Disabled People Should Be Able To Access All-Service Providers

Literature Review

Disabled people should be able to access all service providers, whether this would be in a place of work, place of education and a place of worship. The implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995 and then the 2005 Act, coming into effect from 2004 meant that churches are required by law to comply by making reasonable adjustments and not to treat disabled people unfairly (DDA 1995, 2005). This proved to be a challenge as reported by the BBC (2004) that many Church of England buildings are ancient and listed. The implications of complying with the law has had a financial impact on churches and places of worship as further reported by the BBC (2003) of a church closing down the community hall. The importance

This idea says that every person is made in God’s image as stated in the Bible in Genesis 1:26-27 and this is important because if we are different and diverse then we are to be treated as equals, and are all seen including disabled people as complete people (EDAN, 2003). Morris (2001) states all people are part of the Body of Christ and we each have a part in the society and community, as found in the biblical passage 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, where “one part of the body cannot say to another part, ‘I do not need you’” (Morris, 2001, p. 2). Also McCloughry (2010) says if someone abuses a disabled person because of their impairment then we are abusing God. However Rose (1997) challenges the Image of God idea by stating that ‘imperfections’ or impairments challenge the goodness found in God and also cites an example from Leviticus 21:17-24 about the qualifications of a high priest that they must not be disabled which highlights conflicting messages from the Bible that ‘imperfections’ are to be rejected (Rose, 1997). It is argued that the practices and viewpoints of the church does not relate to the social model of disability and more on the medical model (Eiesland, 1994). An interesting key point from

London: BBC. [Accessed 27 October 2010]. Available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3250634.stm >.

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2004) BBC News: Religion gears up for disability law [online]. London: BBC. [Accessed 27 October 2010]. Available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3662752.stm >.

British Educational Research Association (BERA) (2004) Revised Ethical Guidelines for Educational Research (2004) [online]. Macclesfield, Cheshire: BERA. [Accessed February 2011]. Available at: <http://www.bera.ac.uk/files/guidelines/ethica1.pdf >.

Church of England Archbishops’ Council (CofEAC) (2006) Disability Audit 2005 - Church of England clergy with disabilities audit 2005 [online]. London: Church House. [Accessed October 2010]. Available at: <http://www.cofe.anglican.org/lifeevents/ministry/workofmindiv/cmddp/ >. Church of England Archbishops’ Council (CofEAC) (2009) Opening the Doors. London: Church House.

Clapton, J. and Fitzgerald, J. (1999) The History of Disability: A History of ‘Otherness’ [online]. London: Renaissance Universal. [Accessed October 2010]. Available at: <http://www.ru.org/human-rights/the-history-of-disability-a-history-of-otherness.html