Catechesis for those with Disabilities
Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities
These diocesan Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities are based upon the guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The USCCB guidelines were presented in 1995 to all who are involved in pastoral ministry with disabilities “to promote accessibility of mind and heart, so that all persons with disabilities may be welcomed at worship and at every level of service as full members of the Body of Christ.”
Follow the link for a brochure about Catechesis and Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities.
Friends in Faith
In 2008, the Diocese of San Jose established Friends in Faith, a committee to assist parish staffs in welcoming and including person with disabilities into all aspects of parish life, liturgies, catechesis, sacramental preparation, and parish programs and events. The committee’s goals are to provide best practices for awareness raising, physical access and training and resources for catechetical leaders and catechists. The committee is made of parish directors of catechetical and youth ministry, and parishioners with disabilities and their family members.
Catechetical Resources for Children and Youth with Disability
The Diocese of San Jose, Friends in Faith Committee to support inclusive parishes has a recommended list of catechetical resources for children and youth with disability. These resources include documents from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Kennedy Curriculum, National Catholic Partnership on Disability, the Network of Inclusive Catholic Educators, resources from publishes of Catholic materials and online resources from Youth Ministry Access. Click on Catechetical Resources for Children and Youth with Disability to see the list.
Online Resources for Families
PBS Parents is a trusted resource that’s filled with information on child development and early learning. It also serves as a parent's window to the world of PBS KIDS, offering access to educational games and activities inspired by PBS KIDS programs. Click her for:
Educational resources for children with disabilities
How to help children with autism
Addressing Challenging Behavior in a Positive Way
Effective Teaching Strategies to Help Children with Learning Disabilities
iPhone, iPod, and iPad Applications for those with disabilities
Print and Online Resources for Ministry with Persons with Disabilities
Gospel Light Special Needs Smart Pages- Advice, Answers and Articles About Teaching Children with Special Needs
Process Map for Starting a Disability Ministry- Joni and Friends
A road map to help navigate a new Disability Ministry as well as expanding an existing ministry.
Autism and Your Church, Barbara J. Newman,- Nuturing the Spiritual Growth of Peole with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This book will help your church welcome people with autism into the life of your parish community.
Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit -For Children with Autism and Other Special Needs, Loyola Press
Catechesis for the Hearing Impaired
The Italian Catholic Federation Gifts of Love Program is offering religious education classes for the hearing impaired.
SANTA TERESA CATHOLIC CHURCH
794 CALERO AVE, SAN JOSE, CA 95123
If you are hearing impaired, and have not been baptized, received First Eucharist and or Confirmation,
CONTACT AURORA CALUB
(408) 629-7777 EX 16
The first session will begin on September 22 at 6:30pm
INTERPRETERS NEEDED
If you can sign and would like to help with this much needed ministry call JOAN DELFINO (408)-227-8682
Parent Survey- Catechesis with Children with Special Needs
The Diocese of San Jose desires to provide effective catechesis for those with disabilities. The first step is to find out how best to meet the special needs. Click Parent Survery-Catechesis with Children with Special Needs to use with as a resource at the parent interview. The goal is to provide as positive an experience as possible and the information provided on the parent survey would be helpful.
Developmental Milestones and Fact Sheets about Disabilities
Click here for a chart of developmental milestones and facts about a variety of disabilities from the CDC. You will find resources to download, and print fact sheets, milestone checklist, posters, a growth chart, and more.
Parish Accessibility Survey
The Church, as expressed in Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice to Parishioners with Disabilities (NCPD Pub No 5-604, 2003), has established the right and responsibility of all those who have been baptized to participate fully in the Eucharist, the ministries of service, and all other aspects of Church life. However, statistically 20% of parishioners within a parish live with disabling conditions, and one in three families include someone who has significant limitations.
Great strides have been made thanks to the issuance of the Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities in 1978 and passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Most parishes are, for the most part, in compliance with these directives except for those projects requiring major capital investment or renovation. The goal in all cases is to ensure that the parishioner with a disability has an equivalent (if not identical) experience as all other parishioners without being detached from the body of parishioners. The mission of the committeeis to assist parishes as they encourage all to share their gifts in ministry. It is ready to help discover problem areas, adopt creative, cost-effective solutions, and identify resources to achieve the necessary accommodations.
A review of the survey can help pinpoint some barriers to physical access. Of equal importance is awareness of attitudinal barriers, that is, failing to see the world from the perspective of person who is limited due to mobility, hearing, or visual issues. Soliciting the participation, insight, and counsel of those most affected is a vital first-step toward overcoming both physical and attitudinal obstacles that keep people from full participation in parish life. Their perspective will frequently provide solutions that others did not see.
Guiding Principles & Strategies for Inclusion in the Liturgy of Catholics with Disabilities is a recommended resource. These, with the accompanying survey, can give each parish a start in determining how it does, in fact, include people with disabilities into parish life and what improvements can be made in order to offer the fullness of our Catholic faith to more of our brothers and sisters.
Awakenings Prayer Group for those with Disabilities, their families, friends and caregivers
Would you like to begin a prayer group for those with disabilities, their families, friends and caregivers? Holy Family Parish shows you how. Click here for a plan on how to provide for a prayer group at your parish.
Awakenings Articles in the Valley Catholic
The Valley Catholic has printed articles written by parishioners in the diocese to raise awareness and help make the parish community a more welcoming and inclusive place of worship. Follow the links for the following articles:
Santa Teresa Parish welcomes hearing impaired youth in faith formation program
For all Awakenings articles in past editions of the Valley Catholic