Disability Awareness Week launches on Sunday 15 September

The Revd Helen Cameron, President of the Methodist Conference and Moderator of the Free Churches Group, and President of Churches together in England, is encouraging all churches to celebrate Disability Awareness Week 15-22 September 2024. Helen will share her passion for church disability inclusion by preaching to launch Disability Awareness Week on 15 September.

How do I access the Disability Awareness Week launch service?
You can hear Helen Cameron preach in the Disability Awareness Week launch service video – it will be released online by 3pm on Sunday 15 September at: https://valeofstour.org.uk/daw2024

Join us online to explore the Disability Awareness Sunday 2024 theme: ‘Journey with Jesus’. As we travel on the journey of disability inclusion, He is with us in our lives, whatever storms may come. Worship is hosted by the Vale of Stour Circuit in the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist District, from Brierley Hill Methodist church.

What happens in Disability Awareness Week?
Through the Roof encourages all churches to reach out and meet with disabled people in their community in Disability Awareness Week. This could be through organised church events or through individuals inviting a disabled person they know to meet for a coffee to get to know them.

UCB radio is also helping get disabled Christians voices heard by sharing five ‘disability diaries’ from people with lived experience of disability. On UCB1’s Talking Point programme, 9am–1pm, one disabled person a day will share a reflection on their experience of disability in church and society.

Through the Roof will also be sharing videos from Revd Helen Cameron each day during the week about the ABC of church disability inclusion: Access, Belonging and Commission. There will also be insights posted on social media @TTRChangesLives on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Why is disability inclusion in church important?
Jesus said disabled people should be included in God’s great banquet: ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town. Bring in those … who can’t see or walk … compel them to come in so that my house will be full.’ (Luke 14:23, NIrV)

There are many barriers disabled people can face on their journey to join, or be fully included. Accessibility of church buildings isn’t the only barrier – there are lots of invisible barriers too.

A call to be a justice-seeking and disability-inclusive church
Revd Helen Cameron is clear that the Great Commission is to all and for all. She says:

“If we fail to recognise the call of all disciples, and commission only the able-bodied, then we’ve abandoned the Gospel … Those living with disabilities, visible or invisible, need to experience justice, equality and access, as others do.”

Join the journey! – mark Disability Awareness Week in your church
Order a free resource pack at https://throughtheroof.org/forchurches/disability-awareness-sunday/
Watch the launch service, available after 3pm on 15 Sept at https://valeofstour.org.uk/daw2024

Please visit www.throughtheroof.org for information, news and resources.

About the work of Through the Roof

There are over 100 million disabled people world-wide who need a wheelchair but don’t have access to one. In a UK survey, 2 out of every 3 people said they felt ‘uncomfortable’ speaking with disabled people, and 3 out of every 4 disabled people reported experiencing negative attitudes or behaviour from others (Scope). We can change this! Everyone can experience God’s love and feel supported by the church – including disabled people.

Through the Roof is a Christian disability inclusion charity. Our mission is to transform lives through Jesus with disabled people. For over 25 years, we have been working to:

• Enable Faith: Equipping churches and Roofbreakers (local disability champions) to enable disabled people to participate and belong in Christian life.
• Bring Freedom: The ‘Wheels for the World’ project provides disabled people in developing countries with wheelchairs and Bibles.

Share Fellowship:  Our Christian-focused accessible holidays, retreats and groups bring fun and friendships for all.