Presented by:
National Catholic Partnership
on Disability
&
The United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, Secretariat of
Catholic Education
Moderator:
Marie Powell, Executive Director
Secretariat of Catholic Education of the
USCCB
Marie Powell
Dr. Karen Tichy
Doreen Engel
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1978 – Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic
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1995 – Guidelines for the Celebration of the
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1998 – Welcome and Justice for Persons
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2005 – National Directory for Catechesis, Chapter 7
Bishops on Persons with Disabilities
Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities
with Disabilities: A Framework of Access
and Inclusion
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Archived “replay” copy for all NCPD webinars are
available at www.ncpd.org/webinars
Webinar internet page
available with a replay
for 1 year; PowerPoint
slides, transcript and
many other resources
indefinitely provided
for each webinar
 Coming
soon, DVD with both
Elementary and High School
webinars, plus their resources



Those with identified disabilities
Those who struggle
academically if not
provided with a variety
of methods of instruction
Those with medical or
family issues which
require sensitive response
from school
Let Us Pray…
All: Loving God, you
make each living person in your image.
Guide our hands to build access and welcome.
Guide our actions to create school communities open
to the gifts of each individual.
Give us understanding that your body is incomplete if
people are left behind.
Give us an appreciation of the role we must play in
spreading your good news to all we meet.
Guide us always, Lord, in your way.
Amen
(Adapted from prayer on NCPD website
commemorating Bishops’ 1978 Statement)
Dr. Karen Tichy
Associate Superintendent
for Instruction and
Special Education
Catholic Education Office
Archdiocese of St. Louis
Doreen Engel, MA
Director of Special Education
Archdiocese of Washington
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Catholic schools, at all levels, are called by their
Faith to welcome and integrate into their
communities students with many different talents
and needs. A school community is enriched when
it successfully does this.
Almost all Catholic high schools provide an
academic education which prepares students for
education beyond high school. They rightfully
take pride in the large number of graduates who
enroll and succeed in college.
Assumptions, cont.

Educating students with special needs does not
diminish the academic atmosphere of a Catholic
high school if school personnel are willing to
work with parents and students to assess a
particular student’s needs and make efforts to
respond to those needs.
Assumptions, cont.
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Catholic schools are as unique as the students
they educate. Thus we know that their ability to
educate students with special needs will vary
according to the physical layout of the school
and the personnel and financial resources which
are available.
All Catholic high schools serve some students
with special needs.

Parents are asking us for help with their children.
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Good education is good education-period.
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Many Catholic high schools nationwide are doing
this work, and doing it well. This should inspire
others that it can be done.
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To Teach as Jesus Did
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Catholic social teaching

Passing on our faith to all future generations
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Success stories


(USCCB, 1972)
All students have talents –
sometimes surprising ones
Truly “catholic” (root meaning: “universal”)

Attention Deficit Disorder (With or without
hyperactivity)

Learning Disabilities
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Anxiety

Depression
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Any combination of the above
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Accept that students with special needs are there,
and can succeed.
An open culture. Where can students go for help?
How is confidential information handled? How do
students know they are welcome at this school?
Appropriate accommodations. Become familiar
with those offered on the SATs or ACTs for
examples for classroom application.