Resources & Toolkits
FAQs about Sacraments and Disability
For more information, see the USCCB Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities – Revised 2017 edition
Fact Check: Sacraments
NCPD has created a series of educational infographics and encourages dioceses and parishes to download and share them.
The Adaptive Teacher
By John E. Barone and Charleen Katra Loyola Press, August 2019
Strategic Components for Successfully Working with Individuals with ASD
Here are some strategies that can be used with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Not every child responds to every tactic. Choose the best strategies for the individual child. These ideas can also be used with children with other needs than autism, such as intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Teaching Tips for Students with Autism
A few strategies for teaching students with Autism Spectrum Disorder!
How to Help a Person Experiencing a Mental Illness
- Tips to help a person experiencing mental illness - Warning signs that may indicate mental illness
Awakening Spiritual Dimensions: Prayer Services with Persons with Severe Disabilities
McGuire Memorial Awakening Spiritual Dimensions: Prayer Services with Persons with Severe Disabilities presents a program whereby persons with severe mental and physical disabilities and their caregivers are given the tools and the opportunity to awaken the Spirit of God within them.
Policy for Working with 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
Principles for Understanding Deaf Ministry and Guidelines for Hiring Pastoral Ministers for the Deaf Community
"The Church in the United States in enriched by its deaf and hard of hearing brothers and sisters. 'The men and women of our own day –often perhaps unconsciously–ask believers not only to speak of Christ, but in a certain sense to show Him to them.' That is the human heart’s deepest longing. That is the yearning of the deaf and hard of hearing people in America. That is the impetus and goal of the Church’s ministry with the deaf and hard of hearing. 'Together we are the Church' (CCC)."
Religious Signs for Families ASL App
The Religious Signs for Families app is a delightful and engaging way to learn ASL using religious words that are not often found in other ASL apps. The goal of the app is to help families with young Deaf children and Deaf couples with young children to foster prayer in the home. - Archdiocese of Philadelphia Deaf Apostolate
Sacrament of Reconciliation DVD
Sacrament of Reconciliation, a program consisting of a DVD with lesson plans to assist in preparing individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, was produced by the National Catholic Office for the Deaf. The program was specifically created for students who are preparing for their initial reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.