Barriers to Participation in Faith-Based Communities

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The intersection of faith and disability highlights the urgent need for more inclusive practices within religious spaces. Too often, people with disabilities are marginalized or unintentionally excluded from full participation in worship, leadership roles, and community life. Embracing accessibility as a core spiritual value not only affirms the dignity of every individual, but also strengthens the entire faith community. By reexamining traditions through the lens of inclusion, faith communities can better reflect the diverse body they are meant to serve.

Infographic Tradition vs. Accessibility. The National Center for Dignity in Healthcare and Community Living for People with Disabilities. Blue text box with white text: The relationship between religion and disability has historically been complex, often characterized more by marginalization than inclusion. For centuries, many faith communities interpreted disability through theological lenses that associated it with sin, punishment, or divine testing. This perception contributed to the isolation and dehumanization of people with disabilities, often justifying exclusionary practices within both religious and social contexts. As Nancy Eiesland notes in her book The Disabled God, "The Christian church has not only been complacent to the struggle of people with disabilities, it has too long provided the ideological funding and charitable practices that have marginalized us in society." Worship Attendance- Dark Blue text box. People with disables are consistently less likely to attend worship services than those without disabilities. In 1998, there was the smallest gap between people with and without disabilities attending worship services. 54% people with disabilities. 57% people without disabilities. However, in 2000 the gap between people with and without disabilities attending worship services widened. 47% people with disabilities. 65% People without disabilities. Barriers to Participation- The main reasons why people with disabilities have felt that they could not participate in their place of worship as they want: - Congregational staff were not competent in knowing how to accommodate people with disabilities - Formality of services do not accommodate diverse needs. - Lack of ramps, elevators, and accessible seating and - Training provided to congregation members was inadequate. Image of the world globe with two hands holding it up. Surrounding the image are all the different signs for religion across the globe. Inclusive Faith Communities- a preliminary survey of inclusive practices in the United States found that the following are the most common characteristics of more inclusive faith communities - Featured faith leaders who were more committed to inclusion - used educational resources to address disability-related issues. - Portrayed people with disabilities positively in their religious teachings - Had stronger ties to disability organizations and - had a stronger orientation towards promoting social justice Lack of Support text box with image of two hands holding three people In a study of 416 parents of children with disabilities, lack of congregational support was the top reason for feeling like they could not fully participate in worship services. This lack of support led to: 32.3% Changed places of worship due to lack of inclusion 46.6% Avoided religious actives altogether 55.8% Kept children from participating due to lack of support. 53.5% Were asked how to best include their child. Impact of the ADA- Blue text box with white text. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was a major civil rights milestone - but it exempted religious institutions. As a result, inclusion in faith communities has been inconsistent. This leaves unresolved questions about equity, tradition, and moral responsibility- and, for some disabled people, uncertainty about their place in the church. www.ThinkEquitable.com

For more on this topic, check out the following: 
– The Disabled God, Toward a Liberatory Theology of Disability by Nancy Eiesland
– Faith and Disability Project at Kennedy Krieger Institute
– Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs– Loving Our Own Bones – Disability Wisdom and the Spiritual Subversiveness of Knowing Ourselves Whole by Julia Watts Belser
– Community Inclusion- Tradition vs. Accessibility blog post

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