WEDNESDAY'S NEWS

Report on Disability guidelines
(from Elaine Whitehouse, Communications Dept, RCB)

The report of the Standing Committee of the General Synod challenged Church of Ireland parishes to take all reasonable steps to facilitate the participation of disabled people in worship and parish life and told Synod members that this would involve everything from access to buildings to print size in worship material.

The Standing Committee, in conjunction with the Representative Church Body, set up a working group last year to bring forward an agreed policy statement and suggest a way for the Church of Ireland to respond to the needs of disabled people.

The statement voices the Church of Ireland’s commitment to recognising the right of everyone to participate fully in the life of the Church and to keeping policies and practices under review in consultation with disabled members of the Church and organisations representing disabled persons.

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Measures have already been taken to facilitate the participation of disabled people in worship and parish life. A Code of Good Practice governing access to churches and parochial buildings for disabled people has been prepared and was submitted to the Synod as part of the Representative Body’s report.

Dr Peter Trimble of the Diocese of Down asked Synod members what they thought about when considering the issue of access for the disabled. He suggested a radically new paradigm whereby the Church would see its calling as “making the Gospel accessible and making resources readily available and easy to use” for those with disabilities. Applauding the publication of the new large print hymnal currently being distributed to parishes all over Ireland, Dr Trimble hoped that more books would be printed if demand exceeded supply. He also looked forward to seeing the new prayer book published in accessible formats.

Meanwhile, the Central Communications Board has prepared a set of guidelines relating to the production of printed material for visually impaired people and is now in the process of producing these guidelines for circulation to all parishes.

Order forms for the large print hymnal are available from Church House, Dublin.

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