Community Support

Disability Ministries

Everyone Belongs. Everyone Has a Place.

The Episcopal Diocese of New York is committed to creating a church where all of God’s people feel seen, heard, and welcomed. Our Disability Ministries celebrate the gifts of people with disabilities and work to ensure full inclusion in worship, community life, and leadership.

Whether you’re deaf, deafblind, hard-of-hearing, or living with a visible or invisible disability, you are a beloved part of this diocesan family, and there is a place for you here.

Ministries to the Deaf

Our Diocese is home to St. Ann’s Church for the Deaf, the oldest church in the United States founded specifically for Deaf people, established in 1852 by the Rev. Thomas Gallaudet. Today, St. Ann’s continues to offer vibrant worship, radical hospitality, and a loving community that welcomes all, Deaf, Deafblind, hard-of-hearing, hearing, signing, and non-signing alike.

Many of our parishes offer assistive listening devices, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine provides ASL interpretation for major liturgies such as the Blessing of the Animals. We continue to dream and plan for more accessible ministries across the Diocese.

ASL Interpreted Events in the Diocese

The Diocese offers ASL interpretation at major services and events. For upcoming interpreted worship or special events, please contact info@stannfordeaf.org.

St. Ann’s Church for the Deaf

Worship in ASL • Coffee before service • Lunch after service

Contact Information

Lower chapel of St. George’s Church
209 East 16th Street (off 3rd Ave), New York, NY 10003

Sundays

  • Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
  • Worship at 11:00 a.m.

Thursday Fellowship

  • Noon–1:00 p.m. Lunch in the church basement
  • 1:30–4:00 p.m. Community programs for fellowship, fun, and learning (schedule varies)

Leaders

  • Chairperson: Fr. Jacob Smith
  • Coordinator: Dr. Melissa Inniss, Au.D.
  • Deacon: The Rev. Dr. Gene Bourquin

For People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

For inquiries about ministries to and/or worship places for the blind and visually impaired, please contact the pastoral missioner.