Youth with Disabilities: Resources for Ministry

Recent census figures show that about 1 in 5 Americans have some kind of disability, and 1 in 10 have a severe disability. Disability is no respecter of age, gender, race, or religion. There are millions of Catholic youth living in the United States with a disability, and millions more who are part of a support system for a family member with a disability.

No family is prepared for the birth of a child with a disability or the challenges of a disability that may develop by result of accident, age, or illness. Inclusion is perhaps biggest challenge these individuals and their families face. As they look for welcome and justice in society, the church stands in solidarity with them.

Because of this solidarity, the church continues to identify barriers, physical and attitudinal, that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in the full life of the Catholic faith community. Inclusion is more than a wheelchair ramp or special program; it is an attitude of welcome—a celebration of Gospel values—in the life of the church! A Catholic youth ministry serves all youth, regardless of ability or disability.

The Disability Task Group (of the NFCYM) has identified some online resources that can assist diocesan and parish youth ministry leaders in becoming more aware of this important issue. This web page includes the rich (and largely unknown) corpus of Catholic social teaching on persons with disabilities, links to diocesan and national Catholic ministries serving persons with disabilities, and links to various national organizations for persons with disabilities and their families.

Statements and Resources from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Statements from the Vatican

National Catholic Ministries with Persons with Disabilities

Diocesan Ministries with Persons with Disabilities