During a recent family holiday we visited a well known Australian big city Catholic cathedral. Upon seeing the series of steps at the front, we looked for disability access and were rewarded with the familiar stylised wheelchair symbol. We proceeded uphill to find the side entrance also had steps.
Continuing on, we made our way to the back of the church, where we discovered a long ramp leading to a door. We rang the bell, and waited. And waited. A security guard patrolling the perimeter found us, and a short while later met us inside. We finally entered the sacred building.
Later that day, a disability advocate shared the story of a discussion with representatives of a local church, regarding disability access to a church building. The representatives said providing access was not an issue for their congregation, because it had no members with mobility issues.
The advocate gently explained that perhaps the design of the church building precluded people who had movement difficulties from attending.
From personal experience, I am aware of the cost of building modifications to improve accessibility. No doubt costs are even more prohibitive for buildings designed for wide communities, or of heritage value. Yet there are simple changes churches can offer people with mobility difficulties.
Well-signposted disability car parks are a must. Where it is necessary to walk, hobble, or wheel a distance to a special entrance, hand rails and cheery signs along the way help the path seem short. If assistance is required to enter, assign someone to be present to provide support.
In certain cases, temporary ramps allow access to wheelchairs and walking frames. Allocated spaces for wheelchairs reduce fears about 'being in the way'. Movement is made easier if aisles are wide enough to accomodate both a wheelchair, and someone mobile to walk around it.
Some of these suggestions cost money; but money is spent on providing music, technology, art and other things that subtly invite people to participate. Compromises on updating or replacing resources, or questioning the necessity of new purchases, could release funds to build a more accessible church.
Some years ago, our parish catered for the extra numbers anticipated at Easter by adding a chair to the end of each row, and including extra rows of chairs at the back of the church and in the foyer. Unfortunately, this had the unintended consequence of relegating people with mobility issues, injuries or small children to the periphery of