Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2013 Issue

Cast Off Barriers to Full Accessibility The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff Five hours before a parish visitation is no time for an accident. So when I broke my foot while hiking on a Saturday in May, my first thought was to the visitation scheduled for that afternoon at 5 p.m. Diagnosis and emergency treatment at the ER went remarkably quickly. I had an hour to spare to figure out how to do baptisms and confirmations, and how to preach and celebrate the Eucharist with one foot never touching the ground. Here is something of what I experienced that day and in visits to 18 churches and institutions during the seven weeks I was in a non-weightbearing cast or walking boot. • he clergy, staff and congregations of our churches are T patient, supportive and resourceful. In every situation, people went out of their way to make my access to the facilities as easy as possible. Our people are ready and eager to think creatively to overcome unanticipated challenges. Photo: Emily Cherry • rayer is an amazing power. I felt literally upheld by the P prayers of others during those weeks. I felt literally healed through the prayers of others. • appreciated the powerful prayers of others particularly I because temporary disability narrowed my world. It took great stamina simply to heal, and at times there was little stamina left for navigating church architecture. The prayers and help of others bridged the gap. • andicap accessible restrooms are not necessarily H accessible. I had no idea, when both feet worked, just how heavy “accessible” restroom doors can be. Without two feet to serve as anchors, I sometimes could not open selfclosing doors. When I could open one, I sometimes could not hold it open long enough to propel myself through on crutches or a knee scooter. • andicap ramps can also present obstacles. Some H churches have complex systems of ramps to allow full accessibility, but the route is so long and circuitous that by the time I got to the worship space on my knee scooter, I was weary. • o altar could be reached without climbing steps. I N depended on the physical support of others to get me up to and behind the altar, then down again. • olonial pulpits with small, narrow, curved steps are C impossible to climb in a cast or boot. I grew comfortable practicing a tradition even older than colonial pulpits: I preached from the bishop’s chair throughout my season of healing. 24 Virginia Episcopalian / Fall 2013 Bishop Goff, bound to a cast and a walking boot for seven weeks following a foot injury, learned some lessons in accessibility during her recovery – and found some creative inspiration in her cast, which she decorated and then turned into a sculpture upon its removal! I have grown tremendously in appreciation for the challenges faced by people of all ages who live with limited mobility, whether temporarily or permanently. In compassion and solidarity with them, and to help ensure that our church doors are truly open to all, I urge our congregations to: • ake an inventory of the accessibility of your facilities by T putting yourself in a wheel chair or on crutches. Don’t simply depend on the experts, but learn from your own exploration. • iscover where the problem spots are and correct them. D If renovations are not feasible – and they often are not in old buildings – post people at those spots to offer a helping hand or escort others to a workable detour. • ive a thought to the pulpit and the altar. What will you G do if your priest is not able to get there? If you can’t adjust your architecture, how will you adjust your worship? • e flexible, creative and attentive so that physical barriers B are not magnified by attitudinal barriers. • ray, work, act, then pray some more that no one will be P impeded from worship by barriers of any kind, and that everyone will find a true welcome in our churches. t

Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Fall 2013 Issue | Page 26