The perceptions of persons with disabilities, primary caregivers and church leaders regarding barriers and facilitators to participation in a Methodist congregation

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Authors

McMahon-Panther, Gail
Bornman, Juan

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Publisher

Routledge

Abstract

Persistent obstacles prevent persons with disabilities from participation in community life, including church activities. This article presents the findings of a descriptive case study, documenting the perceptions of three distinct participant groups concerning barriers and facilitators to participation in their Christian congregation. From a systems perspective, the findings verified that factors in their congregation’s environment hinder, rather than enable, the participation of persons with disabilities. Necessary shifts in the conceptualization of disability that sustain exclusion, and the need to promote belonging and participation in the congregation, were indicated.

Description

This article is based on a Master’s research study conducted by the first author, with the second author as supervisor.

Keywords

Church, Disability, Environmental factors, Participation, International classification of functioning (ICF)

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Gail McMahon-Panther & Juan Bornman (2023) The Perceptions of Persons with Disabilities, Primary Caregivers and Church Leaders regarding Barriers and Facilitators to Participation in a Methodist Congregation, Journal of Disability & Religion, 27:1, 39-85, DOI: 10.1080/23312521.2020.1859040.