• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

UUFF

Your NWA home for a liberal religion

  • Visit
    • Minister’s Welcome
    • Getting Here
    • Sundays
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • About
    • Minister’s Welcome
    • Our Faith
      • Who are Unitarian Universalists?
      • Principles and Sources
      • The Flaming Chalice
    • Our Fellowship
      • Mission and Vision
      • Leadership
      • Location
      • Accessibility
      • Gardens & Grounds
    • Visit Us
    • Contact
  • Worship
    • Sermons
    • Sundays
    • Music
  • Learning
    • Children & Youth
    • Adults
      • Covenant Groups
      • Adult RE Discussion Group
    • OWL: Lifespan Sexuality Education
    • New UU/Path to Membership
  • Justice
    • Accessibility
    • Good Works
    • Side with Love
    • Welcoming Congregation
    • Justice Calendar
  • Community
    • Pastoral Care
    • Groups
      • Chalice Circles
      • Meditation
      • Y’ALL
      • ARE Discussion Group
      • Web of Life
    • Circle Suppers
    • Membership
      • UUFF Cares
      • Become a Member
    • Volunteer
  • News & Events
    • Zoom Participation
    • UUFF Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • The Beacon
    • UUFF eNews
  • Giving
    • Pledge
    • Be of Service
  • Sunday Service 11 AM
You are here: Home / Beacon / Justice Spotlight on Accessibility

Justice Spotlight on Accessibility

July 21, 2022 by el

By Georgia Lance, UUFF Member since 1995

One of the distinctions UUFF is proud of is being a welcoming congregation. We had discussions, attended trainings and had speakers on the issue of being an inclusive congregation for LGBTQ+ people. Some of us would like to add the distinction of being a welcoming congregation for folks with disabilities. Several of us have recently formed a working group to attempt this very task. We are hoping to raise awareness, educate and help fellow members find simple ways they can help in making people with disabilities feel welcome in our fellowship.

I’d like to give a shout out to Gene Vinzant for listening to our concerns about aisles being left clutter fear and wide enough for those of us in either walkers or wheelchairs. I’ve seen great improvement in this area these last couple of months.

How to deal with service dogs is an issue I witnessed during our annual Pride Service. We had two women, one in a large electric wheelchair, with good sized service dogs, trying to cram themselves into a narrow space. It would have been a simple matter to have removed two chairs from the row behind them and give them enough space for their service animals. I suspect if anyone had offered to do that for them, they would have been very grateful.

Another disability issue we have in our congregation is both children’s and adult religious education is located downstairs, which is inaccessible to those of us in walkers or wheelchairs.
The sidewalk located on the lower level requires walking down and back up a steep incline, which is not possible for many of us. In a nutshell, the lower level of our building is off limits for some members of our fellowship. I have seen mothers carrying their children up and down the steep staircase because the children are unable to walk the stairs.

This past Sunday, three of us did a physical audit of our building and grounds, using materials from UUA, to see what is working in our building and what isn’t. We are hoping to help people understand that access for people with disabilities is a social justice issue along with the others our denomination has championed over the years. We are also hoping others will join us in exploring ways we can become a welcoming congregation for people with disabilities.

Filed Under: Beacon, Justice

Primary Sidebar

Next Service

March 26 – “Every Body is Beautiful”

Dealing with body image issues is a common experience. Countless factors contribute to it, and experts offer suggestions for navigating the difficulty. As a community that acknowledges everyone’s dignity and worth, we celebrate the beauty of all of our diverse bodies. That’s the topic of our 11:00 service this Sunday, prompted by Transgender Day of […]

  • About
  • New Here?
  • Minister’s Welcome
  • Our Fellowship
    • Mission & Vision
    • Welcoming Congregation
    • Location & Parking
      • Accessibility
      • Garden & Grounds
      • Buildings & Rental Spaces
    • Nursery Care
  • Our Faith
    • Sermons Library
    • UU Principles and Sources
    • The Flaming Chalice
    • Who are UUs?
  • Justice
  • Find Community
  • Upcoming Events
  • UUFF eNews
  • Participating via Zoom

Events

  • UUFF Sunday 10am Adult RE Mindful Discussion - Downstairs Common Room
    • 03/26/2023
  • UUFF's Youth (ages 11-18) Religious Exploration Classes - downstairs at UUFF each Sunday at 10am!
    • 03/26/2023
  • Grounds Work Day - each Thursday from 10am-NOON
    • 03/30/2023
  • UUFF Caring Team Online Meeting - first Saturday of each month, beginning at 1pm! All welcome!
    • 04/01/2023
  • Grounds Work Day - each Thursday from 10am-NOON
    • 04/02/2023
  • UUFF Sunday 10am Adult RE Mindful Discussion - Downstairs Common Room
    • 04/02/2023
  • UUFF's Youth (ages 11-18) Religious Exploration Classes - downstairs at UUFF each Sunday at 10am!
    • 04/02/2023
  • all events
  • Blog Post Categories

    Before Footer

    Join our Accessibility and Inclusivity Working Group!

    Members from the Care Team and Justice Team are joining together to make sure UUFF is inclusive for all people, regardless of physical, cognitive, or sensory ability. Scope of project and timeline will be decided by members of the group. Let's welcome and celebrate the physical and neurodiversity of humankind.

    Interested in being a part of the team? Send an email to
    Elizabeth Littlepage
    .

    Footer

     
    Unitarian Universalist
    Fellowship of Fayetteville

    901 W. Cleveland St.
    Fayetteville, AR 72701

    Directions & Parking

    view front of UUFF building

    About Us

    Our mission as a diverse faith community is to promote justice and service while seeking personal and spiritual growth.
    Learn More about UUFF.

    Newcomer, Seeker, or Just Curious?
    We invite you to visit our fellowship.

    Sunday Schedule

    Offered at UUFF:

    Main Service at 11 AM

    Adult Religious Exploration Discussion Group – 10am

    Children’s Religious Exploration Class – 10am

    Youth Religious Exploration Class – 10am

    Meditation Group – 9:30am (via zoom only)

    Nursery care is available during the 11am Sunday Service.

    Get in Touch

    (479) 521-8422
    uuff.ar@gmail.com
    Join us on Facebook

    Weekday Office Hours
    Tuesday- Fri 10:30am-2:30pm

    • HOME
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT US
    • SERMONS
    • EVENTS
    • FIND COMMUNITY
    • ZOOM GUIDELINES

    © 2023 · Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fayetteville · Privacy Policy · Site Map