Equual Access promotes equality and access for Unitarian Universalists with disabilities. Our goal is to speak with knowledge and expertise on providing advocacy and support for our constituency.

Equual Access needs to grow to be truly effective in our advocacy work.

Please join, if you have not already done so.  If you have already joined, please spread the word and sign up others to join.

Here are statements from some of the founders and leaders of Equual Access about why they joined the organization.

Why We Joined Equual Access

Arthur Tackman, President

"I lost my vision when I was in my mid 30s.  I noticed right away that there was a huge difference in how I was perceived and treated by others.  I believe that I have gained acceptance over the years, but there is still a long way to go for true equality.

Our faith, which believes in the inherent worth and dignity of each individual, sets the stage for an environment in which we can be truly accepted as individuals.  We are not quite there yet, but I believe Equual Access will help us get there."
- Arthur Tackman

Carolyn Cartland, Vice President

"I joined Equual Access because I have thought for a long time that we need a voice within the UUA to address the issues we face as Unitarian-Universalists with disabilities. We need to give voice to our experiences, and those of our family and friends, within our meeting houses, churches and fellowships. We need to make real our principals and beliefs regarding the inherent dignity and worth of every human being; justice, equity and compassion in our relationships; and acceptance of one another because, as people with disabilities, we have all been subjected to the indignities, injustices, and rejection that are part of society and, unfortunately, therefore, also part of Congregational and Associational life. With Equual Access, we can assemble a significant group of people with disabilities, along with our friends, families, and allies, to speak in one voice about the issues we care about issues of inclusion, accessibility, respect, and justice. With Equual Access, we can educate, advocate, and create the changes we promote.

We, those of us who do this work and care about these issues, believe we can make those changes. We believe that we can influence how physically accessible General Assembly is, how many people with disabilities are in leadership positions throughout the Association, how many large print hymnals are available in a congregation, how children with special needs are included in Religious Education classes, how and where UU retreats and meetings are held, how many ministers with disabilities are in the pulpit, how our ministers are educated about the issues of disability, how congregations welcome folks with mental health issues, and more. We believe that the exclusion of people with disabilities from Congregational and Associational life parallels the exclusion of women, people of color, people of non-white, non-European heritage, homosexuals, elders, those at economic disadvantage (the list is long!) that we, as Unitarian-Universalists, have been fighting and now winning since our inception. We believe it is now time for that list to include those of us with disabilities.

That is why I joined Equual Access. I invite you to join with us."
- Carolyn Cartland,

Caron Wells, Secretary

Carol Agate, Treasurer

" Ironically the most common disability is also the most invisible one.

Perhaps we tend to think of people with hearing loss as being unable to hear - but that is true of very few. Even most of those with a profound loss are able to hear a few loud noises of just the right pitch. There are few disabilities that give rise to as much comedy - which can be truly humorous. I like the question and answer:

'I am wearing my brand new state-of-the-art hearing aids.'
'What kind are they?'
'4:20 p.m.'

Like much good humor it tells a truth: a hearing loss is less likely to mean you can't hear than it is to mean you can't understand the words you're hearing. And, unlike eyeglasses, that can give people 20/20 vision, hearing aids do not provide clarity.

Assistive listening devices are more helpful that hearing aids in many situations. Awareness of the problems of hearing loss has made General Assembly a greatly improved experience. Captioning of plenary sessions, listening devices for better hearing in noisy environments, microphones in workshops have all been as important to people with hearing loss as ramps are to people in wheelchairs.

It took many years for me to realize that I had been missing things all my life because of a childhood hearing loss. Now the added loss due to aging has created a problem that actually limits my activities. I am actively attacking the problem by learning and teaching others what technology can do and by advocating access for people with all disabilities.

We've come a long way. But with the voice of UUs with hearing loss added to that of other UUs promoting access we should all be better heard in our congregations, the UUA, and the wider communities to which we all belong. "
- Carol Agate

Linda Wright, Right Relations Chair

"A life-long Unitarian Universalist, I received my religious education at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield, MA. I consider myself a 'Born again UU,' having plunged into a more active role in congregational activities as an adult. I have participated in various committees in five UU congregations since 1983 and also served on UUA District committees. In 2008, I became a Beyond Categorical Thinking trainer visiting UU congregations in the ministerial search process to promote the exploration of how stereotypes can be detrimental in finding the best settled minister.

At two years old, I was diagnosed with a rare bleeding disorder, similar but not identical to Hemophilia. There is a long medical name for what I have. People commonly refer to me as a 'bleeder.' When I was young, and people learned of my medical disorder, it often triggered a fear response from adults and my peers. I was made to sit on the sidelines, set apart from full participation. I did not feel safe or valued in my school or in my church.

My UU faith taught, however, that bigotry and fear and oppression are wrong. I trust that we can all become our best selves by entering into cooperative dialog, learning to understand each other.

I joined Equual Access because I believe that together we will bring our faith into action; that we all (literally or metaphorically) deserve to be heard, to be seen and to stand up for what we believe. We are all worthy of respect in our UU congregations and other UUA gatherings."

- Linda Wright

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The Rev. Barbara Meyers, Policy Committee Chair

"I am a UU Community Minister whose ministry focuses on mental health issues, work that is largely motivated by my own experience as a mental health client.  I found that a UU church was enormously helpful in my recovery, and this eventually led me to change my career to be a minister with a mental health focus.  I joined Equual Access wanting to find a way that these issues could get denominational attention and focus.  In working with people living with different disabilities I have found that we have much in common on how to get an organization started, recognized, publicized and to give each other much needed encouragement when we need it.  The caucus structure will allow individual constituencies to develop around a particular disability issue so that in-depth work can be done in each area.  I know from my work that there are many, many people filling our pews each Sunday morning who are suffering with a mental disorder, or have a loved one who is suffering.  Many times they are coming to church to get some hope that they can move on with their lives.  The mental health caucus intends to help make this hope possible for all who need it. The possibilities are limitless and exciting."
- Barbara Meyers

Amanda Schuber

"I was diagnosed with Lupus and chronic depression in my early 20's.  Coming up in the UU Young Adult movement I often found myself compensating for my lack of energy within a community that had little to no understanding of what it meant to live with "hidden disabilities". I often felt like a single voice in a crowed room, struggling to start a conversation about accessibility.  When you look at me, you wouldn't know that I live with chronic fatigue and struggle daily.  It has become my goal within the UU movement to make sure that the conversations are had and that there is not only a place at the table for people with disabilities, but a way to get through the door.  I joined Equual Access because I believe that a collective voice will give not only support to all of us who live with different challenges everyday, but will set the stage for accessibility and disability to become one of the factors that our congregations and our wider movement always consider without being pushed or prodded.  I joined Equual Access in the hope that my one voice and my experiences will help shape the way we engage each other in the connected spirit."
- Amanda Schuber

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Mary Otten

"I joined Equual Access because I think that people with disabilities should speak for themselves and because advocating for change as a lone voice to a bureaucracy does not work very well. I am particularly interested in improving access for the blind and visually impaired to materials and programs of the UUA. I also think EA could be a wonderful resource for the UUA and its member congregations regarding the needs of people with various disabilities and how they can be met. Such work is exemplary of our 1st and 7th principles. Making greater participation by people with disabilities possible, we affirm each individual's worth and dignity. By enabling more people to contribute and participate more fully in congregational life, offering their talents and gifts to the fullest possible extent, we demonstrate our interdependence. "
- Mary Otten

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