For Congregations: A Guide for Accessible Gatherings
Self-Guided Accessibility Evaluation for your Church Meeting Space
- Clearly marked location for audio/visual assistive technology
- IT staff and assistance are available as needed
- Microphones for presenters and lay speakers in the congregation
- Adequate maneuvering-room for scooters and power wheelchairs
- Adequately-spaced seating for all mobility needs
- Raised platform area for presenters to be visible to audience, and wheelchair access to the raised area
- If the room is large, simultaneous video projection of the presenters
- Text captions of spoken words of presenters in near-real-time
Welcoming People of All Abilities to Your Church Meeting
Provide Greeters at each entrance to welcome guests and act as “Accessibility Volunteers” for your congregation. Below is a list of actions these Greeters may do:
Provide Descriptive Information
- To help orient attendees who are blind or have low vision to the building, it may be useful to provide some descriptive information.
- Include “big picture” information: the layout of the facility and surrounding area, including landmarks and their relation to each other
- Include specific directions for getting to and from one area of the building to another. For example, directions from the lobby, elevators, stairs, or other common “starting points” to specific meeting rooms, sanctuary, or other spaces
Offer to Assist
- Those with mobility limitations may appreciate having someone walk with them around the new space. Offer to walk them into the sanctuary or to the Sunday School classroom.
- Place wheelchairs at entrances to the building for attendees to use.
- Attendees with anxiety induced by new situations or many people may appreciate a friendly face to greet them and explain how the service/meeting time will progress, how to find a space to sit, and who they may know in the congregation.
Resources for Churches
- Best Practices for Speakers
- Best Practices for Printed Materials
- Best Practices for Large Screens
- Website Accessibility
- Audio Accessibility and Connectivity
Resources for Leaders of Children and Youth
- Same and Different: Discussing Disabilities with Children
- Mennonite Church USA Safe Church Policy Site
- Book: Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities
- Promoting Inclusion with Peers

