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Parish Welcome

Featured Resources

Mental Illness support group

Pastoral Response to Persons with Mental Illness

Woman smiling with dementia, inside of a church

What Does a Dementia-Friendly Parish Look Like?

Stone Church

Five Beneficial Things to Know about Hearing Access

Woman pushes person in wheelchair toward church

Hospitality Ministers: Disability Etiquette

Four people working at a table during a conference

A good host is a good planner

Young woman signing for a Mass

Principles for Understanding Deaf Ministry and Guidelines for Hiring Pastoral Ministers for the Deaf Catholic Community

Mental Illness support group

Pastoral Response to Persons with Mental Illness

Learn about what parishes can do to support people with mental illness, suicide prevention, mental illness and addiction, the "four legs of recovery," and the work of NCPD's Council on Mental Illness.
Woman pushes person in wheelchair toward church

Hospitality Ministers: Disability Etiquette

General Principles Know the accessibility features and tools available in the parish and where to find them. Have a hospitality minister at the front door to assist and verbally welcome persons upon arrival.
Four people working at a table during a conference

A good host is a good planner

When you plan your next gathering, follow this checklist to ensure all guests feel welcome and can participate.

Mass for All: Liturgical Access Course

Now Available! Enroll Here. 
Speaking of Disability

Speaking of Disability: Pastoral Guidelines on Language

Person with anxiety

Together for Mental Health: Awareness and Action for a Culture of Acceptance

 
people at Mass

Sensory-Friendly Masses

NCPD Online Training - Sensory Friendly Mass
LAMB Inclusive Participation Tool. Painting of a Lamb.

LAMB: Inclusive Participation Assessment Tool

LAMB: Language, Accessibility, Meaningful Participation, Belonging
''

Learn How to Write Alternative-Texts

Do you ever wonder if the alternate-texts on your emails or your website are helpful? Are they too descriptive? Not descriptive enough? This resource has examples of ideal--and not so ideal--alternate texts.  Tips include:
Pe

Free Resources in Braille and Audio including Readings, Prayers and Responses for Sunday Mass

- Materials provided at no charge in braille, large print and audio. - Subscription services include monthly readings, prayers and responses for the Sunday Mass and selected Feast Days and Solemnities, as well as periodicals Catholic Review and Xavier Review. - Faith formation textbooks and workbooks for children and adults in braille.  - Over 1,400 titles related to the Catholic Church, religion, spiritual and inspirational themes in braille and audio.
Picture of Margaret Breihan

Simple Changes Make a Big Difference: Thoughts on parish access

Becoming a more inclusive church family can be as simple as saying hi. Every church wishes to be welcoming to all of God’s children, but the phrase “disability inclusion” may seem intimidating. As a person with a physical disability, one of the greatest blessings God has given me is the love of two faith-filled parents.
Person with computer talking at a meeting

Accessibility through Creativity

When you think of accessibility, do you first see dollar signs? Are ramps and elevators the fix-all solution to accessibility? NO!!! Accessibility is much more than ramps and elevators. Accessibility is a new way of thinking and sometimes involves little or no cost.
People walking around on a busy street

How to Help a Person Experiencing a Mental Illness

- Tips to help a person experiencing mental illness - Warning signs that may indicate mental illness
A person who is blind walking out of a Church with other parishioners

Interacting with People with Vision Loss

20.6 million American adults are blind or living with vision loss that is not corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses (National Health Interview Survey 2012). The following are some tips to facilitation interaction among people with and without 20/20 vision.
male sign language interpreter

Guidelines for Working with American Sign Language Interpreters in Catholic Religious Settings

"This policy statement was developed in consultation with deaf persons. It reflects the expertise and extensive experience of pastoral workers and of interpreters who work in religious settings." - National Catholic Office for the Deaf
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National Catholic
Partnership on Disability

Advancing the Meaningful Participation
of Persons with Disabilities in Church and Society

Contact us: 415 Michigan Avenue, N.E., Suite 95
Washington, D.C. 20017-4501; ncpd@ncpd.org; (771) 203-4477

NCPD is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit corporation.
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