Archdiocese of Chicago honored for programs to include disabled

Published: 2004-05-19

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The National Catholic Partnership on Disability has awarded its annual Opening Doors Award to the Archdiocese of Chicago for its programs fostering inclusion of people with disabilities within all community activities. Receiving special praise from the competition's judges was the Pathways Awareness Foundation, founded by Shirley Ryan and Chicago's first lady, Maggie Daley, to promote recognition of the need for meaningful inclusion of children with disabilities. Since 1996, this initiative focusing on faith communities has been directed by Joanne Meyer. Also singled out was Father Charles Rubey, director of the archdiocese's Office for Persons With Disabilities, which coordinates the work of the Catholic Office of the Deaf, the archdiocesan Commission on Mental Illness, the special religious education program and the "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" inclusion efforts of the foundation.

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