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  • Home
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  • Evangelization
  • For Catechists
    • Catechist Courses
    • For New Catechists
    • Start Your Faith Formation Year!
    • Lessons and Ideas for all ages & abilities
    • For & With Disabilities
    • Safe Environment/ Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults
    • Curriculum for Catechesis
    • Feed YOUR Spirit!
    • Rel Ed Certification
    • How to create an online lesson
    • Cool Digital Resources
  • Topics in Faith
    • Seasons
    • Sacraments
    • Scripture
    • Saints
    • Morality
    • Creed
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  • Praying & Serving
    • Against Racism
    • Justice & Peace
    • Prayer
    • Crisis Response
    • Works of Mercy Videos
  • For Parish Ministers
    • Planning & Vision 20-21
  • New Books
  • Remembering Bishop George V. Murry, SJ
  • Coronavirus response

Ministry for & with People of All Abilities

Online resources: 

Resources for Mass: 

audio mass proper links from
​xavier society for the blind
holy angels church of the deaf
livestream youtube channel

From the USCCB: 

USCCB Parish Resource: "Making Room for Persons with Disabilities"
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In this article, Janice Benton and Nancy Thompson from NCPD remind us:
​"Disability is not exceptional but a natural condition that we must anticipate and prepare for in our parishes."

USCCB Guidelines for celebrating sacraments with persons with disabilities
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If you would like the published booklet, they are available at the DIocese of Youngstown Office of Religious Education (Contact Sandi at 330-744-8451x302, or email Sandi here). 

"catechesis & Persons with Disabilities" article by Maureen Platt
Maureen Platt, author of Salt & Light: Church, Disabilities, and the Blessings of Welcome for All, provides a thoughtful article on helping to prepare children and adults with disabilities for sacraments. Salt & Light is available from the diocesan library (see below). 
"Celebrating First Penance and First Eucharist with ALL Children, from Sadlier Religion

From the National Catholic Partnership on Disability:

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NCPD website
​Includes resources and links to resources for people with Mental Illness, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing, Physical Disability, and Blindness/Vision Loss. 
Adapted Faith Formation Lessons
Symposium Videos, "Recognizing the Body of Christ,"  From NCPD in collaboration with the Institute for Human Ecology at The Catholic University of America
Teaching Tips for Students with Autism
From NCPd Council on mental illness: 
loving Catholic responses to the Netflix show "13 Reasons Why"
Forms for planning, recruitment, training, and record-keeping to aid inclusion in parish life
This 12-minute video, "Catechesis and Persons with Disabilities: A Necessary Engagement in the Daily Life of the Church," is excellent team-building viewing as it inspires and encourages us to minister to and with children and adults of all different abilities.  The video inspires inclusion of all people in sacramental preparation, liturgical ministries, and community building because everyone is loved and needed in the Church. Video produced by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability for the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. 

For people with visual impairment: 

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Xavier Society Website
Downloadable Books in audio and braille-ready file
AUDIO MASS PROPER LINKS
Materials provided at no charge in braille, large print and audio: ​Free access to over 1,400 titles related to the Catholic Church, religion, spiritual and inspirational themes in braille and audio. 

Subscription services include monthly readings, prayers and responses for the Sunday Mass and selected Feast Days and Solemnities, as well as periodicals, faith formation textbooks, and workbooks for children and adults in braille.

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National Federation for the Blind General Resources
Courtesy rules of blindness

 University of Dayton Institute for Pastoral Initiatives,
​for  building inclusion and belonging: 

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Website for Institute for Pastoral Initiatives with links to inclusive catechetical resources
Information on Certificate Program in Special Needs
​from Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation, University of Dayton
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) from the University of Dayton has courses to help with inclusive ministry in parish life. Check the VLCFF calendar for course availability: 
​
  • Autism in Faith Formation (SN 4)
  • Bioethical Issues, Including Care for the Aging and Support for Families
  • Chronic Illness: Mental Illness, Grief, Trauma Support and Counseling
  • Creative Methodologies: ADHD in Parish Life - Pastoral Implications (SN 3)
  • Disabilities in Parish Life: An Overview (SN 1)
  • Disability across the Life Span: Prenatal Diagnosis – End of Life Care
  • Faith Formation for Adults with Special Needs (SN 5)
  • Fundamentals in Deaf Faith Formation Methodologies (SN 2)
  • Moral Injury: When Our Pain Blocks God’s Joy

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The mission of the  National Catholic Board on Full Inclusion "is to inspire [Catholic] schools to begin the process of becoming inclusive, to educate teachers, parents, principals and priests on what it takes to be an inclusive school and to provide the educational research and real life experiences that support it."
"talking to Kids about inclusion from a catholic perspective"

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"TEAM Belong" website  for interfaith educational materials, events, and cash grants to assist congregations to intentionally welcome members of all abilities and move from inclusion to belonging
pdf for handbook for Catholic Communities with liturgy planning aids, bulletin articles, and activities for Children and Teens

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Learning Ally website
dedicated to transforming the lives of struggling learners due to vision impairment, dyslexia, or other reasons.
​Includes help for school-related and home reading. 

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Collaborative on Faith & Disability Website
for ideas and strategies to strength hospitality and support in faith communities. 

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download a poster with 20 tips from loyola press
​for creating a welcoming learning environment for all

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"children with special needs teaching tips" from RCL Benziger

"Think diversity, not disability" a video from Sadlier Religion
Help all children grow as Jesus’s disciples and encourage them to participate authentically in religious education.
Discover strategies from Charleen Katra to successfully include diverse learners in faith formation, especially individuals who have intellectual and/or developmental delays."

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Understanding the importance of "People First" words
​from the National Organization on Disabilities

Organizations Supporting Persons with Disabilities and Those Who Love Them: 

attention deficit disorder association
Autism Society of America
Autism Speaks
National Catholic Office for the Deaf
National Down Syndrome Congress
parents helping parents
United Cerebral Palsy
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

The Diocesan Library has these resources available: 

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE LIBRARY MATERIALS 
or call 330 744-8451 ext 297, or email library@youngstowndiocese.org.
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AWARD WINNER!

WINNER OF THE AMERICAN BOOK FEST'S BEST BOOK AWARDS FOR EDUCATION/ACADEMIC
The Adaptive Teacher: Faith-based Strategies to Reach and Teach Learners with Disabilities
by John E. Barone & Charleen Katra
Loyola Press, 2019
Provides the tools to:
foster a welcoming environment for everyone; understand the specific needs of learners with disabilities; adapt your teaching approach for the benefit of all; develop effective communication strategies; help learners build confidence, independence, and ownership.


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Different Gifts, Same Spirit: Creating an Inclusive Learning Community
by Peg Bowman
​Loyola Press, 2018
​This 30-page resource contains lesson plans, reproducibles, and family pages for program directors, catechists, and parents to teach children to practice inclusion in their classrooms as well as in their homes and communities. 

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​A Place for All: Ministry for Youth with Special Needs
by John Barone
​St. Mary's Press, 2008
A guide for religious education for children who have been diagnosed with neurological disorders--autism, Tourette's syndrome, and bipolar disorder--and provides information and advice to become better able to say honestly, "There is a place for all in our community!" 

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​How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and other Special Needs
by Lawrence R. Sutton
Loyola Press, 2013
A guide for creating a program that connects children who have special needs with faith mentors, providing catechesis using existing resources, and enriching the faith of the entire parish. 

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​Handbook for Adaptive Catechesis: Serving Those with Special Needs
by Michele E. Chronister
Liguori Publications, 2012
Covers a variety of the most-encountered special needs, along with approaches for meeting those needs. The author discusses strategies for having fruitful dialogues with parents, and for recognizing and nurturing the gifts all children bring to their parish communities. 

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Faith, Family, and Children with Special Needs: How Catholic Parents and Their Kids with Special Needs Can Develop a Richer Spiritual Life
by David Rizzo
​Loyola Press, 2012
A parent of a child with autism thoughtfully explains the difficult situations that parents of special needs children face during Mass, sacramental preparation, and faith formation. He gives practical tips for nurturing faith growth. 

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Salt and Light : Church, Disability, and the Blessing of Welcome for All
by Maureen Pratt
​Twenty-Third Publications, 2018
Sets out pastoral guidelines and practical steps covering evangelization, catechesis, participation, privacy issues, spiritual vocations, and more to benefit both persons with disabilities and the rest of the parish community. 

Read a brief excerpt from this book at Catechist Journey HERE. 

Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice to Parishioners with Disabilities :
A Parish Resource Guide
​
from the USCCB is available in the Library.

CLICK HERE to reserve it from the Library, or you can order it from the USCCB.
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It contains practical guidelines and suggestions including:
* Frequently Asked Questions 
* Signs of an Open-Door Parish: Checklist for Evaluating Parish Efforts in Welcoming Parishioners with Disabilities
* Guidelines for Extending Hospitality
* Ideas for Liturgists and Prayer Leaders
* Ideas for Schools, Religious Education, and Youth Programs
* Bulletin Quotes and Articles

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Spiritually Able: A Parent's Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs 
by David Rizzo, Mercedes McBride Rizzo
​Loyola Press, 2012
​Both memoir and manual, Spiritually Able: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs is a life-preserver to parents who are seeking ways to grow and nourish a deeper relationship to God and their faith for their child.

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How to Talk to Children about People with Disabilities
Charleen Katra
Twenty-Third Publications, 2019
​This 23-page booklet guides parents and catechists to help children learn how the words we use, the looks we give, the food, clothing, and shelter we share are all important in reaching out to others, especially the most vulnerable among us. 

The Library has available adaptive materials from Loyola Press for sacramental preparation and prayer.  

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE LIBRARY MATERIALS 
or call 330 744-8451 ext 297, or email library@youngstowndiocese.org.
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  • Home
    • Contact Us
  • Evangelization
  • For Catechists
    • Catechist Courses
    • For New Catechists
    • Start Your Faith Formation Year!
    • Lessons and Ideas for all ages & abilities
    • For & With Disabilities
    • Safe Environment/ Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults
    • Curriculum for Catechesis
    • Feed YOUR Spirit!
    • Rel Ed Certification
    • How to create an online lesson
    • Cool Digital Resources
  • Topics in Faith
    • Seasons
    • Sacraments
    • Scripture
    • Saints
    • Morality
    • Creed
    • Church
  • Praying & Serving
    • Against Racism
    • Justice & Peace
    • Prayer
    • Crisis Response
    • Works of Mercy Videos
  • For Parish Ministers
    • Planning & Vision 20-21
  • New Books
  • Remembering Bishop George V. Murry, SJ
  • Coronavirus response