Parish Advocate Description: The parish advocate acts as a liaison between parish staff, persons with disabilities, and the diocesan disability contact as needed to ensure that persons with disabilities have the support they need to actively participate in life of the Church.
Top three responsibilities of a Parish Advocate
- Be a visible and approachable presence in the parish
- Listen
- Be aware of current resources
Be a visible and approachable presence in the parish_________________________________
It is important to be as approachable as possible so that people know that they can contact your parish regarding a disability for support of they need to. In general, it is best to have the person with a disability or their family member contact you first since many individuals with disabilities may be able to advocate fully for themselves and may not need assistance. In order to ensure that individuals contact you if they do need help, make sure there are various opportunities for members of the parish to contact you if they need help.
- Put your name and contact information in the parish bulletin and on the parish website so that people know that they can contact you when needed.
- Example: Our parish desires the active participation of all members of our faith community. If you or your family member could benefit from an accommodation because of a disability, please contact [Insert name of Parish advocate]. We are eager to assist you or your family member in any way that we can. [Email, Phone number]
- Make sure Catechetical registration forms ask if any accommodations may need to be made because of a disability.
- Example: Could your child could benefit from an accommodation during their catechetical formation because of a disability? If so, please describe below or schedule a time to talk with us in person. Accommodations could include (but are not limited to) extra time, sensory adaptions, wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, extra breaks, picture exchange communication systems, screen reader access, etc.)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
- Example: Could your child could benefit from an accommodation during their catechetical formation because of a disability? If so, please describe below or schedule a time to talk with us in person. Accommodations could include (but are not limited to) extra time, sensory adaptions, wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, extra breaks, picture exchange communication systems, screen reader access, etc.)
- When marketing for events, leadership opportunities, and service requests, make sure that your parish includes a contact number for accommodation requests.
- Example: Please contact us if you may benefit from an accommodation because of a disability. Accommodations include (but at not limited to) screen reader access, wheelchair access, sign language interpretation, sensory adaptions, etc.)
Listen_________________________________________________________________________
Remember to listen to the person that you are advocating for. Make sure that you are being attentive to the person in front of you, and not simply your past experience with a particular disability or particular circumstance. Why did they contact you? What specifically are they asking for? Since every disability is different and every person with a disability is different, the best way that you can advocate for someone is to get to know them.
Be aware of current resources _____________________________________________________
Learn about the current resources which pertain to persons with disabilities and contact your diocesan director for support (See resources section for more information).
- Sacramental Guidelines
- Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities
- Papal Audience
- NCPD.org
- NCOD.org
- NCEA.org
Other ideas:
- Arrange a meeting with your pastor.
- Keep in mind you work directly for your Pastor assisting him in this ministry.
- Ask for guidance on his priorities and areas for you to focus.
- Offer your insights and suggestions for his approval as well.
- Create some shared objectives with timelines for completion.
- Set up periodic meetings to discuss updates on objectives and new information
- Try to avoid a “once then done” mentality—maintain ongoing and friendly communication.
- Explain your role and offer support to all parish staff and councils (Youth ministry, Faith Formation, Pastoral Council, Music Ministry, etc.)
- Bring a disability perspective to parish renovations
- Does the Church have flexible seating options for persons who use wheelchairs?
- Can a person with a wheelchair access all spaces within the parish? (Altar, sacristy, congregation space, meeting rooms, bathrooms)
- Establish communications with fellow Advocates within your Deaneries and throughout your diocese/Archdiocese.
- Utilize your network of Advocates to assist you in answering questions, learning best practices, what’s working, not working in neighboring parishes, etc. Consider yourself not as an individual Advocate, but more as a member of a Diocesan-wide network of peers doing similar work while sharing similar challenges and successes.
Special thanks to Lawrence Kiley, Disability Director from the Diocese of Harrisburg for his contributions to this document.
[JG1]I will make this more detailed