Impact Feature Issue on Faith Communities and Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Program Improve Catholic Religious Education for Children and Adults with Mental Retardation.Curriculum and guide with 260 lesson plans and prayer services. Written for students with mild to moderate mental retardation, it can be modified for those with more severe disabilities. For use in inclusive or specialized classes or at home. Spanish and English versions. Adaptable to other Christian denominations. FFI contact Grace Harding, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Department for Persons with Disabilities, 412/456-3119.

Guide for Teachers of Persons with Mental Retardation.A curriculum with one guide for use with children in inclusive classes, and one for use with youth and adults in self-contained classes. FFI contact United Methodist Publishing House, Church School Publications, 800/251-8591 or 615/749-6447.

Dignity and Disability: A Jewish Discovery Kit.This and other materials of use for congregational schools (including “The Special Passover Haggadah” and “Teaching Hebrew Reading to Students with Learning Disabilities”) are available. FFI contact the Board of Jewish Education of Greater Washington, Special Needs Department, 301/255-1952.

Helping Kids Include Kids with Disabilities.By Barbara J. Newman. A book by a special education teacher that equips religious education teachers, church activity leaders, and youth to practice inclusion. Includes fact sheets and lesson plans. FFI contact Faith Alive Christian Resources, 800/333-8300.

The resources above are presented for readers’ review; no endorsement is implied. For additional resources order Dimensions of Faith and Congregational Ministries with Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Their Families: A Bibliography and Address Listing of Resources (2000), from The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, 732/235-9300.