Grow Course: What is disability?

Revd John Beauchamp is the Diocesan Disability Ministry Enabler for the Diocese of London. He gives five takeaways to better understand the notion of ‘disability’.

Take some time to consider each of the points below:

1. Disability is all around: 20% of the UK population, or 13.5 million people, experience physical or cognitive issues which can be labelled as ‘disabilities’. This is 20% of the population wanting to be recognised, valued, released, invited to belong, and enabled to be equal partners in shaping the future of your project and the kingdom you are bringing into being.

2. Inclusion and ease of access must be rooted in all you do: You cannot tack on the idea of inclusion and equal access. You have to root it at the centre of all you plan and do. Otherwise, it will always only be a half-hearted gesture.

3. Disability is an additional God-given perspective that enriches the Church: Jesus took upon himself the full diversity of the human experience as he walked the way of the Cross. He has taken the full diversity of that experience into his heavenly kingdom, including the scars and wounds of the crucifixion through which he experienced the greatest ‘disability’ – death itself. Wounds and scars are kingdom essentials, not an optional extra.

4. Disability is not something ‘possessed by’ people, but ‘imposed upon’ them: The Church has the opportunity to liberate the 20% from this by recognising the God-given potential of all people to be the presence of God amongst us.

5. We should go above and beyond the Equality Act: The Equality Act puts the responsibility on you as a community group and service provider to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled people to access and take part in your activities.