Around 2006 several individuals (disabled and non-disabled) in Pretoria and Pietermaritzburg started discussing the situation of persons with disabilities in churches. Many shared their experiences of exclusion - and in some cases serious neglect (e.g. churches not making any effort to enable the participation of persons with disability in the life of the church). The first step towards addressing the situation came about in 2011 when an academic research project was completed on the topic ‘The experiences of persons with disabilities in faith communities’. The results showed a serious need for raising awareness towards inclusion. The RampUp website was launched in November 2011. It contains material written by persons with disabilities and gives suggestions towards inclusion and an atmosphere of belonging in faith communities. The website has many downloadable documents on the following topics:
- General guidelines to inclusion;
- Guidelines for accessibility of church buildings, worship services and all activities of the local church;
- A Biblical view of disability;
- The annual Disability Awareness Sunday. For us the term ‘RampUp’ refers to increasing the intensity of churches' actively enabling persons with disability to participate in church activities. In other words:
- Ramping up peoples’ attitudes to be welcoming;
- Ramping up buildings to be more accessible;
- Ramping up our ability to be an inclusive community;
- Ramping up the interaction between disabled and non-disabled groups (‘us and them’ mentality)
In summary, Ramping Up our thinking, attitudes, perceptions, views, and ways of doing to ensure the meaningful contribution and belonging of persons with disability in the church. Write to us at [email protected]: share your experiences and opinions, and above all, make suggestions on how to ensure inclusion.
