The universal call to holiness leads us to recognize that the Body of Christ is not whole when some members are not invited to full participation; therefore we envision that every person with disabilities will experience full inclusion in the parishes, missions, church properties, and programs of the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona.
To that end, the Disability Concerns Ministry of the diocese aims to provide congregations with tools to better welcome members with physical and cognitive impairments and to ensure that they are able to exercise their gifts for ministry.
A Word from the President
My name is Win Charles, and I am the president of the Disability Concerns Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. I am a member of Saint Barnabas on the Desert. I became an Episcopalian only in April, and I am honored to serve as president with the help of Bishop Jennifer Reddall.
The committee’s goal is to provide more inclusivity to parishioners in this diocese who are living with disabilities.
To contact the Disability Concerns Committee, email them at disabilityconcerns@azdiocese.org
Committee Members:
- Denny (Denise) Boyd, St James the Apostle, Tempe
- Rev. Amy Jacober, Harbor Church, Phoenix
- Mary Lou Luvisa, Saint Barnabas on the Desert, Scottsdale
- James & Sandi Newhouse, Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Scottsdale
- Rev. Michael Seiler, Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church, Wickenburg
Resources
Online ADA Compliance
The following resources can help you to make your online presence more ADA-compliant for vision and hearing-impaired visitors:
- https://adata.org/ocr-videos
- https://digital.gov/resources/federal-social-media-accessibility-toolkit-hackpad/
- https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
- https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/create-verify-pdf-accessibility.html
- https://support.google.com/docs/answer/6199477?hl=en&ref_topic=6039805
Book List on Understanding Disability and the Church
- Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion – Lamar Hardwick
- Jesus and Disability: A Guide to Creating an Inclusive Church – Chris Hulshof
- My Body is Not A Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church – Amy Kenny
- When I Go to Church, I Belong: Finding My Place in God’s Family as a Child with Special Needs – Elrena Evans and Rebecca Evans