1. Apply brightly colored, textured strips at tops of stairs to indicate their presence to visually-impaired persons and anyone carrying something that blocks vision.
2. Adopt a person who cannot attend services for reasons of work, disability, inclement weather, etc., so they may continue to feel part of your church. Maintain regular communication throughout the winter.
3. Volunteer to remove snow and ice patches promptly from all sidewalks,
curbs, and parking areas before staff people usually arrive.
4. Be outside to assist elders and persons with special needs to/from cars.
5. Make a list (with recipes) of healthy, nutritious snacks to share for children’s after-school programs or church school.
6. Contribute to the health and inclusion of all with careful food choices for coffee hour, meetings, and church functions.
7. Make healthy food plates and gift food baskets for sharing.
8. Designate a money gift for an accessibility project that will make your church more welcoming.
9. Purchase and install permanent signage in Braille/raised letters/pictorial symbols on the wall, just to the right of the door lever, at the entrance to restrooms, ” meeting rooms, accessible entry/exits, elevators, etc.
10. Discuss together as a family making church giving a first priority of your budget. Consider tithing or, if you already tithe, making a second mile gift to your church.
11. Pay for a holiday ad containing a small accessibility symbol to tell your community that your church is ready for wheelchair users.
12. Provide padded armchairs in the sanctuary for persons having difficulty sitting in a pew.
13. Replace heavyweight offering and/or communion serving plates with lighter weight plates.
14. Take a tour through and outside your church to identify and correct poorly lit areas.
15. Add a second railing to steps or stairs where only one side rail exists.
16. Include children in plans to visit nursing homes and persons who are shut in.
17. Survey your neighborhood to learn whether there are unmet needs, especially among persons who are elderly, homebound; or persons with disabilities.
18. In consideration of persons with scent allergies, monitor your perfume, hair spray, or aftershave when attending church functions, especially during the holiday season.
19. Embark upon a search for unscented candles if your church uses candles of seasonal colors.
20. Adopt a person for the holiday who might not get out easily. Provide regular transportation to services and other parish activities.
21. Create a touchable Chrismon Tree.
22. If there are steps to your chancel and sanctuary, suggest that your Diaconate consider having a Communion Station on the main floor or serve in the pew first all who are unable to come forward.
23. Donate a high-quality artificial Christmas tree and/or greenery for your sanctuary.
24. Replace door knobs with levers throughout the church.
25. Contact someone who has not been in church recently.
From Reading the Signs, Nebraska – Disabilities Ministries
