Spirituality

DAT believes that Inclusion begins in places of worship — aren't they supposed to be open and accepting of all who profess their faith?

Dave has served on the Diocesed of Buffalo's Disability Action Team since April 2007. He has developed the initiative outlined below that will allow for total acceptance and inclusion. DAT can seamlessly apply this to other faiths. Some of DAT's connections to places of worship include:

• Trained the religious education staff at the United Universalist Church
• Trained the religious education staff at St. Gregory the Great RC Church
• Did seminiars at the Diocese of Buffalo's parish life study days in 2008
• Has met with Bethesda regional director Sanra Rice
• Has met with Yad B'Yad staff
• Has met with the NYS Catholic Conference
• Is scheduled to train at the Diocese of Buffalo Respect Life conference September 12th
• Is scheduled to train the Buffalo Jewish Education staff October 27th
• Has been tentatively asked to train at the Jewish Federation of Albany on November 22nd

Diocesan Initiative to Disability Awareness

David V. Whalen and the Diocese of Buffalo

The need to include individuals with disabilities within the church has been identified as one of the main components to breaking down the barriers that individuals face in everyday society. We need to ensure that this is consistent throughout the Diocese. Historical fact notes that Jesus Christ was the first individual on record to show compassion to people with disabilities. Christ's position actually ended infanticide, the killing of our children with disabilities. The Pastoral Statement of US Catholic Bishops on People with disabilities (11/16/78) states 'It is not enough merely to affirm the rights of people with disabilities. We must actively work to make them real in the fabric of modern society. Recognizing that individuals with disabilities have a claim to our respect because they are persons, because they share in the one redemption of Christ, and because they contribute to our society by their activity within it, the Church must become an advocate for them'. The Disabilities Action Team has as its mission an increase in awareness and inclusion of ALL individuals in the faith. It has been noted that some Catholics with disabilities have been denied sacraments, left the faith to a more open minded denomination, or want to attend mass and be a part of ministries but do not find a willingness or desire for their inclusion. Often times this is do to ignorance and a lack of awareness.

To address this issue, the following needs to be implemented:

1. Introduction ('The leaders and general membership of the Church must educate themselves to appreciate fully the contribution people with disabilities can make to the Church's spiritual life')
2. OPENING MINDS: Disability Awareness training ('Dioceses might make their most valuable contribution in the area of education. They should encourage and support training for all clergy, religious, seminarians and lay ministers, focusing special attention on those actually serving individuals with disabilities, whether in parishes or some other setting.')
   1. Bishop and Catholic Center employees
   2. Parish priests/deacons
   3. Christ the King Seminary; staff and seminarians
   4. Vicariate lay councils
   5. Parish council
   6. Lay ministers (catechists, ministries, church groups, ushers)
   7. Parishioners
3. OPENING DOORS: Physical plant ('The most obvious obstacle to participation in parish activities faced by many people with disabilities is the physical design of parish buildings. Structurally inaccessible buildings are at once a sign and a guarantee of their isolation from the community')
   1. Universal design ('It is essential that all forms of the liturgy be completely accessible to people with disabilities, since these forms are the essence of the spiritual tie that binds the Christian community together')
      1. Accessibility
         1. entrances
         2. restrooms
         3. church including altar
         4. common areas/gathering spots
      2. Sensory disabilities
         1. accommodations
      3. Identify needs
         1. Costs
            1. funding sources (grants, donations)
         2. Priorities
   2. Presence
      1. Transportation
      2. Accommodations
4. OPENING HEARTS: Sacraments ('Realistic provision must be made for persons with disabilities to participate fully in the Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations such as the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick.')
   1. Baptism; newborns, Baptismal preparation
   2. RCIA-Catechemunate Office
   3. Reconciliation-Lifelong Faith formation Dept
   4. Eucharist
      1. Special needs-Office of Worship-Fr. Czeslaw
         1. allergies
         2. sensitivity
         3. distribution
   5. Marriage
5. OPEN HEARTS: Acceptance/Correspondence/Involvement ('The parish is the door to participation for individuals with disabilities, and it is the responsibility of the pastor and lay leaders to make sure this door is always open')
   1. Parish advocates
      1. trained
      2. go to person/ability to access answers
   2. Parish Inclusion/Advocate committee
   3. Ministry involvement
   4. Parishioners
   5. Bulletin
   6. Website
6. Evangelization
   1. Identify individuals
      1. Current parishioners
         1. needs identified and addressed
         2. parish awareness/acceptance
      2. Departed/absent parishioners
   2. Survey
      1. Find individuals
      2. Ask direct questions
   3. Welcome (back)
      1. Home visits
      2. In church
         1. mass
         2. ministries
         3. other event
7. Current initiatives
   1. Diocese Disability Action Team ('The clergy, religious and laity engaged in this program should help the parish by developing policy and translating it into practical strategies for working with individuals with disabilities')
   2. Victorious Ministries
   3. Signed masses
   4. God's Family
   5. Faith and Sharing Retreat
   6. NCPD
   7. Parish best practices
      1. St. Gregory the Great
      2. St. Mary's Lancaster-Circle of Friends
      3. Holy Spirit-MH support
      4. St. Joseph University-Eucharistic service
      5. other