Let’s Make Virtual Worship Accessible!

by

Special to United Methodist Insight

The DisAbility Ministries Committee of the UMC recognizes the benefits of virtual worship and would like to encourage you to consider the following list of small but significant adjustments that can make a huge difference in accessibility.

Please continue to offer online worship options once the pandemic has ended. It allows people with disabilities as well as many other groups (such as those who have to work on Sundays or do not have transportation) to participate in worship from the safety of their own home at a time that fits their schedule.

Let’s all work to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can worship God, study scripture, and enjoy Christian fellowship. It’s easy to include everyone!

General Inclusive Online Worship Practices for People with Physical Disabilities

  • If you are having an online chat, please remember that typing takes longer for some people. Please allow time and grace.
  • Some people speak slowly. Patience needs to be encouraged by the leader/moderator.
  • Some people may require time to gather their thoughts before beginning to speak and others may need to physically prepare before speaking once they have a chance. Requiring a raised hand or other symbol to be shown as a request to be called on can mean that everyone has a turn to be heard.
  • Virtual Church is an opportunity for people with disabilities to lead in worship. This provides fresh ideas and fresh voices. Anyone can lead because anyone can record or log in from anywhere.

Including People with Hearing Loss

  • Almost all churches have persons with hearing loss. It’s frequent in those over 50, but not everyone will admit it, and it’s often unknown. A variety of accommodations can be offered by churches, which fall into three categories: assisted hearing, captioning, and sign language.
  • Assisted hearing devices may be as simple as a sound system (and requiring everyone who speaks to use a microphone) to hearing loops. Grants are available for churches who would like to install a hearing loop and can’t afford it.  
  • Captioning is strongly desired by most Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons. It  can also aid those whose first language is not English. Automatic captioning has improved, but care (and editing) is required. Captions are available for many services such as Facebook, YouTube, and Zoom.

Including People Who are Blind

  • In a virtual meeting, all persons should state their names before they speak. 
  • In a Zoom Meeting or conference call, those who are not speaking should mute themselves to reduce background noise and make it easier to hear.
  • If you are sharing electronic documents or slides in a virtual meeting, the screen should be described.
  • Materials being displayed on a screen can be emailed prior to the meeting/service. In general, all images, documents, slides, and videos should be described verbally. 
  • If the chat option is being used in a meeting or portion of a worship service, persons using screen readers may choose to mute their screen readers to avoid hearing every chat post being read out loud while someone is speaking. The host should read the chat posts aloud so that everyone can hear them.
  • If internet links are included in the chat section of a virtual meeting, those links should be sent out by email after the meeting/service.
  • For people with low vision, change the contrast on shared screens, using white letters on black whenever possible.

Including Older Adults

  • Many of our churches have an aging membership. As people age, they may need help with the technology we use for virtual worship, Christian education, and connection.
  • Pastors, staff, or care team members should call all church members regularly to check in and ask if anyone needs anything, including help with technology to attend church functions and to find out if people need help with setting up appointments for vaccines, etc.
  • The help needed may be recurrent or on-going, so a support team may be needed to coach people over the phone, grocery shop and run errands, etc.
  • Church members should be encouraged to keep in touch with each other, either by making phone calls, e-mailing, or mailing notes or cards. This is one way that older adults can be in ministry to others.
  • It is important to support people with dementia and their caregivers. Whenever there is a loss for words or conversation, remember that people often remember hymns and the Lord’s Prayer even when they are otherwise unable to communicate. For more information, please go to Discipleship Ministries | Ministering to Families Facing Alzheimer’s… (umcdiscipleship.org)

Mental Health Concerns Related to Inclusion

  • Being able to attend worship and other church events can be a great help to combatting depression and anxiety.
  • Be aware of people who are struggling and reach out to them by phone. If someone needs professional help, supply phone numbers and other contact information for nearby professionals.
  • For more resources, please see Mental Health - Disability Ministries of the United Methodist Church (umcdmc.org)

This resource was prepared by Rev. Lisa McKee, Rev. Eric Pridmore, Tim Vermande, Rev. Leo Yates, Rev. Rebecca L. Holland, and Deaconess Sharon McCart. For more information and resources, please visit umcdmc.org.  You can e-mail us at information@umcdmc.org.

Works Referenced:

“Virtual Worship is Here for Good,” by Jim Patterson.  Link:  Virtual worship is here for good | United Methodist News Service (umnews.org)