Accessibility

Community Health.

Our church is dedicated to radical, preemptive hospitality (this term comes from CB Beal at Peace and Justice Consulting). We hope to be ready to welcome whoever comes in the door.

Based on our values of radical hospitality, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable members to the greatest extent possible. We at First UU recognize the importance of community care. One of the ways we chose to care for our communities is to continue COVID mitigations.

You can find high quality masks for your use outside the sanctuary and just inside the doors from the parking lot

Air purifiers are used in every room. We track CO2 and particulates and will increase ventilation when needed.

We ask that if you have symptoms of illness, please stay home. We offer a Zoom option for many of our events and for all Sunday services

The third Sunday of the month we offer a mask-required service and we will always require masks when wastewater COVID levels are at 50% or higher.

Our “Still COVIDing” group offers many mask-required events and social opportunities. Follow us on Facebook or request to join our weekly email for more information.

Respect for All.

Another way we care for our community is to respect people’s pronouns. Pronouns may be designated on buttons or name tags. If someone does not indicate their pronoun, please use their name in lieu of a pronoun. If you use the incorrect pronoun for someone, apologize. It happens to all of us.

Our building is fully accessible to those using wheelchairs or mobility aids. We have an elevator to the sanctuary from the back of fellowship hall and a lift to the education wing from the front of fellowship hall. We have accessible and all gender bathrooms on each floor.

Sunday service materials are available in large print and electronically by prior request. We have assistive hearing devices that work with the sound system in our sanctuary and ear plugs if things are too loud. Seating in the sanctuary is mainly pews. Other rooms have folding chairs. Couches are located in the Parlor and East Room. If you would like a different seating option please reach out to our office and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Active Hands.

Outside the sanctuary you will find supplies to keep your hands busy. Please participate in whatever ways help you feel most comfortable. We welcome knitting, fidgeting, doodling, standing up, moving around, sitting on the floor, changing seats, whatever you need to do to be most comfortable in the space. Children and adults are welcome to move their bodies and wiggle as meets their needs.

Bathroom Access.

All bathrooms are all-gender. Single-stall, accessible bathrooms are located off Fellowship Hall and in the Narthex. You can find a changing room in the bathroom in the narthex outside the sanctuary. All bathrooms have menstrual supplies and condoms available. Bathrooms are labeled with a picture of what facilities you can find inside.

If you have a question about accessibility or any additional needs or concerns, please email office@firstuusyr.org

A few years ago, I had been searching for a church/community that would be accommodating to my beliefs. I was born Muslim and do admire many things about Islam. My husband was born Eastern Orthodox Catholic. So, I have been exposed to Christianity through my husband and through friends. I like many aspects of Christianity. I found that the UU Church did not have any contradiction to the many beliefs that I have espoused. I find that the humanitarian values that are put forth by the UU Church are great and admirable.

Qudsia

My husband and I are both totally blind and have two Seeing Eye dogs. Not only have we been welcomed into this congregation, but we are accepted as equal participants in this caring community. Shortly after we began attending the services, we were provided braille hymnals, which demonstrates First UU’s commitment to meeting the needs of people with disabilities. We have participated in a summer service and given a presentation to the youth’s religious education classes about our blindness and how our dogs enhance our mobility. Attending the services at First UU has expanded our knowledge of social justice, provided us with deep friendships and has helped us to expand our spiritual growth.

Lucy & Don

Honesty is important to me. Honesty with those around me, but more importantly, with myself. What I truly appreciate about First UU is that I am not only encouraged to honestly develop my own spiritual beliefs, I am supported in doing so. No one is telling me what to believe. Instead, inspiration has been provided from diverse perspectives from the pulpit, courses, workshops, and dialog with other members and friends. For me, I am also inspired by so many of our traditional belief systems so wonderfully expressed by our wonderful chancel window!

Dennis

I like going to First UU because I know everyone there and they are friendly. I know the building well so I don’t get lost and it is fun to play hide and seek. My RE class is small without too many kids so I feel like I can get to know them well. There is a time in the service when the kids go up front to hear a story, I enjoy listening to the stories. I would recommend First UU to other kids because it is a fun place.

Amelia

At First UU, I have found an institution which does not pelt me with answers to existential questions, but which provides me opportunities to seek answers to them in a community of open-minded people as well as ways to pursue social justice in the larger community.

Georgia

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