Faith and community

Also called Worship and AAC, Religious inclusion, Community life and communication

Prayers, hymns, festivals and the club on a Thursday. Taking part in worship and community life with a communication difference.

What it is

Faith and community is the part of life that is not care, school or work: the mosque, the church, the temple, the gurdwara, the synagogue, and also the choir, the allotment, the football club and the pub quiz. It is where people belong. And it is where a person with a communication difference is most often welcomed warmly and then quietly left out, because nobody thought about how they would join in the prayer, the singing or the chat afterwards.

The place is usually willing. It just needs asking, and telling how.

Who it can help

People of any faith and none who use AAC, sign or have unclear speech, and their families. Faith leaders and community volunteers who want to include someone and do not know where to start. Care staff, whose support plans often stop at the door of the building.

It is not an argument that a person must take part in religion; it is an argument that the choice is theirs, and that the words to take part should be on their system if they want them.

How it works

Worship is often highly predictable, which makes it AAC-friendly: the same prayers, responses and songs week after week. Those can be stored whole on a device as quick phrases and spoken at the right moment, or printed on a card the person points to, or signed. Many liturgies already exist in Makaton and British Sign Language, and easy read versions of scripture and service sheets exist for several faiths.

Community groups need the same two things as anyone else: the person's own words for that place, and a quick briefing for the people there on how to talk with them; see communication partner. The names of the people, the vocabulary of the activity and the jokes of the group are fringe vocabulary and go on the system.

The Equality Act applies to service providers, which includes places of worship and clubs open to the public, so reasonable adjustments can be asked for and expected.

Getting started

This week, ask the person what they want to be part of. Then contact the faith leader or the group organiser, say how the person communicates, and ask for ten minutes before the next session to show them.

Add the words for that place: the responses, the names, the activity, and one sentence the person can say about why they are there.

If the person is in a service, ask for faith and community to be written into the support plan as a communication need, with the vocabulary and the staff time that make it real.

Where to get help

The Makaton Charity has signed resources for worship and festivals. Mencap covers social inclusion and community life for people with a learning disability. Scope advises on access rights in community settings. British Deaf Association can advise on BSL in worship. Communication Matters has members who have done exactly this and will share how.