Captioning the Catholic Mass

Embracing and Celebrating
Diversity in the Church

Many churches are pro multi-cultural and pro diversity in welcoming the stranger but consider this, only 50 percent of churches/dioceses even have a disability ministry.

Each diocese should have a disability ministry and not just a multi cultural ministry to celebrate diversity (inclusion) in humans in welcoming
the stranger among us.

Lets embrace diversity in sharing the Joy of the Gospel to all.

"Disability has become, then, like a guest invited to a party but

never introduced” (88). Olkin (2003) recognizes that disability “received the

lowest amount of coverage among diversity issues” (Source: http://acpacsje.tumblr.com/post/34635558939/disability-the-naturalized-silence-by-holly-pearson)

"The ADA calls us to be aware of and correct what we do that unnecessarily excludes people" (Source: http://network.crcna.org/disability-concerns/q-ada-church-and-americans-disabilities-act)

"All of us are covered by the ADA. This is not about a preference, a personal choice, or the opinion of one over another or over a majority." (Source: http://network.crcna.org/disability-concerns/q-ada-church-and-americans-disabilities-act)

ADA laws, the Justice Dept and the church (or any religious facility): http://www.justice.gov/crt/foia/readingroom/frequent_requests/ada_tal/tal057.txt

Churches are encouraged to comply with ADA to reduce discrimination : http://nonprofitquarterly.org/2015/02/09/religious-institutions-exempt-from-ada-but-encouraged-to-comply/

The subtle forms of discrimination in the Church (or sometimes not so subtle): http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/04580630701870382?journalCode=ultg20#.Vc6fL0uezRo

Diocese Disability Action Team ('The clergy, religious and laity engaged in this program should help the parish by developing policy and translating it into practical strategies for working with individuals with disabilities')

(Source: http://www.disabilityawarenesstraining.com/component/content/article/3/40)

“If we can start to understand how

people with disabilities respond

to the church, then we can see

how other people who might feel

 excluded can be drawn in". - 

See more at: http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201312/ramp-it-how-parishes-can-increase-accessibility-28230#sthash.2NCKxs0O.dpuf

How do you make it Inclusive to all those who are deaf and hard of hearing?

"However, in order to serve ALL deaf, hard of hearing,

the hearing impaired or people with hearing loss

(whichever terms you choose), all of these accessible

solutions need to be provided, and the Deaf and

hearing impaired should always be placed down front

where they can use their eyes to see to hear and the

audio amplifiers to be picked up by their assistive

devices. Captions should be on the wall or a screen for

those who need to read what is being said."

(Source: http://limpingchicken.com/2014/01/16/deaf-discrimination-to-deaf/)

"What does it mean for communication to be “effective”? Simply put, “effective communication” means that whatever is written or spoken must be as clear and understandable to people with disabilities as it is for people who do not have disabilities."

(Source: http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap3toolkit.htm)