Autism Task Force

The NCPD Autism Task Force Completed its Term

The Autism Task Force (founding members pictured below) met in their first in a series of monthly meetings in November, 2010. They assessed the state of ministry for and with people with autism and their families in the Church today. They reviewed and evaluated curriculum, resources and programming models that were currently in use. They determined what was needed and made recommendations for action to the NCPD Board.

The Task Force reached out to others to help complete action items in four areas: outreach to stakeholders, website & app development, development of materials and presentations, and research. It was disbanded in the Fall of 2014. Its work continues under the newly formed Council on Intellectual and Developmental Disability. We gratefully acknowledge the work of all our Task Force members.  

 

Pictured : Katie Coughlin, Kim Lieb, Larry Sutton, Nancy Thompson, Charleen Katra, Jennifer Borek

 

 

 

 

The members of the NCPD Task Force on Autism were: 

Charleen Katra, M.Ed.
ATF Co-chair
Associate Director
Continuing Christian Education
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
(disability ministry diocesan director, works with English speaking and Hispanic ministries,
continuing Christian education)

William R. Fleming, M.A.
Director
Office of Disabilities Ministry

Archdiocese of Baltimore

Penny Khuri
Houston, TX

Mark Mautone, M.A.
President
Integrated Technology for Persons with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Special Education Teacher
Verona, NJ
 
Anne Masters M.A
Director
Pastoral Ministry w/ Persons w/ Disabilities Archdiocese of Newark
Newark, NJ
 
Nancy Thompson, D.Min.
Director of Programs and Diocesan Relations
National Catholic Partnership on Disability
Washington, DC/Iowa City, IA
(past diocesan director of religious education and disability ministry, teacher in an inclusive Catholic high school, writer, presenter, publishing consultant, Master Catechist)
 

Joseph D. White, Ph.D.
Austin, TX

Madonna Wojtaszek-Healy, PhD
Therapist
Catholic Elementary Teacher
St. Mary Immaculate
Rooted in Love Family Life Ministry
Joliet, IL
 
Mary O’Meara 
Executive Director
Department of Special Needs Ministry
Archdiocese of Washington
Catholic Deaf Center