There is a wide-spread story that a famous professor, when asked what was the first sign of civilization in ancient peoples, said it was when they started looking after those with broken bones. The popularity of this story tells us that we like to think that compassion and caring for one another when we are weak or unwell are important parts of being human. In recent decades we have been developing this and are learning to celebrate all that can be gained when people with disabilities are fully included.

“Nothing about us without us” is a saying that was internationally popularised by people working for disability rights from the 1990s onwards. It basically means that policy should not be made without those it will affect being involved. This takes us a lot further than simple compassion and offers what seems to me is an important principle which can benefit every person in a society, namely, that wherever possible decisions should involve the people most affected by them.

Locally, in Ilkley, several of our churches hold worship services that are particularly appropriate for people with learning disabilities. St John’s in Ben Rhydding hold a monthly Sunday afternoon celebration service “for adults with and without learning disabilities”. In Christchurch there is a monthly afternoon service called “Smile” which stands for Special Moments In Life Encounters. Smile is attended by children with additional needs and their families. There is time to play in the Dan’s Den soft play frame and then a service with calming visuals, a story and song with sign language, sensory activities, and prayers. Nothing lasts for too long and unlike traditional church no one has to sit still and there is a lot of colour and noise and laughter. The energy of the children and their needs guide us in creating an event in which the physical and the spiritual are much more clearly related than has often been the case in many churches. This is something which is good for everyone to experience.

We still have a lot to learn about how best to live as human beings no matter what our abilities and disabilities may be. Widening the circle of people we listen to, sharing out the power and being ready to make more inclusive decisions are steps towards bringing out the best in everyone.