MODEL 1: Commission composed of directors of various offices with the director of Office D coordinating activities and facilitating meetings.

The Commission acts as a consulting body in instituting ministry with persons with disabilities and in implementation of all diocesan guidelines and/or policies from a disabilities perspective. Following the bishop's approval of policies recommended by the commission, implementation becomes the responsibility of the diocesan office under which the policy would normally fall: e.g., Catholic Education, Family Life, Building Commission, Vocations, Worship, Adult Spiritual Formation or Pro-Life. The coalition further assists the bishop by recommending goals for ministry at the diocesan level, planning activities, and supporting awareness through media and education.

Office space is provided at the diocesan center, located with other diocesan offices. A modest budget is established to handle expenses. Office supplies and a telephone are incorporated into the budgets of the offices making up the ministry.

The office designated by the bishop as the primary collaborating office serves as the contact for anyone requesting assistance from the diocese regarding disability concerns. The director of the office refers the request to the most appropriate person to handle the situation. For example, if a parish decides to install an elevator in the church, the request would be referred to the Office of Sacred Worship, which handles all church renovations. A request for assistance for a child with developmental disabilities to prepare for and receive a sacrament would be handled by the Office for Catechetics in conjunction with the Office of Family Life. This essential collaboration among diocesan offices is sustained through the commitment of each director to the importance of disability concerns as an integral part of each ministry.

MODEL 2: Commission composed of directors of various offices with staff/consultant assigned to Office D's coordinating efforts.

A commission is established as in Model 1, with the addition of a paid consultant/staff person. The consultant has specific background in disability concerns and religion. The consultant attends commission meetings for continuous education on the ministry, review of on-going business, planning programs, and responding to needs that arise. The consultant also provides resources to the ministry, attends national and local gatherings on disability, and provides education to a variety of groups requesting assistance on disability concerns.

MODEL 3: Separate office for ministry related to disability which is directly answerable to the bishop or his designee.

Disability ministry is conducted by one or more staff persons whose sole responsibility is to address disability concerns within the diocese. Ideally, director acts as a consultant, infusing disability perspectives and action at all levels, and within all the departments and offices of the diocese.

MODEL 4:Separate office for ministry related to disability which is answerable to the bishop through the vicar.

Disability ministry is conducted by one or more staff persons whose sole responsibility is to address disability concerns within the diocese. Ideally, director acts as a consultant, infusing disability perspectives and action at all levels, and within all the departments and offices of the diocese.

MODEL 5:Appropriate office assigned responsibility for disability ministry as a part of a diverse staff assignment load.

In many dioceses, it has been determined that disability is one assignment among many compatible ministries. In this case, the director may be responsible for pro-life activities, faith formation, AIDS ministry, social concerns. The challenge in such a position is to schedule adequate time to cover these diverse responsibilities. The approach described throughout this section, of the director as an enabler rather than provider of direct service, as well as a consultant and collaborator, offers a method by which this model can adequately address the concerns of Catholics with disabilities.

MODEL 6:Separate office for ministry related to disability which is answerable to the bishop but housed outside the structure.

Responsibilities same as 3 above. Because the ministry is housed outside the chancery structure (e.g., Catholic Charities, separate religious entity), director needs to ensure that he or she will have access to and authorization to contact diocesan personnel at all levels.

The above models are offered to stimulate thought, not to limit creativity.

This resource may be reprinted provided you credit Opening Doors , National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities