We always like to highlight excellent training opportunities to equip faith communities in becoming more welcoming and accessible with people who experience disabilities. There are a couple coming up in the next two weeks that are worth your consideration.

MINISTERING WITH FAMILIES WITH DISABILITIES

Event date: Saturday, January 13, 2018, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Location: Tyndale University College and Seminary, 3377 Bayview Ave, North York, ON M2M 3S4

Coming up quickly, the fourth module of the Tyndale Certificate in Accessible Ministry will be facilitated by Stephen Bedard, a regular contributor to this forum (see his posts here). Here is a short description:

As a church, you desire to meet the needs of families in your community who experience disability, but aren’t sure where to start. Should you start with a program? Should you start with accessibility? Stephen Bedard is a pastor and a parent of children with disabilities who will provide first-hand experiences and practical tools as part of this interactive seminar. You will leave this module with renewed motivation, equipped to minister with families who experience disability.

You can find out more or register at the following link:

www.tyndale.ca/tsfc/certificates/accessible-ministry/module4

CREATIVELY CREATING ACCESSIBLE WORSHIP SPACES

Just over a week later, you can participate (in person or online) in a training from Our Doors are Open. Mike Walker will be the instructor, and he has also written for the forum. You can view his posts here.

Event date: Monday, January 22, 2018, from 12:30 PM to 1:45 PM

Location: Emmanuel College, 75 Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1K7, Room 119

This workshop will allow people to:

  • Train your own trainers to have experts in accessibility in your church
  • Fully involve members with disabilities in your community activities
  • Develop accessible communication in your community outreach

The workshop is being offered by Our Doors Are Open. This is a project which offers diverse faith communities in Ontario simple and creative ideas to help increase inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities in worship services, events and all communal activities, and offers free training seminars and services to all Ontario faith communities.

All are welcome to attend. People are particularly encouraged to attend with more than one person from the same congregation. The agenda will include time to talk together about how to begin to implement some of the strategies that we will be considering.

This free workshop is co-sponsored by Emmanuel College, the Canadian Council of Churches, Friendship Ministries, and The United Church of Canada.

Registration is not required for the workshop at Emmanuel College. Light refreshments will be provided.

For those who cannot attend in person at Emmanuel College, there will also be an online workshop on Tuesday, January, 23 starting at 6 p.m., Eastern Time. Further information about the online version is available here. There is a $14.95 charge for the online workshop.