September 1999 Page 1

Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors Logo

A publication of Pathways Awareness Foundation in partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago
Discover in this issue:
  • How parishes celebrated Inclusion Sunday
  • How to teach students through inclusion success stories
  • How national facility managers highlighted inclusion
  • How to consider accessibility in parish renovations
Inclusion Sunday Continues to Grow

Thank you to all who helped open hearts!

Share your ideas with us or ** for free help call 1-800-955-2445
April 18 marked Inclusion Sunday, 1999. Churches demonstrated the importance of including persons with disabilities in worship by:

• Distributing information** through bulletins, fliers such as "How You Can Make a Difference" and "10 Easy Ways to Make Your Parish More Accessible," and information tables

• Surveying parish needs**

• Addressing the power of inclusion in the Homily

• Forming inclusion advisory committees

• Using large-print missalettes for everyone

• Including persons with disabilities as lectors, gift bearers, Eucharistic ministers and sign language ministers

If you have photos or stories from your celebration and could share them with others, please contact Pathways.
Bringing the Message of Inclusion Directly to Children
How was the boy with a disability successfully included in the religious education class?

Short stories and lesson plans about inclusion of children with disabilities will be available in lesson packets at the Chicago Catechetical Conference on September 24 and 25 at the Rosemont Convention Center.

Pathways and several distinguished DREs have 

 developed a unique curriculum supplement packet for intermediate, junior high and high school levels including one-class lesson plans on inclusion, a family piece and a directors’ guide.

The packet is available free to all clergy, principals, DREs and youth ministers. If you are unable to visit Pathways’ booth at the conference, please call to reserve your free copy.**
Open Hearts Open Minds Open Doors Logo

A publication of Pathways Awareness Foundation in partnership with the Archdiocese of Chicago
September 1999 Page 2
Pathways Presents Inclusion to Facility Managers

 

 

 

 

**Call 1-800-955-2445 to order the Open Hearts Video

 

Pathways Awareness Foundation made a presentation on providing "barrier free" environments at the annual meeting of the Conference for Catholic Facility Management. The national conference was attended by representatives from 90 dioceses across the country - serving 41 million American Catholics.

The facility managers, who are responsible for parish worship space, schools and other facilities, viewed the 20-minute Open Hearts video** and a slide presentation featuring the recent chapel 

 renewal and renovation project at the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein (1-847-566-6401). The seminary, under the leadership of Fr. John Canary, has made inclusion a priority and is in the process of making the entire campus, 18 buildings in all, accessible.

The seminary’s renovated chapel provides:

  • access from the outside for all persons
  • special pews and space for wheelchairs
  • ramps making the sanctuary accessible to all
  • improved lighting and sound systems
  • an accessible restroom on the main floor

Remember, changes in access to our buildings benefit us all - from people with a stroller to people using temporary crutches, canes or wheelchairs to people needing accessibility more permanently.
Important Renovation Considerations
While the renovations at most parishes aren’t nearly as large an undertaking as the work at the seminary, inclusion is always an important consideration during renovation planning. Remember, one out of five persons has a disability. If your parish is considering a renovation project of any scale, here are some questions to keep in mind:
  1. Could we include a person who uses a wheelchair, walker or crutches, or a family member on an inclusion committee for planning renovations or additions to our church?
  2. Can a person in a wheelchair move from a car to church services without going up or down a step?
  1. Can we provide marked accessible parking spaces for cars and vans close to accessible entrances?
  2. Could we add curb-cuts to make sidewalks and ramps accessible?
  3. Who could benefit from a bath-room with wheelchair facilities available on the worship floor?
  4. Could a person using a wheelchair or walker sit in the front pew with their family if we remove the front kneeler?
  5. Is our altar accessible to a person who uses a wheelchair? Is the podium or microphone adjustable?
  6. Should we set short-, medium- and long-term fundraising goals for accessibility?
    7.
About Pathways Awareness
Foundation		 Pathways Awareness Foundation was established in 1988 to raise awareness about early intervention and inclusion of children and youth with physical challenges.
123 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 • 1-800-955-2445 • www.pathwaysawareness.org