Accessibility Audit Report

I (Erica Parsons) wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the service of those who helped with the Accessibility Audit this fall. I especially wanted to express gratitude for the disabled members of our church and community who took surveys, stayed late after services to have long conversations, tirelessly moved through the building and measured so many items! Sharing their  needs and limitations was an act of vulnerability and courage and led the way for others to share their needs. Thank you is not sufficient for all the staff, volunteers and community members who sacrificed so much time to complete this project. And to everyone who participated in a work party or completed a survey or offered their feedback throughout this process, I am so grateful!

Approximately 45 people volunteered their time through completing surveys, measuring doorways, participating in meetings and work parties. I have personally spent around 40 hours towards the work of completing the Accessibility Audit since joining this work in late July. This was not a small endeavor! The work that was done this year will serve us for many years to come!

During this season of Advent, the Accessibility Team will take a much deserved rest! We won’t start work on many of our projects and priorities until the new year. However, in the past few months, we’ve already seen these accessibility goals reached:

• Replaced the confidence monitor to address visual accessibility needs of those who lead from the front of the sanctuary every Sunday.
• Moved a table to make a bathroom more accessible, serving our congregation and the many community partners who use our facility including Weddings, Funerals, Dances, meetings, etc.
• Started conversations with community partners about inclusion, disability awareness, and accessibility in the church. These conversations are part of the work to fulfill our purpose to become a congregation which is in relationship with, and in regular conversation with, our neighbors, growing spiritually and developing disciples, practicing compassion and justice together, and cultivating true welcome & belonging.
• Started implementing a buddy system, including creating a buddy request form.
• Completed the Accessibility Audit for 2025!

Accessibility Team Priorities for 2026:

• Develop the Accessibility Team to include mediators who communicate between accessibility needs of the congregation and appropriate staff members.
• Complete the few remaining measurements that were not able to be completed in time for the Charge Conference this year. Update Hospitality Team Notebook to include a resource guide with accessibility practices.
• Compile a list of current Accessibility Measures to include in the Hospitality Team Notebook and on the church website to highlight all the available accessibility services.
• Conversations and plans for a lower level accessible bathroom. Signage for accessible bathroom on upper level.
• Establish Trustees project team to plan improvements for accessibility to chancel and altar areas in sanctuary.

If any of these projects sound exciting to you, but you don’t want to join another committee, I ask you to consider offering your skills and passions for one of these projects! If you want to work with us on accessibility in 2026 or have questions about what accessibility looks like in the church, please contact Erica Parsons (erica.masa.wa@gmail.com) or Brittany Hocutt (brittany.hocutt@yahoo.com).