Some disabilities are temporary but are nevertheless severely limiting while present. Other disabilities are permanent but need not be limiting as long as attitudes, architecture, and technology are accommodating. Welcoming disabled people into a place of worship recognizes our equality before God and strengthens a community. It starts with getting people to the church, temple, or mosque on time. The lack of accessible transportation is a major barrier that prevents disabled people, notably seniors and the mobility-impaired, from attending services.
Some communities provide accessible vans and taxis to take disabled people to services.
Depending on the availability of volunteers and financial resources, communities can provide a van with a wheelchair lift, arrange neighborhood carpools to the service, and give assistance to the disabled person who calls ahead and asks to be met at the car. Also, disabled drivers need parking spaces reserved for them. Mobility impairments are the most visible disabilities. Between 600,000 and 1.4 million disabled people use wheelchairs. Millions of others use walkers, canes, braces, or crutches.