To address the whole range of accessibility factors, ADNet has established the Congregational Accessibility Network (CAN).  Download this sheet to introduce CAN to your congregation. 

Then visit the CAN website to see the resources offered there.

• Quick Checklist
• Congregational Assessment Survey
• Individual and Family Needs Questionnaire
• Congregational Study Process
• Accessibility Resources - Links to dozens of web resources. 

Often when the word "accessible" is used, people think of ramps and elevators. While these features make a building accessible to persons in wheelchairs, there are many other factors in buildings and the communities that use them which can cause barriers to persons with a variety of disabilities. 

The Congregational Accessibility Network Seal  is awarded to congregations completing the Assessment Survey. Five symbols represent different ways a congregation may be accessible. To view the seal's interactive features, hover your cursor over the symbols in the sample seal in the right column.=>>   

Congregational Accessibility Network Seal

A community of faith will go beyond just conforming to legal guidelines such as the Americans with Disabilities Act in the United States. As Anabaptist Christians, we believe (as do most persons of faith) that an accessible congregation first of all creates an environment which welcomes all people regardless of abilities or disabilities, and secondly, has an attitude of ever-increasing awareness, knowledge, acceptance, and inclusion.

Learn about congregations that have taken significant steps toward becoming accessible.  Additional congregations in the Anabaptist tradition are invited to submit their pictures and stories to add to this list.

Stories of Congregational Accessibility

• Hudson Lake Mennonite Church (Indiana)

More Accessibility Resources

Sample interactive seal, customized according to responses  to CAN's  Congregational Accessibility Survey. The fictional congregation for this custom seal is partially accessible in mobility (indicated by the grey wheelchair symbol). It offers no sign language interpretation, so the center symbol is blackened. The remaining symbols are blue, indicating that the congregation has met the minimum standards for accessibility in these areas. The drop-down menus list specifics steps taken. Clicking "About CAN" allows viewers to access more information about what the symbols mean.