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Featured Resources
The Ripple Effect: Inclusive Catholic Schools
There is a ripple effect that happens when a Catholic school chooses to prioritize inclusion. When teachers and administrators actively make persons with disabilities seen and welcomed in a community, everyone benefits.
Promoting a Culture of Belonging
Rooted in philosophy proposed by Byung-Chul Han, “the art of lingering” refers to the value and attachment human beings place on vita activa or the doing of life. This hyperactivity and attachment to “doing” robs humans of the faculty of contemplation and authentic human encounter.
“Do I Need to Offer Sacramental Preparation for Persons with Disabilities in My Parish?”
This NCPD blog post features an excerpt from NCPD's first course, "Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities" which will be launched in June! If you would like to be contacted when the course launches, sign up here.
We Never Asked for That Kind of Miracle
When our daughter, Veronica, received her diagnosis, many people prayed for “complete and total healing.” We truly appreciate all prayers, but we never asked people to pray for that kind of miracle. To us, it was, and always has been so obvious: Veronica is the miracle.
St. Christina the Astonishing and Autism
After my son, Ben, was diagnosed with autism, I came to see many things through the lens of all that I learned about autism. Sometimes, this led me to view something in a new way. Christina the Astonishing is perhaps the best example of how knowledge about autism opens the door to a new way of understanding something.
Being Honest with Ourselves as Caregivers
Caring for others, whether we are formal or informal caregivers, can be challenging and difficult. Although there are many moments of joy, and many gifts to be received, there are also many trials and tribulations to be endured. Currently, we have seen these caregiving challenges augmented greatly while living through a worldwide pandemic.
Second-grader's First Communion Means Hope for Others
Carson Crosby, a student at St. Anthony Catholic School, is one of about a thousand or more children who received his First Communion in the Diocese of Victoria this year. But his excitement – and anxiety -- of participation in the Sacrament is magnified by the challenge he had to overcome to receive the Precious Body of Jesus.
A Letter to Fellow Dads
Dear Fellow Dad, As we celebrate this beautiful year of Saint Joseph, I want to write to you dad to a dad. Thank you for all you do every single day for your family, especially your little ones.
A Mother’s Heart
I have been a mom for 31 years. It is by far the biggest blessing of my life to be a mom. I have two daughters; my firstborn will be 32 in November and my youngest will be 18 in October. I never imagined how much love my heart could hold until I became a mom.
Snapshots
"Having a sibling with disabilities comes with its challenges, but it has also been one of the most joy-filled relationships of my life. Kelly possesses a joy that is deeper and more authentic than anyone else I've ever met. Although she can't communicate verbally, she is able to quickly brighten my day with the love in her eyes, her sweet smile, or by grabbing my hand in hers and holding it tight. She continually teaches me to appreciate the little things, and to lean on the love of family when the going gets tough. I'm very grateful for my little sister and the many blessings she brings to my life!" - Heather Cooksey, Diocese of Galveston- Houston.
Autism Appreciation: Lessons from Horton Hears a Who
Many of you know the Dr.
"Apraxia hasn't stopped me..."
My name is Hannah Houser, and though I have apraxia, this hasn't stopped me from my desire to be what I was called to be, a Catholic sister.
They might not realize...
For just a moment I thought, “maybe it’s better if she doesn’t make it.” Then the horror of that thought sank in. Was it the exhaustion brought on by 36 hours of labor? Was it the realization that what I saw as a statistical anomaly was now my reality? Was it that I’d seen how people treated my sister with arthrogryposis?
What Does a Dementia-Friendly Parish Look Like?
Meet Mr. J, who was very active in ministry at his Catholic parish. He can be very loud and repeats the same three phrases when you meet him, but is joyful as he sings all of the right words to each hymn in Mass. When Mr J, who is living with dementia, had issues performing his ministry duties, he was left off of the schedule without any notice.
Father Mark Nolette, A Priest with Autism
While searching the web looking for resources of our Catholic faith for persons with disabilities, I came across the blog of Father Mark Nolette.- 1 of 2
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