In July 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, bringing national attention to the need for accessible facilities for all individuals, regardless of their physical or mental abilities.
The ADA includes architectural standards for new and renovated buildings and a mandate that existing buildings remove barriers whenever possible. In addition, the law sets standards for effective communication with individuals with hearing, vision or speech disabilities.
Though many may think of people in wheelchairs as the only individuals covered by the ADA, the fact is that individuals with other physical or sensory impairments are also covered. Aging can bring about many of these impairments that can be challenges to attending worship, Bible studies and other church functions.
“The typical person in our churches who needs help is someone who is walking with a cane or a walker, not necessarily someone in a wheelchair,” said Otis Corbitt, an associate in the office of associational missions and church planting for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). His work includes providing church-building services to Alabama Baptist churches.
Churches are not required to comply with ADA requirements, but Alabama Baptist churches need to take a close look at their facilities and remove barriers that might prevent individuals with physical limitations from coming, Corbitt said.
“Accessibility is something our entire society had not paid attention to until the ADA,” he said. “But it only takes one grandmother who can’t use the rest room and won’t come to church to bring awareness to a congregation.”
Corbitt is quick to point out that churches did not set out to create these barriers. Because of the age of many Alabama Baptist churches, however, accessibility to people with mobility and/or sensory limitations is a significant problem.
“Unless the church has been built from the ground up since the 1990s, virtually every church has some sort of challenge with accessibility,” he said. “Many of our church buildings were built in the late 1800s, and even those built into the 1970s have stairs and different levels of buildings that make it very hard for people of limited mobility to get around.”
For example, Corbitt said many church buildings have fellowship halls in the basement under the sanctuary, which is a space-efficient layout. But most of these buildings have no means of helping someone who uses a walker or a wheelchair get to the basement without going outside, which presents problems — especially in inclement weather.
Churches wishing to evaluate their buildings can contact the office of associational missions and church planting for guidance. The office also has a checklist for churches to use to assess accessibility both inside and outside.
Paying careful attention to the church both inside and out is important, said Eileen Wright, an associate in SBOM’s office of discipleship and family ministries who works primarily with senior adult ministries.
“The church buildings and grounds are the first impression people have of the church,” she said. “I often tell senior adult leaders that it would be great if they had someone walk through their church who has not been there before and get their feedback on these issues.”
Fully accessible parking spaces, walkways, entrances and rest rooms are specific areas that need attention, Wright said, and many churches are recognizing these areas are especially important to senior adults.
David Willis, minister of music and buildings at McGehee Road Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association, said that an upcoming parking-lot renovation will add several additional parking spots nearer church entrances.
“Our building is fairly accessible, but getting into the building can sometimes be a problem,” Willis said. The new parking spots will be ideal for less mobile older adults.
Adequate signs are another feature that help both members and visitors navigate a church’s facility. “Proper signage lets people know if they are welcome,” Wright said. “If classrooms are not labeled, it makes it difficult to tell someone which room has their Sunday School class.” Likewise Wright said if signs or labels are in a small font, then older eyes may find it difficult to read the signs, rendering them almost useless.
Handrails are another accessibility feature that are a big help and relatively easy and affordable to install. The handrails should be steady and properly designed, Corbitt said. “If you are visually impaired, you expect the handrail to end at the bottom of the steps so you know you have reached the floor,” he said.
Handrails in the bathrooms are also important. Likewise chairs with arms are helpful in senior adult classrooms because older adults often need something to push on in order to stand “The best thing is to have a totally handicapped-accessible facility,” said Corbitt. “However, anything you can do to make your facility more accessible to someone who needs help is beneficial.”
For more information and a complete copy of the church-building accessibility survey, contact Corbitt at 1-800-264-1225, Ext. 332.
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