Tidbits, 03/2004
UUA TRUSTEE TIDBITS, March 4, 2004
Joan Lund
I'€™d like to say welcome to spring time but as this is being written the weather doesn'€™t impart that. So welcome to another column. One of my favorite relaxing activities is wandering the UUA web page. I may be looking for certain information and then find myself way off course finding so much interesting and informative “stuff”, that I will have forgotten my original quest (maybe that’s a symptom of my years on the planet).
As a result of visiting one of our Florida congregations, and hopefully sparking an interest in becoming actively involved in social justice in their community I researched social justice through www.uua.org for additional areas of concern. Seven were listed and all had a wealth of information, plus words asking what the reader thinks, listing the email address at which questions may be sent, www.socialjustice@uua.org.
One important issue is Accessibility. Persons with disabilities are members of America’s largest minority, cutting across racial, ethnic, religious, economic, and social lines. The UUA committed itself to the removal of all barriers that prevent the full participation of persons with disabilities in the life of our Association. The UUA Board of Trustees appointed an Accessibilities Committee to provide planning, implementation, and support to our congregations because so many of our congregations have yet to remove the barriers that keep persons with disabilities away from our religious communities. Our faith requires us to begin, or continue the task of removing both the physical and attitudinal barriers to those persons in our congregations who have disabilities. I hope your congregation is working toward, or has completed this task.
I offer a few suggestions to assist congregations in this endeavor. Before becoming an “accessible congregation”, an audit must be conducted to determine the architectural, attitudinal, and communications barriers currently existing in your congregation. Once the physical barriers have been removed it is time it becomes time to make certain the Sunday service and all other activities are “user friendly”. This should include the use of an amplified sound system, provision of assistive listening devices, and large print orders-of-service, hymns, and readings. There should be a list of volunteers willing to provide transportation to and from meetings, service, and other congregational services. Ushers and greeters need training in the etiquette of welcoming persons with different types of disabilities.
The UUA website on social justice offers many more suggestions for becoming a more welcoming congregation to persons with disabilities. You know I enjoy and expect to hear from you so “keep those cards and letters coming”. In this day and age, rather than cards and letters, I can be reached at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727.
Joan Lund
I'€™d like to say welcome to spring time but as this is being written the weather doesn'€™t impart that. So welcome to another column. One of my favorite relaxing activities is wandering the UUA web page. I may be looking for certain information and then find myself way off course finding so much interesting and informative “stuff”, that I will have forgotten my original quest (maybe that’s a symptom of my years on the planet).
As a result of visiting one of our Florida congregations, and hopefully sparking an interest in becoming actively involved in social justice in their community I researched social justice through www.uua.org for additional areas of concern. Seven were listed and all had a wealth of information, plus words asking what the reader thinks, listing the email address at which questions may be sent, www.socialjustice@uua.org.
One important issue is Accessibility. Persons with disabilities are members of America’s largest minority, cutting across racial, ethnic, religious, economic, and social lines. The UUA committed itself to the removal of all barriers that prevent the full participation of persons with disabilities in the life of our Association. The UUA Board of Trustees appointed an Accessibilities Committee to provide planning, implementation, and support to our congregations because so many of our congregations have yet to remove the barriers that keep persons with disabilities away from our religious communities. Our faith requires us to begin, or continue the task of removing both the physical and attitudinal barriers to those persons in our congregations who have disabilities. I hope your congregation is working toward, or has completed this task.
I offer a few suggestions to assist congregations in this endeavor. Before becoming an “accessible congregation”, an audit must be conducted to determine the architectural, attitudinal, and communications barriers currently existing in your congregation. Once the physical barriers have been removed it is time it becomes time to make certain the Sunday service and all other activities are “user friendly”. This should include the use of an amplified sound system, provision of assistive listening devices, and large print orders-of-service, hymns, and readings. There should be a list of volunteers willing to provide transportation to and from meetings, service, and other congregational services. Ushers and greeters need training in the etiquette of welcoming persons with different types of disabilities.
The UUA website on social justice offers many more suggestions for becoming a more welcoming congregation to persons with disabilities. You know I enjoy and expect to hear from you so “keep those cards and letters coming”. In this day and age, rather than cards and letters, I can be reached at jlund@uua.org or 813-931-9727.
