Catechists hear strategies for increasing religious education access

Published: 2008-05-15

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- One child might benefit from a tactile and descriptive tour of his religious education classroom. Another might be better able to learn with a strict routine, outlined on a picture schedule. A third might need a note-taker or captioned instructional films or videos. Those strategies and many more were discussed during a recent "Webinar" on catechesis for children and youths with disabilities, hosted by the Washington-based National Catholic Partnership on Disability and several other Catholic organizations. At least 500 participants at 325 sites around the country joined in the May 6 Web-based seminar, which focused on ways to bring children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities or visual or hearing impairments into full participation in religious education classes at the parish or diocesan level. Sister Kathleen Schipani, a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who is administrator of the Department for Pastoral Care for Persons With Disabilities in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, said catechists should follow the example of Jesus, who asked the blind man Bartimaeus: "What do you want me to do for you?"

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