Accessibility
Liz Anderton describes the efforts being made to open YMG to everyone
Thinking about going to YMG in Canterbury? Excited? Daunted? Should I go? We all have these questions.
In my experience attending Yearly Meeting can be interesting and exciting but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many things to do and not enough time to do it all, even if you run everywhere! Imagine, then, what it is like for those who are disabled or just getting on in years and don’t have so much energy. That is true for many who will attend Yearly Meeting Gathering this year.
With this in mind the Planning Committee, the YM Accessibility and Support Group, Yearly Meeting overseers and the Pastoral Care Team are working together to make sure that YMG is as inclusive and accessible as possible for everyone – from the tiny tots to those Friends ‘well bottomed in the faith’ and eighty years plus. We have visited the university and are liaising with Friends House staff, plus those involved in facilitating groups, to ensure that everything is as accessible as possible and to inform participants if there are any limitations.
There are, of course, some constraints. Canterbury is a large campus that was built to accommodate fit young students. The university has made good provision for its disabled students but there is nothing that can be done about the campus geography. There is good ramp access to all the main buildings. Fortunately, Canterbury is fairly flat and the buildings we are using are relatively close. Half board accommodation is quite close to the main meeting area and Big Top, though the half board en-suite is down a bit of a slope. Self-catering accommodation is about a fifteen to twenty minute walk and comprises individual two storey houses that can accommodate six to eight people. Each house has stairs, which may be a problem for some Friends with impaired mobility.
There will be a hearing loop and simultaneous speech to text in the main hall and most of the other rooms we are using will have a hearing loop available. Documents in advance will be produced in a digital format prior to YMG for those with visual impairment. Agendas and the daily bulletin will be produced in large print. Scooters are available for those with mobility difficulties. If you require a scooter please indicate this on your application form.
Area Meetings have a responsibility to assist Friends to attend YMG and offer practical assistance where possible, so if you have particular needs you should talk to your Area Meeting and overseers about what assistance Friends can offer. If you have limited mobility and, therefore, need to stay in the half-board accommodation but this is outside your budget then do speak to your overseer. Bursary funds are available.
Overseers along with members of the pastoral care team and accessibility and support group will be available throughout YMG to assist Friends.
We all have a responsibility to endeavour to make the Meeting a community in which each person is accepted and nurtured and strangers are welcome.
Respect the wide diversity among us. Remember that each one of us is unique, precious, a child of God.
If you have any suggestions or comments please contact me and we will try to do what we can.
