Welcome to the Congregational Accessibility Network (CAN)!  This page gives an overview of the process that a congregation can use to assess its level of accessibility.  By making this assessment, the congregation can then take steps to become more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities of all types. 

There are many factors in determining how long this process will take.  Among those factors are the size of the congregation, the nature of its organizational structure, its overall mission and how well that mission is understood by its members, and the level of commitment to become more accessible and inclusive. 

During the course of the year 2008, ADNet will be refining the steps to make this process flow as smoothly as possible for the greatest number of congregations.  Your feedback is important and you are welcome to contact us using the contact information in the left column. 

The process is currently built around two major tools, referred to in brief as the "Questionnaire" and the "Survey." 

• The Individual and Family Needs Questionnaire (INFQ) is administered early on in the process to elicit subjective feedback from members and attendees of the congregation.  It is available in the form of a Microsoft Word (DOC) document that can be filled out in a word processor and saved or printed out and filled out with pen or pencil.
  
• The Congregational Assessment Survey  (CAS) is an objective online survey tool which is at the heart of the process.  Hard copy printouts of CAS are also available.
  

Suggested steps:

1. Read through the material on this page to become familiar with the whole process.  Refer back to this page often for updates. 

2. Assign a person or group to give leadership to the process.  Have them meet with the overall congregational leadership group to put the process of becoming more accessible and inclusive into the context of the larger mission of the church. 

3. Discuss, determine, and outline the steps that your congregation wants to take to become more accessible.  This may mean a meeting of your process leadership group. 

4. Download the Individual and Family Needs Questionnaire (INFQ) and follow the process outlined  on the INFQ page to administer the Questionnaire to the whole congregation.  Process the results according to the instructions on that page.  Prioritize the felt needs according to urgency, importance, and ease of carrying out. 

5. Download the Introduction and Summary sheet for the Congregational Assessment Survey and print it out for reference for your congregational members and leaders. 

6. Browse through the various accessibility areas under the Survey tab to get a good feel for the scope of the survey and the accompanying resources available.  Please keep in mind that these resources will be expanding as more churches join the network. 

7. Download the hard copy version (in PDF) of the Congregational Assessment Survey Form.  Print it out and put it on a clipboard.  Take the clipboard, along with a pencil or pen and a measuring tape and make a complete survey of your building and grounds.  This is best done with two or three people. Jot down your answers and notes on the survey form.

8. If you are using your Caravel web site on Mennonite.net, follow the instructions below.  Otherwise, take the online survey.  If you have done the previous steps, this should take no longer than 15-30 minutes.


8. a. Log in to your Caravel site.
b. In the column where you want your seal to appear, select Add Feature under Add Block (green plus sign).
Choose Congregational Accessibility Survey.
c. Follow the instructions on the block.

9. Have your process leadership group summarize the results of both the questionnaire and the survey and recommend steps for the congregation to become more accessible. 

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