Environment: General Information about Fellowship & Meeting
rooms
Though all else we scoff Coffee the communion
We come to church for coffee; Of our Uni-Union
If we're late to congregate Symbol of our sacred ground,
We come in time for thee. Our one necessity.
Coffee our one ritual Feel the holy power
Drinking it habitual, At our coffee hour,
Brewed black by perk or drip or instantly. Brewed black by perk
or drip or instantly.
from "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee" by Rev. C. Raible, in
The Communion Book, by Carl Seaburg.
- Social hour can be embarrassing for someone with memory
problems as they try to have conversations with other people whose
names they have forgotten. If everybody wears name tags (names
in large print) it spares embarrassment to those who cannot remember
names.
- Poor room acoustics in hard-walled fellowship halls and
classrooms can make it very difficult for people who have hearing
problems. Sound bounces off flat walls. When the room is too noisy,
people raise their voices. The louder they talk, the louder everybody
else has to talk. Wall coverings, such as banners, flags, posters
and bulletin boards, drape, carpet, bookcases, furniture, paintings
– anything you put on or against the walls will break up
the sound reflection.
- Assistive listening systems in the sanctuary do not help
people during small meetings. But there is a product, Williams
Pocketalker
 that can be very helpful for hard of hearing
people who want to participate in social hour, in meetings or
during classes.
- Milling people and running children can be hazardous
for people who are not steady on their feet. Conversation nooks
with chairs can be helpful for people who have difficulty standing
for long periods of time or who have balance problems. Or scatter
tables and chairs around the room for people to use.
- If there are Deaf people in your congregation, sign language
interpreters during social hour make welcoming, comfortable, conversation
possible.
- When setting rooms up for meetings or classes, keep
wheelchair accessibility in mind, as well as arranging for seating
for people who have limited vision or hearing. Make sure that
aisles are wide enough and that there is a variety of seating
options – chairs with and without arms, room at tables for
wheelchairs, etc.
- Have seating spaced so there is extra legroom for people
using crutches, braces, walkers, or who are wearing casts.
- In your registration materials, make sure to promote
your accessibility
 .
- Larger print documents are easy to create. Meeting minutes, agendas, and hand-outs should
be available in larger print.
- Sign language interpreters should be made available if
there are people in meetings who communicate using sign language.
- Activities should be adaptable so that nobody is left
out of icebreakers, small group activities. Be thoughtful at meetings
to select activities that do not require standing, walking, reading
small print, etc.
- Many magic markers have strong scents that can be troublesome
for people with chemical sensitivities. Use low-odor magic markers
on your flip-charts and white boards (available at office supply
stores).
- Keep in mind that not everybody drives, and not everybody
can drive at night. Arrange for carpools. If your congregation
has mass transit nearby, plan meetings to match bus/train schedules.
›› Take the Accessbility Audit for: Fellowship Halls & Meeting Rooms 
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