Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors Program

How can I make my faith community more inclusive: Introduction

One in five Americans has a disability, but you’d be surprised how many houses of worship are not equipped to welcome everyone. Pathways Awareness Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness about barriers to participation that exist in many faith communities for persons with physical, mental, emotional, or sensory differences. The “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” program assists congregations of all denominations to welcome persons with disabilities into all aspects of faith life. This mission is carried out by:

• Explaining how to be inclusive in the “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” video, Idea Guide, newsletter, and Inclusive Congregation Toolkit.
• Granting Open Hearts Awards to congregations to further inclusion efforts.
• Inviting congregations to celebrate Inclusion Awareness Day.
• Providing the “Different Gifts, But the Same Spirit” lesson plans to help children and youth understand inclusion.
• Featuring on-line inclusion in worship resources at www.inclusioninworship.org.

We welcome persons with disabilities into our congregations through affirmation, communication and accessibility. The ideas in this toolkit are grouped under these headings. Choose tips from each area to create a caring, inclusive congregation where all can participate.

The materials in this toolkit are adapted with permission from the National Organization on Disability unless noted otherwise. Please feel free to duplicate and share with others.

Thank you for opening hearts, minds and doors so that all may worship.

Pathways Awareness Foundation, a Chicago, Illinois nonprofit organization, was established in 1988 to raise awareness about the importance of early detection, early intervention and inclusion of children with physical movement differences.

The foundation educates parents and medical professionals about children’s movement patterns during infancy so that children will receive early intervention services to achieve optimum functional potential. The nationally distributed video and brochure “Is My Baby Okay?” illustrates the early warning signs of physical delay. A brochure is enclosed in this folder.

Pathways Center for Children, located in Glenview, Illinois, provides physical, occupation and speech therapy for children and youth with physical movement differences and sensory concerns. Call 847-729-6220 for more information.

Pathways Awareness Foundation also provides information on the inclusion of children, youth and adults with disabilities in the community, in recreation, in education and in worship. Visit www.pathwaysawareness.org for stories of inclusion.

The Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors program of Pathways Awareness Foundation assists congregations of all denominations to include persons with disabilities in worship, ministry, fellowship and study. Visit www.inclusioninworship.org for information and materials to assist with your inclusion efforts.

For more information on Pathways Awareness Foundation call 1-800-955-2445 or visit www.pathwaysawareness.org.