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Special Religious Education
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These links may help you to learn how the Church understands its mission to persons with disabilities.
Church Documents
- For I am Lonely and Afflicted: the bishops of New York State have published a pastoral letter regarding people who suffer mental illness in February 2014. Along with Recommendations on the care and treatment of persons with mental illness.
- Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities: the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' pastoral statement on persons with disabilities (November 1978).
- Opening Doors to Welcome and Justice / Parish Guide: Create a welcoming and accessible parish using the information and suggestions in this resource from the experts at the National Catholic Partnership on Disability.
- Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on People with Disabilities: issued November 1978.
- Welcome and Justice: a statement of the US Catholic Bishops on a framework of access and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Organizations
- National Catholic Office for the Deaf: helps spread God's message through the support of the deaf and hard of hearing so that we may all be one in Christ. They offer a quarterly newsletter and have sacramental programs that are signed and closed-captioned.
- National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities: works collaboratively to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the Church and society.
- SPRED – Special Religious Development: a network of services designed to assist persons with developmental disabilities and/or learning problems to become integrated into parish assemblies of worship through the process of education in the faith.
Other Resources
- Parish Annual Pre-Program Checklist for Disability Ministry: a readiness checklist for disability inclusion in your religious education program.
- Religious Formation for Persons with Special Needs: Catechetical Office guidelines for helping persons with special needs in their religious formation.
- Myth Busters for Special Religious Education: What do you know about special religious education?
- Recognizing the Gift: A Parish Resource Guide for Welcoming Children with Disabilities. En español.
- Catholics with Autism: resources provided for parish observation of Autism Awareness Month (each April) and to provide additional support for the parish and diocesan ministries.
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