Every family, like every parish, is not created equal. Families who have children with disabilities commonly experience isolation, even in faith communities. The dictums of today make accompaniment more challenging, but still possible. Be a bridge for families with greater needs. Be inclusive. Church is for all.
Executive Director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) since 2019. She previously served as an Associate Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. For over twenty years her primary responsibility was directing the Ministry with Persons with Disabilities. She believes that hospitality and evangelization are the foundations of disability ministry which underscore Catholic social teaching regarding the dignity of the person. Charleen is the co-author of The Adaptive Teacher: Faith-Based Strategies to Reach and Teach Learners with Disabilities (Loyola Press, 2019) and the author of How to Talk to Children about People with Disabilities (Twenty-Third Publications, 2019). She has extensive experience in systematic and sacramental catechesis and has served as a national consultant, author, and speaker on the topic of inclusion for various Catholic publishers. Charleen is currently a member of the Loyola Press Speaker Corp. She holds a Bachelor’s in Special/Elementary Education and a Master’s in Pastoral Studies.
