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Parachurch Inclusion Compass An upright three-dimensional compass. North points to Participation, West to Access, South to Welcome and East to Leadership. The needle continually settles toward North. N PARTICIPATION E LEADERSHIP S WELCOME W ACCESS PARTICIPATION SAFETY ACCESS COMMUNICATION
PARACHURCH INCLUSION COMPASS

Parachurch Inclusion Compass.

Pointing Christian ministries toward access, meaningful participation, shared ministry and leadership for persons with disabilities.

01 Parachurch Inclusion Check 40 questions • personalised ministry results 02 Inclusive Program Planner Plan access before, during and after a ministry activity 03 Accommodation Guide Practical starting points for common access needs
WHAT IS A PARACHURCH ORGANIZATION?

Christian ministry alongside the local church.

A parachurch organization is a Christian ministry that serves a particular mission, community or area of ministry beyond the structure of one local congregation. It is not itself a local church. Instead, it works alongside churches and other Christian communities through focused ministry, training, service, mission, media, development, discipleship or other specialized work.

For this Compass, “parachurch” includes: Christian nonprofits, mission organizations, ministry networks and faith-based organizations whose work serves people, communities or the wider Church.
EXAMPLES
01 Mission organizations Evangelism, missions, church support and cross-cultural ministry.
02 Christian NGOs & nonprofits Community development, disability, health, relief and social support.
03 Bible & discipleship ministries Scripture engagement, discipleship resources and training.
04 Youth & student ministries Schools, universities, camps, mentoring and student outreach.
05 Theological training Seminaries, Bible schools, leadership development and ministry education.
06 Christian media ministries Radio, television, digital media, publishing and content production.
07 Relief & development ministries Humanitarian response, livelihoods, food security and community programs.
08 Ministry networks & retreat ministries Networks, conferences, camps, retreats and collaborative Christian initiatives.
WHY THIS TOOL EXISTS

Inclusion should shape the ministry, not sit beside it.

Africa Ability Trust created this tool to help Christian ministries and parachurch organizations reflect on whether persons with disabilities can access their work, participate meaningfully, influence decisions, use their gifts and serve in leadership.

ACCESS PARTICIPATION SHARED MINISTRY LEADERSHIP
PARACHURCH INCLUSION CHECK

Where is your ministry today?

Answer from the reality of your organization today rather than what you hope will happen in future. The result is designed to guide reflection and action, not judge or certify your ministry.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

A practical ministry reflection, not an inspection.

You will work through ten areas of parachurch ministry. Choose the answer that best reflects what normally happens across your organization and programs.

40 questionsFour short questions in each area.
10 areasFrom ministry culture and program design to leadership and learning.
Action planReceive priorities for now, 30 days and 90 days.
OPTIONAL

Personalise your results.

Add your details if you want the organization name, your name and your role to appear on the final results and PDF report. Every field is optional.

Example: Nancy Nurani
Example: Enzi Mission Network
Example: Program Director
Example: Kenya
10 areas • 40 questions • practical next steps Your answers and contact details are not saved on this device after you leave, retake, or download your report.
PART 01 OF 10

Theology & Ministry Culture

How disability is understood, spoken about and reflected across the ministry.

01
Our organization affirms that persons with disabilities have equal dignity, spiritual worth, gifts and calling.
02
We avoid language that blames, shames or spiritually pressures people because a disability remains.
03
Leaders intentionally consider disability within prayer, teaching, storytelling and ministry culture.
04
Persons with disabilities and caregivers are listened to when decisions are made that affect their participation.
PART 02 OF 10

Leadership, Governance & Policy

Whether disability inclusion is built into responsibility, policy, planning and decision-making.

01
A named leader or team has responsibility for disability inclusion across our organization.
02
Our policies or operational guidance address accessibility, reasonable accommodation or disability inclusion.
03
Budgets and program plans can include accessibility costs when needed.
04
Persons with disabilities or people with lived experience can influence decisions, not only provide feedback after decisions are made.
PART 03 OF 10

Program Design & Participation

Whether persons with disabilities can participate meaningfully in programs and help shape how they are designed.

01
Accessibility is considered when programs are designed rather than added only after someone requests help.
02
Participants know how to request an accommodation before or during a program.
03
Persons with disabilities can contribute as trainers, facilitators, volunteers, mentors or leaders where appropriate.
04
Program feedback from persons with disabilities is used to change future design and delivery.
PART 04 OF 10

Outreach, Missions & Events

How inclusion is considered in conferences, mission trips, outreach, camps, distributions and public activities.

01
Registration or event communication gives people a clear way to request accessibility support.
02
Venue, transport, communication and participation needs are considered before major events or missions.
03
Staff and volunteers know how to respond respectfully when an accommodation is requested during an activity.
04
Emergency, travel or field arrangements consider people who may need mobility, communication, sensory or support accommodations.
PART 05 OF 10

Physical Access & Transport

Whether people can enter, move through, use and travel to important ministry spaces and activities.

01
Our commonly used venues have been reviewed for step-free routes, seating, toilets and movement barriers.
02
People can choose seating or participation positions without being isolated because of a mobility disability.
03
When our work includes transport or field travel, mobility and transfer needs can be discussed in advance.
04
When a physical barrier cannot yet be removed, we communicate it honestly and agree on a respectful alternative.
PART 06 OF 10

Communication & Digital Access

Whether information, digital platforms and communication work for people with different access needs.

01
We have a process for arranging KSL interpretation, captions or other communication support when needed.
02
Important documents, slides or digital resources can be provided in accessible formats where practical.
03
Our website, registration forms or online platforms are reviewed for basic keyboard and screen-reader accessibility.
04
People know who to contact if they need communication or digital accessibility support.
PART 07 OF 10

Employment, Volunteering & Leadership

Whether persons with disabilities can work, volunteer, develop and lead within the organization.

01
Persons with disabilities can apply for staff, internship and volunteer opportunities without unnecessary barriers.
02
Reasonable accommodation can be discussed during recruitment, onboarding and ongoing work.
03
Supervisors and team leaders know how to support disability inclusion without lowering fair performance expectations.
04
Persons with disabilities have opportunities to grow into responsibility, specialist roles and leadership.
PART 08 OF 10

Safeguarding, Support & Care

How the organization protects dignity, consent, safety, privacy and appropriate support.

01
Staff and volunteers understand that a person should be asked before being physically assisted or having mobility equipment moved.
02
Safeguarding practice considers communication, mobility, intellectual disability and reliance on support persons.
03
Privacy and personal choice are protected when someone needs assistance with participation or personal care.
04
Emergency procedures consider people who may need mobility, communication, sensory or additional support.
PART 09 OF 10

Church, Community & Referral Partnerships

Whether the ministry works with churches, disability organizations and community partners rather than trying to do everything alone.

01
When appropriate, we help people connect with local church community rather than treating our organization as a substitute congregation.
02
We know disability organizations, professionals or community services we can refer to when needs exceed our capacity.
03
We build partnerships with persons with disabilities and disability-led organizations, not only organizations serving them.
04
Partnership agreements or program relationships can include accessibility and inclusion expectations.
PART 10 OF 10

Feedback, Learning & Continuous Improvement

Whether persons with disabilities can influence improvement and whether the organization learns from inclusion gaps.

01
Persons with disabilities can give feedback in accessible and safe ways.
02
We review accessibility problems instead of treating them as isolated incidents.
03
Complaints or accommodation failures can be escalated and followed through by a responsible person.
04
We can identify what changed because of feedback from persons with disabilities or caregivers.
YOUR MINISTRY INCLUSION SNAPSHOT

Your next steps start here.

This result is a starting point for reflection and action. It is not a certification or formal accessibility audit.

OVERALL MINISTRY INCLUSION
0%
Assessment completed today
YOUR CURRENT INCLUSION STAGE

—

Your stage explanation will appear here.

ACCESSINCLUSIONPARTICIPATIONLEADERSHIP
REPORT FOR
Your Organization
ACCESSIBILITY MAP
Parachurch inclusion domain profile
N E S W PARTICIPATION WELCOME
Keep moving toward fuller participation.
STRONGEST AREA—

A strength to keep building on.

FOCUS FIRST—

Start here for the clearest practical next step.

YOUR JOURNEY—

Progress matters more than perfection.

Five priorities to work on first

SAVE YOUR RESULTS

Download My Ministry Inclusion Report

PDF • visual results • priorities • Do Now / 30-day / 90-day action plan

Your report is generated as an AAT-branded PDF and does not include the Odoo website footer or browser print footnotes.

PDF • FREE

A simple action pathway

DO NOW
    NEXT 30 DAYS
      NEXT 90 DAYS
        VOICE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

        Before your next planning meeting, ask three questions.

        Inclusion becomes deeper when lived experience has real influence, not only an invitation after decisions have already been made.

        01

        When did we last ask a person with a disability what would make our programs more accessible?

        02

        Are persons with disabilities involved in designing our programs, or mainly invited after decisions have already been made?

        03

        Who with lived experience of disability has influence when our organization makes ministry decisions?

        AFRICA ABILITY TRUST Keep moving toward fuller participation.
        www.africaability.org info@africaability.org +254 116 741 208
        INCLUSIVE PROGRAM PLANNER

        Plan access before people arrive.

        Choose the kind of ministry activity you are preparing and the access areas that may be relevant. The planner creates practical steps for before, during and after the program.

        Confirm accommodations with the person whenever possible. A checklist should support a conversation, not replace one.
        STEP 01What are you planning?Choose the option that most closely matches the activity.
        STEP 02 • CHOOSE ACCESS AREASSelect every area that may be relevant. If you are unsure, choose the areas you want your team to think through.
        0 selected
        QUICK ACCOMMODATION GUIDE

        Start with a conversation.Then remove the barrier.

        These examples are starting points. Good accommodation begins by asking the person what supports them rather than assuming everyone with the same disability needs the same thing.

        THE FIRST QUESTION“What would make it easier for you to participate?”
        ASKLISTENAGREEPREPARECHECK BACK
        REMEMBERAccommodation is most useful when it is shaped with the person, not simply for the person.
        CONTINUE THE JOURNEY

        Want help applying these results to your ministry?

        Africa Ability Trust can support disability inclusion training, program accessibility, communication access, organizational review and practical next steps for Christian ministries.

        Talk With Africa ability trust
        FROM REFLECTION TO MINISTRY PRACTICE

        The goal is not a perfect score. It is fuller participation.

        Use this tool as a conversation starter with ministry leaders, staff, volunteers, persons with disabilities, caregivers and partners. Inclusion grows when organizations listen, learn and make room for persons with disabilities to participate, shape ministry and lead.

        NEED SUPPORT?

        Africa Ability Trust can walk with your ministry.

        We support Christian organizations with disability inclusion training, program accessibility, communication access and practical inclusion planning.

        Contact Africa Ability Trust →