MHS Alliance

Mennonite Health Services Alliance

MHS Alliance moved from second floor offices in downtown Goshen to ground floor offices in the new Everence Financial building. The desire to become accessible to people with disabilities was a significant factor in their move, said Mim Shirk, MHS Alliance vice president.

ADNet board chair Jim Smith visits MHS Alliance offices

Restroom door at MHS Alliance with automatic door opener
An automatic door opener makes this restroom easily accessible for those with mobility impairments

MHS Alliance front door with reflection
Outside entrance to MHS Alliance offices

Opening Doors

Litany of Dedication
New Creation Fellowship in Newton, KS, dedicates their new lift, which makes their sanctuary accessible to all.
Embodiment in Worship
Sarah Werner reflects on the church's changing beliefs about physical disabilities and calls us to a more embodied approach to worship.
Seeking An Accessible Church Home
Jill Keyser Speicher writes about searching for a church as a wheelchair user.
MC USA Accessibility Resolution Passes
Larry's Place at Race Street House
Mennonite Churches in Lebanon County, Pennsylvannia joined together to establish a residential home for members of their congregations with disabilities in need of long term care.

Connections

A Place for Everybody to Play
We Are Able Workcamp 2020
An opportunity for youth and young adults to serve
Inclusion as Mission
Vince Stange describes how his work for Mennonite Central Committee in Cambodia includes advocacy for the inclusion of children with disabilities in the schools.
Universal Design...for Congregations!
One size does not fit all. This edition of Connections features stories of congregations that have used creativity and ingenuity to design congregational life to fit the unique needs and styles of participants with disabilities.
Becoming More Accessible Summer 2017
ADN Executive Director Kathy Nofziger Yeakey calls on us to use divinely inspired creativity to break down barriers and promote accessibility.
Designing Worship at Expressions of Love and Praise
Expressions of Love and Praise creatively redesigned worship into an experience that is participatory, meaningful, and vibrant for those with intellectual disabilities.
Designing Communications
Columbus Mennonite created an Icon Bulletin in addition to their regular bulletin for those in the congregation that are non-readers Check it out!
Rolling out the Welcome
After a major effort to surmount the problems of an aging historic building, Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship celebrated their fortieth anniversary with a new wheelchair-accessible entrance that welcomes members and neighbors alike.

Accessibility stories

Planning Accessible Meetings & Events
Tips & Suggestions for Planning meetings and events that are accessible to people with disabilities.
Michigan Avenue Mennonite Church
A grant from Indiana-Michigan Conference allowed the congregation to upgrade equipment it needed to record worship services for homebound members.
Indiana Michigan Conference
After more than twenty years in second-floor offices with no elevator access, Indiana Michigan Conference moved to accessible ground floor headquarters in late June of 2011.
Hudson Lake Mennonite Church
How one congregation partnered with another Mennonite church to bring about accessible building renovations.
Grand Marais Mennonite Church
Grand Marais Mennonite Church (Michigan) completed a new fellowship hall in 2011 that is barrier free.
Freeport Mennonite Church
Freeport Mennonite Church (Illinois) rejoices that their building is now fully accessible, on one level.
Crest Hill Community Church
All it took was a short discussion and a few eager volunteers to install a new ramp at Crest Hill that welcomes people with mobility challenges.
College Mennonite Church
College Mennonite Church (Goshen, Indiana), already blessed with a fully accessible building, has taken steps to extend hospitality to people who use a visual language.