Disabled access: Covid has shown we can be accessible

I looked nervously from my wheelchair at the two loose planks of wood running up the steep church steps.

Two helpers happily offered to push me up this obstacle-course item. When I explained the danger of falling off, they offered to physically lift me out of the chair and carry me up the stairs. They had big grins on their faces, presumably pleased that they were able to get me to church – but I was sinking inside, and I now just wanted to go home.

As a wheelchair user I have lots of stories of inaccessibility to church services, where the church is completely oblivious to the obstacles, and the signals they send disabled people. But perhaps now that might change?

Thinking accessibility

In the last year every single UK church has thought about accessibility – how do you provide access for people who can’t get to church because of Covid? We’ve all seen it as an important issue to consider because we recognise that being able to get to a church service is a very high priority. People have come up with ingenious ways of providing access. And so whilst we’re in this flexible and accessible mood, why not give some more thought to disabled access?

I’d suggest, with our newfound Covid/ accessibility savvy, we consider the following: Firstly, saying sorry for all the disabled people’s needs that we ignored, to the people who witnessed us rapidly respond to a few weeks of lockdown, when they had lived locked down for years without us seeming to care much. Secondly, perhaps we can ask people how we can provide better access and support. Thirdly, we can make accessibility a higher priority (just as we did in the last year). After all, Jesus reacted to seeing his disciples turn children away, so how might he react to disabled people unable to access church services today?