use their equipment
• It is possible to get from the parking area to the building and vice versa without using stairs
• There is a clearly marked drop-off space

 

Public Transportation

• Public transportation is available
• There is a sidewalk from the bus or metro stop to the church building

 

Sanctuary

• There are “pew cuts” for people with wheelchairs, scooters, service dogs, and/or walkers throughout the sanctuary and classroom areas so that disabled people can sit with their family and friends
• There is seating space available, with extra legroom, for people who have casts, use walkers, etc.
• The chancel is accessible
• The choir area is accessible
• There are audio loops, captioning, and other accommodations available for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing
• There are large print hymnals and bulletins available

Multiplatform Services

• Online services and meetings are made accessible through captioning and visual descriptions
• We have a hearing loop for our Sunday services. Switch hearing aid or CI to t-coil or request headphones

Pastoral Care

• When planning congregational activities, we systematically consider how to accommodate disabled people by default or upon request
• We are proactive in providing and offering practical and pastoral support for people whose family members have disabilities

 

Fellowship

• We make an equal effort to get to know a disabled person as a nondisabled person
• We encourage all members to wear their name tags. The names on the name tags are printed in large font
• At congregational events with food, assistance is proactively provided to those who need it
• Chalice circles, youth groups, support groups, etc., are inclusive for everyone so that there is a safe and welcoming environment for persons to disclose and discuss their disability; physical, mental, or invisible

 

Leadership

• The congregation has made a financial commitment to address accessibility-related expenses
• Leadership has an expectation that the minister and other staff are competent to address the needs of disabled people
• Our congregation is committed to a ministry with disabled people, rather than a ministry to disabled people
• Our congregation encourages disabled people to share their gifts and skills through the various ministries of our congregation and support their involvement in them.

 

Religious Education

• There is an explicit policy to be fully inclusive of children with disabilities in Religious Education classes and programs, social activities, and camps
• The RE director is educated about how to provide Religious Education that is inclusive of children with disabilities
• The RE director has integrated disability and children with a disability into the program
• Training and consultation is offered to our RE teachers to assist them with issues they encounter in teaching children with disabilities
• The RE program uses images of children with disabilities and non-disabled children together
• There are books with disability related themes read during A Time For All Ages

 

Food and Drink

• Each water fountain is cane-detectable and have controls mounted on the front or on the side near the front edge and operable with one closed fist
• The kitchen is accessible for a wheelchair or mobility scooter user
• During coffee hour, self-service areas for beverages and food as well as the tables are accessible
• For community meals, buffet tables are at an accessible height
• There is enough room for a wheelchair to maneuver between row of tables