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We welcome and affirm people of all abilitiesClick here for our Access and Inclusion Etiquette Brochure
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FROM THE UNIVERSAL ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION MINISTRY TEAM
Language like water can be soothing or very hurtful. A soothing bath after a very stressful day or singing the hymn “Come Sing a Song With Me’ can be very refreshing. A hurricane like Hurricane Katrina can be very disturbing and hurtful. Language can also be very hurtful and disturbing. Throughout the history of our country, new immigrants have been called by very negative words (WOP, STUPID POLLACK, NIGGER, etc.) GLBTQ people have also been called by very negative words. Once these words are used frequently enough, it is hard to take them out of our vocabulary.
People who have a disability have often been labeled negatively ’CRAZY, MORON, STUPID, CRIPPLED, DEAF AND DUMB etc.’ Although there are exceptions, most people with disabilities do not like to be described by their disability such as the blind woman, the mentally ill guy. Instead you should reference the person first as the ‘woman who is visually impaired.’ Also a person who uses a wheelchair is NOT CONFINED but uses the chair to be more mobile. If the disability is not relevant to whom the person is then don’t mention it. People who have a disability are just like you, they want to be known for their positive traits or their accomplishments. People who have a disability do not want pity or a be a recipient of charity. The word, ‘handicapped’ has become very offensive because it comes from the image of a person standing on the street with a cap in hand begging for money.
It can sometimes be uncomfortable or difficult for an individual to Interact with people who have a disability if s/he has not had a lot of past interaction. People with a disability have the same issues, hang-ups, problems and passions that everyone else does.
JOYS, SORROWS & CONCERNS TABLES
The Pastoral Care & Support Team would like to remind people that there are two Joys, Sorrows & Concerns tables at Sunday Service (one at the Ferry Street Door and the other near the Parish Hall door). One purpose of these tables is to take a moment to light a candle and reflect on someone or some Joy, Sorrow, or Concern in your life. Another purpose is to fill out a yellow card with a Joy, Concern or Sorrow in your life to be read during the Pastoral Prayer. A member of the Pastoral Care & Support Team stands at the Ferry Door Table to answer any question you may have or need assistance in filling out the card.
Language like water can be soothing or very hurtful. A soothing bath after a very stressful day or singing the hymn “Come Sing a Song With Me’ can be very refreshing. A hurricane like Hurricane Katrina can be very disturbing and hurtful. Language can also be very hurtful and disturbing. Throughout the history of our country, new immigrants have been called by very negative words (WOP, STUPID POLLACK, NIGGER, etc.) GLBTQ people have also been called by very negative words. Once these words are used frequently enough, it is hard to take them out of our vocabulary.
People who have a disability have often been labeled negatively ’CRAZY, MORON, STUPID, CRIPPLED, DEAF AND DUMB etc.’ Although there are exceptions, most people with disabilities do not like to be described by their disability such as the blind woman, the mentally ill guy. Instead you should reference the person first as the ‘woman who is visually impaired.’ Also a person who uses a wheelchair is NOT CONFINED but uses the chair to be more mobile. If the disability is not relevant to whom the person is then don’t mention it. People who have a disability are just like you, they want to be known for their positive traits or their accomplishments. People who have a disability do not want pity or a be a recipient of charity. The word, ‘handicapped’ has become very offensive because it comes from the image of a person standing on the street with a cap in hand begging for money.
It can sometimes be uncomfortable or difficult for an individual to Interact with people who have a disability if s/he has not had a lot of past interaction. People with a disability have the same issues, hang-ups, problems and passions that everyone else does.
JOYS, SORROWS & CONCERNS TABLES
The Pastoral Care & Support Team would like to remind people that there are two Joys, Sorrows & Concerns tables at Sunday Service (one at the Ferry Street Door and the other near the Parish Hall door). One purpose of these tables is to take a moment to light a candle and reflect on someone or some Joy, Sorrow, or Concern in your life. Another purpose is to fill out a yellow card with a Joy, Concern or Sorrow in your life to be read during the Pastoral Prayer. A member of the Pastoral Care & Support Team stands at the Ferry Door Table to answer any question you may have or need assistance in filling out the card.
We have very exciting news! Hopefully everyone is aware of our plan to shorten and modify Sanctuary pews in order to create accessible seating locations. This plan has been in process for many years, from the initial idea in 2010, to project scope development during 2016 - 2018, until now, with project completion expected in 2019. The purpose of the project is to create comfortable, accessible seating locations for folks who use a wheelchair or other mobility devices. It has been quite a process, but the project is almost complete.
If you haven't been in the Sanctuary this summer, you may not be aware that we now have three sets of shortened pews completed with shortened armrests so that anyone using a mobility device can comfortably sit with their companion or family member.
If you check out the pews, the end pieces are slightly modified versions of the original pews, but you have to look closely to figure that out. The person we hired in late-2018 to modify the pews is Jon Trabucco, a skilled craftsman who is taking great care in completing this project. While Jon is continuing towards completion, one of the other things he is doing (beyond our UAIM modifications) is repair of several damaged pews discovered in the Sanctuary.
We want to thank Fixed Assets and Tom Muka (Project Coordinator), who worked during 2016 – 2018 to prepare detailed scopes & specifications for the project using ADA criteria, and who provided information to the congregation and Board to gain project buy-in. Tom is working with Jon to coordinate final fabrication, installation and completion of the project.
If you have any questions about this work as it winds down, please feel free to touch base with Steve Wixson or Tom Muka. We are very excited to be able to create accessible and welcoming seating for all who may come through our doors. We appreciate the continued support of the congregation.
Also, there are three comfortable chairs at the back of the pews near the doors to the Parish Hall. These seats are for people who need more comfortable seating due to various back injuries.
If you haven't been in the Sanctuary this summer, you may not be aware that we now have three sets of shortened pews completed with shortened armrests so that anyone using a mobility device can comfortably sit with their companion or family member.
If you check out the pews, the end pieces are slightly modified versions of the original pews, but you have to look closely to figure that out. The person we hired in late-2018 to modify the pews is Jon Trabucco, a skilled craftsman who is taking great care in completing this project. While Jon is continuing towards completion, one of the other things he is doing (beyond our UAIM modifications) is repair of several damaged pews discovered in the Sanctuary.
We want to thank Fixed Assets and Tom Muka (Project Coordinator), who worked during 2016 – 2018 to prepare detailed scopes & specifications for the project using ADA criteria, and who provided information to the congregation and Board to gain project buy-in. Tom is working with Jon to coordinate final fabrication, installation and completion of the project.
If you have any questions about this work as it winds down, please feel free to touch base with Steve Wixson or Tom Muka. We are very excited to be able to create accessible and welcoming seating for all who may come through our doors. We appreciate the continued support of the congregation.
Also, there are three comfortable chairs at the back of the pews near the doors to the Parish Hall. These seats are for people who need more comfortable seating due to various back injuries.
Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry (AIM):
Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo was selected as one of only eight churches in the United States to pilot the Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry (AIM) Program, a partnership of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and EqUUal Access. Through participation in the AIM Program, our congregation is working to become more inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities.
We invite you to join the Universal Accessibility and Inclusion Team at UUCB. Please contact UAIM at UAIMuucb@gmail.com To become involved in our many inclusion, social justice, and accessibility projects. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Our Suggestion Box can be found at the Welcome Table.
To learn more about the Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry (AIM) Program, please visit uua.org/accessibility/aim or http://www.equualaccess.org/aim/.
EqUUal Access is an organization for Unitarian Universalists living with disabilities, their families, friends, and allies. The mission of EqUUal Access is to enable the full engagement of people with disabilities in Unitarian Universalist communities and the broader society. To learn more, visit http://www.equualaccess.org/.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo was selected as one of only eight churches in the United States to pilot the Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry (AIM) Program, a partnership of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and EqUUal Access. Through participation in the AIM Program, our congregation is working to become more inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities.
We invite you to join the Universal Accessibility and Inclusion Team at UUCB. Please contact UAIM at UAIMuucb@gmail.com To become involved in our many inclusion, social justice, and accessibility projects. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Our Suggestion Box can be found at the Welcome Table.
To learn more about the Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry (AIM) Program, please visit uua.org/accessibility/aim or http://www.equualaccess.org/aim/.
EqUUal Access is an organization for Unitarian Universalists living with disabilities, their families, friends, and allies. The mission of EqUUal Access is to enable the full engagement of people with disabilities in Unitarian Universalist communities and the broader society. To learn more, visit http://www.equualaccess.org/.