Breaking Barriers, Building Belonging

On 3rd December each year, the world marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This day, established by the United Nations, is a reminder of the dignity, rights and value of every person, and it calls on communities everywhere to foster societies where disabled people can participate fully and equally. Alongside this, the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy sets out a vision to embed disability inclusion across all areas of life—peace, human rights and development—so that no one is left behind.

“Every person is made in the image of God—our churches must be places where everyone belongs.”

As a Roofbreaker with the disability charity Through the Roof, I am part of a movement that seeks to live out these same principles within the church. Our mission is simple yet profound: to transform lives through Jesus with disabled people. The Roofbreaker project exists to break down barriers faced by disabled people in Christian life, ensuring that churches are places of Access, Belonging and Commission. With around 1,000 Roofbreakers across the UK and overseas, we act as “disability champions,” encouraging churches to see disabled people not as outsiders but as integral members of the body of Christ.

At the heart of our work is the conviction that every person is made in the image of God and has inherent worth. This includes those of us who live with disability, whose experiences enrich the life of the church and the wider community.

Here at St George’s and St Giles’, a few of us have come together to create a short video sharing some of the barriers we face. We know we cannot represent every disability, but by opening up our stories we hope to spark conversations and greater understanding. In doing so, we echo the UN’s call to remove physical and social barriers, and to build communities where disabled people can flourish. The video will be shown in services in the new year, but you can get a preview below.

Together, as part of the global movement for disability inclusion and as followers of Christ, we are called to ensure that our churches reflect the Kingdom of God—where everyone belongs, everyone is valued and everyone is commissioned to serve.

Source: WHO EMRO, Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities; UNOHCHR; WHO; BERNEWS; UNMIK