As the world celebrates the UN International Day of People with Disabilities today, this Church's Disability ministry educators Rev Vicki Terrell and Cherryl Thompson are launching a poster series focused on disabled Anglican leaders and a four-part series for Advent, centred on building inclusive communities.

The Rev Leo Te Kira is the first Anglican leader to front the Disability Ministry poster campaign, which is inspired by the 2024 UN International Day of People with Disabilities theme: "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future."

Also launching today are four new Disability Ministry posters for Advent 2024, that invite Anglicans to build inclusive, accessible faith communities led by Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

Each Advent poster holds prayers and thoughts on inclusion for churches to ponder, and all are designed for accessibility with plain language, easy-read fonts and illustrations.

As the disabled Anglican leaders' project continues, the Disability Ministry Educators are inviting disabled Anglican leaders to share their reflections, not only on their own ministries in the Church, but as those who have opened the way for others.

"The leaders we will feature are deeply committed to ensuring churches are accessible and inclusive of all." said Rev Vicki Terrell today.

Vicki says that with one in four people across our Church living with an impairment or difference, disability ministry means so much more than wheelchairs, canes or hearing aids.

"It means we need to do things differently. Often people doing things differently encounter barriers that disable them, because the world is built around people only doing things in a certain way."

"For example, we expect people to use stairs, read signs, hear announcements, understand directions, or have energy to work an eight-hour day."

Vicki says these expectations not only create physical barriers, but social and psychological barriers, such as patronising attitudes and low expectations. 

"As we begin Advent, people are encouraged to think of the ways in which we can break down barriers as we spread hope, peace, joy and love where we are."

The key message this Advent, say the Disability ministry educators, is that we all need to understand and make room for others so that we all feel belonging in our faith communities.

"Inclusion and accessibility is about living together well as the Body of Christ with all our differences and similarities."

Today's resource launch for the International Day of People with Disabilities, with the poster featuring Rev Leo Te Kira and the Advent poster series are available to download here.

If you would like to recommend Anglican leaders with disabilities for the continuing disabled leaders' poster project, please contact Rev Vicki Terrell or Cherryl Thompson.