• Bethsaida Team to Update List of Accessible Facilities in the Diocese
• Accessibility for People Living with Mental Illness
• Children with Disabilities Need a Place in the Life of the Church – and the Church needs them, too
• Results of Bethsaida Team Mini-Conference "They Won't Come if They Can't Go"
• BETHSAIDA TEAM MEMBERS SPEAK.
• "They Won't Come if They Can't Go " Conference on Funding for Accessibility
• Workshop on Sound Systems to Accommodate the Hard of Hearing
• Historic Resolution on Diocesan Accessibility Passed by 2005 Convention of the Diocese of Newark

Bethsaida Team to Update List of Accessible Facilities in the Diocese

In an effort to help diocesan churches and organizations find and choose accessible spaces for public meetings, the Bethsaida Team has been compiling a list of accessible facilities in the Diocese of Newark, available on our website. We need your help because we want our list to be as up-to-date and as comprehensive as possible to provide full information for seekers of accessible churches and parish halls.

Your church can be listed even if only one building in your church complex is fully accessible. Check our current list to see if your facility has been included. If not, and you believe that it should be, there is an online form available at http://bethsaida.dioceseofnewark.org. Just click on the link that says “Accessible List Registration.” If you are unsure whether your church qualifies or if you don’t have computer access, call Barbara Djimopoulos at (201) 483-3420. If there is any doubt about your facilities, a Bethsaida Team member can visit to go over the premises with you.

Even if you have informed The Team of your accessibility before and your space is already listed, please consider registering online, as we are seeking to provide more detailed information about church facilities. Also, please use the registration form if your church building(s) have been renovated or had additions made to it.

The criteria for an accessible space are as follows:

Access to building: Wheelchair user or person with walking assistance must be able to reach the building via level walk or graded ramp. No steps.

Accessible bathroom:

• must be on same level as building entry or accessible by elevator, ramp or other assistive device.
• door to bathroom and door to accessible stall (in multi-stall bathroom) must have accessible handles inside and out (handles should be broad and long)
• door and stall door must be wide enough to accommodate a turning wheel chair, walkers and crutches,etc.
• the stall itself must be wide enough to accommodate a large, turning wheelchair.
• bathroom light switch must be low enough to be reached from a wheelchair, walker, etc.
• that there be railings beside the toilet, preferably raised.
• the sink must be low enough to be used by a person in wheelchair
• sink faucets should have accessible, broad handles.

Access between buildings: If your church has more than one accessible building (e.g. church and parish hall), is the access between buildings by interior (hallway, breezeway between) or exterior means?

Copyright 2006 - The Bethsaida Team