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Michael Waddell holds the Edna and George McMahon Aquinas Chair in Philosophy and is founding director of the Master of Autism Studies program at Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame, IN. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Notre Dame. His interests include the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and philosophical and theological issues related to autism. He has lectured on these subjects at prominent universities including Oxford and Cambridge, and is currently working on a book-length project on autism and the Catholic Tradition. He and his wife have three daughters, two of whom are on the autism spectrum.
Mary Beth Walsh holds a doctorate in systematic theology from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and is the mother of two adult sons, one of whom is diagnosed with profound autism. She is also a long-time advocate for the right of individuals with autism to evidence-based interventions. Pre-pandemic, she worked for years as a peer-counselor to other mothers of children with disabilities. Her greatest passion is advocating for the full inclusion of individuals with autism in communities of faith. She served as Co-Chair of the Autism Task Force for NCPD and continues to serve on the Executive Advisory Board for the Office of Pastoral Ministries with Persons with Disabilities of the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ. She taught in the MA in Pastoral Ministry program at Caldwell University and is co-editor of the resource, Journey into Community: Including Individuals with Autism in Faith Communities. Other articles include, “Autism, Culture, Church: From Disruption to Hope” in The Journal of Disability and Religion, “Inclusion as Evangelization: Welcoming Families of Individuals with Autism through Inclusive Liturgies,” in The Journal of Ministry and Liturgy. The profound connections her son with autism, Benedict, has with their local parish is one of the abiding sources of joys in her life.
Beth Potts earned a Ph.D. in special education from the University of Virginia. She then spent 17 years training current and future teachers to teach learners with disabilities, most recently as an Associate Professor of Special Education at Missouri Western State University. As a special educator and an engaging and clear presenter, she has a wealth of experience helping people realize a host of realities about persons with disabilities. Most importantly, regarding how their full participation in the Church and society benefits everyone. Potts is an active volunteer in her home parish in Kansas City, MO, where she leads their mental health ministry, an area that has been a passion since her days working with learners with emotional and behavioral disabilities in the K-12 classroom.
My name is Eleanor Sweeney, and I’m a Junior psychology student at Saint Mary’s College! I currently work at my parents’ family business during the summer, and in Saint Mary’s costume shop during the school year. When I’m not working or studying, I spend my free time reading, writing, and pursuing my special interests.
Andy Kaboski is a fourth-year undergraduate studying data science at the University of Chicago. Raised Catholic, his faith remains a very important part of his life. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games, reading fantasy novels, practicing the piano, and taking long walks outside.
Lawrence R. Sutton, Ph.D., is a Deacon in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and Director of Pre-Theology Formation at St. Vincent College and Seminary. He also works as a psychologist at Wesley Spectrum Services and was formerly the Manager of the Western Region Office of the Bureau of Autism Services in Pennsylvania. Earning his doctoral degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980, he has been a licensed psychologist since 1983. As a Deacon, he developed and ran a sacramental preparation and religious education program for children and adolescents with autism in the Diocese of Pittsburgh since 2003, first at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and now at Resurrection Parish. He has numerous publications on the treatment of behavioral issues for teens and adults with developmental disorders, particularly autism, and has authored “How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs: A Parish-Based Approach” and “Teaching Students with Autism in a Catholic Setting,” (Loyola Press). He has worked on criminal justice issues since the 1980s, initially focusing on alcohol and drug-related problems and later on individuals with developmental or psychiatric disorders. He has presented nationally and internationally.
Charleen Katra assumed the position of Executive Director of NCPD in December of 2019 after having served on NCPD’s Board of Directors in 2018 and 2019. She previously served as an Associate Director in 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. Katra is the co-author of The Adaptive Teacher: Faith-Based Strategies to Reach and Teach Learners with Disabilities (Loyola Press) and the author of How to Talk to Children about People with Disabilities (Twenty-Third Publications). 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. Katra 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.
Sister Kathleen Schipani, who is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was the Director of the Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Deaf Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She is currently on the IHM congregational leadership team. Sister Kathleen is the past chair of the board of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and the National Catholic Office for the Deaf. She has presented nationally and internationally on topics related to faith, disability and the Deaf. Sister assisted in coordinating and was one of the international facilitators for a conference at the Vatican, entitled: Catechesis and Persons with Disabilities: A Necessary Engagement in the Daily Pastoral Life of the Church. In 2019 she was awarded the papal honor, Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Joseph White is a clinical psychologist and Director of Catechetical Resources for OSV Publishing. He previously worked as a parish catechetical leader and spent 7 years in diocesan ministry in the Diocese of Austin. A frequent guest on Catholic radio, Dr. White is the author of 12 books and numerous articles on catechesis, ministry, and other topics, including the new book, Companion to the Directory for Catechesis. He is co-author of the “Allelu” and “Alive in Christ” catechetical series.
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