Trends from 2016 to 2021 in church activities and approaches to disability inclusion
Resource Type: Article
Topics: disability churches Australian churches 2021 ncls national church life survey 2021 National Church Life Survey
Faith communities should be inclusive of many different groups of people. One area we explored in the 2021 NCLS, was how well churches include people with disabilities. Whether in the form of physical access, understanding or being equipped to be welcoming.
So, are churches welcoming to people with disabilities? How do churchgoers rate their provisions and inclusion?
Find out the results from the 2021 NCLS, in our report 'Disability inclusion, provision and care: trends in local churches from 2016 to 2021'.
This report draws on the Australian National Church Life Survey (NCLS) results to describe the disability inclusion activities of local churches from 2016 to 2022. It also identifies church attenders’ connection with disability, their evaluation of disability inclusion at their local church, their experience of mental health issues and the support they received from their church.
This research was sponsored by CBM, formerly called Christian Blind Mission, the world’s largest development organisation focused on working with the world’s most vulnerable people – those living with the double disadvantage of poverty and disability. Working in partnership with the disability movement, CBM delivers community-based programs, advocates for national and global policy change and provides advice to other organisations and governments.
Due to their generous sponsorship, this report is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD.
Nine in ten churches say they provide for people with disabilities
More than half of churchgoers have an experience of or connection with disability
How active are local churches in caring for people with disabilities?
How welcome would people with disabilities feel at your church?