Proclaiming God to Persons
with Disabilities
Juan Pablo Miramontes, MM
Goals
Disabilities - What are they?
 Changes in Society - Views
 Church Teachings

- Bishops
 How to work/minister with individuals
with disabilities
 Questions

Disabilities

Non Ambulatory
 Loss of Limbs
 Blindness
 Deafness or
Hearing Impairment

Mental Retardation
 Epilepsy
 Autism
 Cerebral Palsy
Developmental Disabilities
v
v
v
v
v
Permanent
Begin from birth to early infancy
Approximately 1% of the population is
affected
Non curable
Some are treatable
Changes in Society
Punishment of God
 Useless
 Demonic

Children of God
 Angels


PERSONS
The Church – Bishops _ 1995
Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments
with Persons with Disabilities
By reason of their baptism,
all Catholics are equal in
dignity in the sight of God,
and have the same divine
calling.
Catholics with disabilities have a
right to participate in the
sacraments as full functioning
members of the local ecclesial
community (Cf. canon 213).
Ministers are not to refuse the
sacraments to those who ask for
them at appropriate times, who
are properly disposed, and who
are not prohibited by law from
receiving them (Cf. canon 843,
sect. 1).
Applying the Vision
Invite, Welcome, Include

All baptized persons have the right to
receive an adequate catechesis.
Belonging

Do you feel welcomed at your parish?

Yes, but the invited are are welcomed.
I want to be valued, to be a real part of
the community – TO BELONG.
INVITE - Specifically

Personally

In the bulletin and during
announcements about registration

In signs of accessibility throughout the
parish campus
WELCOME

Establish a relationship with parents of
children and youth with disabilities

Come to know the child or youth as an
individual and person

Build a relationship between the family,
the parish and the religious education of
the child or youth
INCLUDE

Individualize – not one strategy fits all

Work in collaboration with the family for the
inclusion in all aspects of parish life and that
of the life of the diocese

Offer a specialized curriculum or formation
about disabilities for volunteers, if necessary
It is very important that you gather
specific and pertinent information during
registration

ASK…

Does your child have a condition,
disorder, allergies or physical disability,
sensory, cognitive, social or emotional
of which we should be informed in order
to serve your child and family in the
most adequate way?
When the response is, “YES”…

Maintain a personal
contact with the
parents or
guardians of the
student

Meet with them to
obtain the pertinent
information needed

Design a plan… an
Individualized
Education Program
Administrative Information


Religious Education
Objectives of the
Student of the the
parents/guardians
Identify the parish
support group (family,
DRE, DFF, Consultant,
Catechist, Assistant,
etc.)

Actual Interest /
Religious experiences
exposed to

Medical Information
(allergies, convulsions,
other relevant
information or needs)

Areas to consider in the design and
adaptation in the lesson plan and other
activities

1. Communication

Receptive Language Ability– how do people
who are deaf or have hearing impairments or
those who are non-verbal receive information

Expressive Language Ability– how does the
student or person communicate with others

Written Communication– academic level;
large print; Braille; audio tapes/cds
2. Physical Considerations

Mobility Equipment

Assistance Needed
– Fine and gross motor skill actvities
– Going to the bathroom or personal hygiene needs
– At the time of arrival and dismissal
3. Social Interaction

Does the student interact well with others?

Additional consideration or how to facilitate social
activies

What helps the student or the person
learn better?
1. Preferred Learning Style

Auditory

Visual

Tangible

Verbal
2. Concentration Ability
3. Distractibility

Auditory

Visual

Techniques to Redirect

4. Additional techniques so that the
student can respond favorably to
learning
5. Other information or
recommendations for the Catechist

Emotional Wellness

Forms in which the
catechist or assistant
can help before
escalation

What are some
things that cause
emotional distress

Signs and
 Tools for intervention
descriptions that
in case of
emotional distress is
emergencies
near before
escalation occurs
¿Questions?
Juan Pablo Miramontes, MM
(909) 444-7162 Office
(626) 806-2124 Cell
ChaplainJPM@gmail.com