Special Needs

Catechesis for Children with Special Needs

We believe that all children are created in the image of God, and therefore can know and love God and live as members of a community of faith. Our goal is to include and provide catechesis for every child in the parish. We are guided by the words of St. Paul, speaking of the Church as the Body of Christ:

"It is precisely the parts of the body which seem to be weakest which are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honorable we invest with greater honor. ... God has so composed the body, giving the greater dignity to the weaker part, so that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is given special honor, all rejoice together." (1 Corinthians 12:22-23a, 24-26)

Parents are therefore invited to bring their children with special needs to participate in the Faith Development program. We will do our best to assess the gifts and needs of each child, and we will work with parents, siblings, catechists and other children to enable your children to participate to the greatest extent possible. In particular, we will make every effort to enable all children to prepare for and celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation.

Resources for Children with Special Needs

Faith Formation Individualized Education Form Word PDF

Guidelines for Inclusion

Catechetical Resources for Children and Youth with Disability - a Partial Bibliography

From the US Conference of Catholic Bishops

• Welcome and Justice for People with Disabilities
• Adults with Cognitive Disabilities/Mental Retardation: Approaches to Adult Faith Formation
• Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with People with Disabilities

Other Resources

• National Catholic Partnership on Disability - The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) works collaboratively to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the Church and society. This websites contains webinar trainings for catechists, tips, forms and resources for catechesis of persons with disabilities.
• Institue for Pastoral Initiatives - Part of the University of Dayton, it serves as a support network and resource to individuals with disabilities and their families. Resources for Sacramental preparation, print and DVD’s to assist with religious education are provided.
• North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilites - 
• Pathways Awareness - The "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" program of Pathways Awareness assists congregations of all faith traditions to include people with physical, sensory, mental or emotional differences into all aspects of faith life. The web site also includes downloads of lesson plans for religious educators to teach students age 8 to 18 about the gifts received when everyone is included.
• Friendship Ministries - An international, interdenominational ministry helping equip churches from more than 60 denominations to include people with cognitive impairments. Friendship materials are inter-denominational, easy to use, and sensitive to different ages and learning levels.
• Xavier Society for the Blind - The Xavier Society continues its pioneering mission by producing Braille, large print, audiocassette and most recently digital formats of religious books and periodicals.
• National Catholic Office for the Deaf - NCOD develops and disseminates religious education and pastoral training resources for ministry with deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

University of Dayton Offers New Online Certificate
Certificate in Special Needs with the Virtual Learning Community

Dayton's new certificate program is designed for adults in schools, parishes, or dioceses who are already teaching and ministering in special needs, or preparing to embark on such a ministry.  Required courses are

1. Disabilities in Parish Life: An Overview (SN-1)
2. Fundamentals in Deaf Faith Formation (SN-2)
3. Creative Methodologies: ADHD in Parish Life - Pastoral Implications (SN-3)
4. Autism in Faith Formation (SN-4)
5. Faith Formation for Adults with Special Needs (SN-5)

A recent generous donation for this ministry will allow us to provide scholarship funds for those interested in certification in Special Needs Ministry.  For more information on Dayton's courses, check out their web page.  For scholarship information, contact Diane Quintal.