All people, regardless of their abilities or how their brains are wired are human. Even seemingly odd behavior communicates something or fills a need. How do we ensure our parishioners and leaders understand this so they can embark on disability integration? We form a team. This post explains who should be on the team, how…
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When Ashes Are Too Much
When ashes were too much for my son on Ash Wednesday 2017, here’s what I learned about being creative and flexible in celebrating special rituals and liturgical seasons as Catholics. Maybe you’ll find some of the ideas helpful for yourself or your family, or, if you’re a parish ministry leader, perhaps this will give you…
Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Message and Disability Communities
Today (Dec. 12) is the Feast of the Virgen de Guadalupe, Patroness of México and the Americas. Rather than provide an in-depth analysis of her story or the symbolism of her image on St. Juan Diego’s tilma (thought there are a few links below to start your further reading that I grabbed real quickly for…
The Critical Shift in Disability Integration: From A Deficit Mentality to A Cultural Mentality [Guide and Resources]
![The Critical Shift in Disability Integration: From A Deficit Mentality to A Cultural Mentality [Guide and Resources]](https://i1.wp.com/uniquelycatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/swimmer-802890_1920.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
What is a deficit mentality and how can it prevent you from disability integration? What is a cultural approach and why does it matter? We’ve got the answers this week on the blog, Facebook, and Instagram. Note: this post contains a few affiliate links, which means purchasing the product through that link gives us a…
A Process, Rather than a Ministry or Program
Someone recently asked me an interesting and great question. “What does the vision of ecclesial integration look like? What does disability integration look like?” My response? “It depends”. As unsatisfying as this answer may seem, there’s a very good reason for it. In general, a parish that has reached a high level of disability integration…
3 Simple Ways Priests Can Support Disability Integration (Without Becoming Overwhelmed)
We recently celebrated Vocations Awareness Week here in the United States. A diocesan Vocations director reminded me during a conversation recently that the Priesthood has one of the highest “job satisfaction” ratings of all “professions” (I use quotes because while the Priesthood is a profession, it’s more than that, as a Vocation). Despite high job…