resources

Accessibility

Accessibility Concerns Committee Mission Statement

We believe that all people are created in the image of God and have sacred worth. We also believe that it is vital to the body of Christ to celebrate the spiritual gifts of people with all abilities so that we can best witness the beauty and diversity that God has created in our communities.  

We are here to support, train and assist local churches of the Upper New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to best serve those with accessibility concerns. 

Our goal is to make the community of Christ accessible to all people. 

2018 Accessibility Petition
Accessibility Grant
Accessibility Team
Resources

2018 Accessibility Petition

Click here to read the petition passed and adopted at the 2018 Annual Conference about Disability Awareness Weekend.

Accessibility Grant

Click here to download the Accessibility Grant form. The deadline to submit your request is April 30, 2024.

Accessibility Team
Lida Merrill
(585) 470-8675
Accessibilities@unyumc.org
lida.merrill@gmail.com

Doug Hess
(585) 402-0311
Dough96@aol.com
 

Cher McCotter
(518) 260-6748
chercropper@hotmail.com

 

Clara Lantz
(315) 824-0965 (home)
(315) 527-0183 (mobile)
clara.lantz@gmail.com

Resources

UMC Websites

1. Disability Ministries: https://www.umdisability.org/
2. Resources for clergy with disabilities:
   1. umdisabledministers.org
   2. mentalhealthministries.net
   3. umdeaf.org
   4. www.umc.org/what-we-believe/church-and-people-with-intellectual-physical-psychological-disabilities
3. Information about Disability Awareness Sunday including liturgy, FAQs, etc.: https://umcdmc.org/worship/disability-sunday-order-of-worship/

Government

1. New York Department of Health: health.ny.gov
2. Ideas and resources for community projects that are inclusive:
   1. health.ny.gov/community/disability/
   2. People First Brochure and others: health.ny.gov/publications/0951.pdf
   3. Information and Referral for Long-term Care: nyconnects.ny.gov

Not for Profit

1. Independent Living Resources, Information about ADA: ilru.org

Mental Health Ministries

1. Mental Health ministries for the congregation to help elimante the stigma of mental health: http://mentalhealthministries.net/spotlights/html_spotlights/2020/covid2020.html?fbclid=IwAR1siEJPHxcAaW2aaOSfW69KMQdEUDseUK_CL2QJgYW33uR_511F-jU0MFU

Resources

1. Free text-to-speach software: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-free-speech-text-software/

Kids

1. Five Things Every Kid Should Know About Disability - Raising Anti-Ableist Kids: https://booksforlittles.com/disability-empowerment/?fbclid=IwAR3UDYENfCbQzPJHWn8Zdryeas2nL6iMv9IFofyoR7yVKFvdNmKDnqEs7iI

Books

1. Dementia Friendly Worship: https://www.amazon.com/Dementia-Friendly-Worship-Multifaith-Chaplains-Communities-ebook/dp/B07P5J29GB?fbclid=IwAR2PTFmV5L6Qg7F0JDyKbW1_rjwZ9JTajj5wWuuFfj5Pehm4_SQtgZAFXPo