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From your editor …
EDITORIAL BOARD
THE IDEA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD BE A LOT LESS DIS-ABLED IF TRANSPORT AND BUILDINGS WERE ACCESSIBLE IS A DEEPLY CHALLENGING AND RELEVANT ARGUMENT .
Welcome ! Covering disability has needed awareness of the potential pitfalls and sensitivities around church experiences , language , images and cultural stickiness over accessibility . It ’ s a delight to hear first-hand from Marsha de Cordova ( page 10 ) MP for Battersea , London , registered blind , and a member of Christians in Parliament – traditionally one of the least physically accessible buildings in the UK . The majority of contributors are writing from their personal experiences of living with their particular disability . Those who are writing on behalf of others , such as Bernice Hardie from WAVE Church ( page 28 ), draw on a hinterland of experience with insight , humbleness and awareness of God ’ s grace .
The overwhelming majority of infrastructure in the world is built for non-disabled people and where provision has previously been made , for example , in the UK with the Blue Badge scheme and for pre-booked assisted travel on trains and planes , the system is under pressure . This year , in one short period , there were three high-profile cases of wheelchair / scooter users being left on a plane ( Frank Gardner in May , Daryl Tavernor on 26 May , Victoria Brignell on 4 June ).
A comment from John Naude ’ s article ( page 20 ) about not needing to make a church accessible because there aren ’ t any disabled attendees is one of the key points made by Dr Amy Kenny ( page 40 ) in her sparkling book My Body is Not a Prayer Request . The idea that a lot of people would be a lot less disabled if transport and buildings were accessible is a deeply challenging and relevant argument .
Once inside a building , new challenges arise and how to address these in a church service – and sermon – is a useful thread running through the articles . We are reminded too , throughout , of the theology of disability : equality , unity in the one body , inclusion , justice , and God ’ s power made perfect in weakness ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 ).
Louisa Lockwood
John Griffiths Lay reader in the Church of England , Trustee at LWPT
lwpt . org . uk
Jan Thompson Lay reader in the Church of England
Issue 32 , Autumn 2022 Disability
Editor Louisa Lockwood
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