Department for Persons with Disabilities
TTY Phone
Voice: (412) 456-3119
FAX: (412) 456-3113
Email: disabilities@diopitt.org and catholicdeaf@diopitt.org
Staff:
Mrs. Lorie Uhlmann, MSEd, Director of Department for Persons with Disabilities
Deacon Tim Killmeyer, MSEd, Deacon of the Department for Persons with Disabilities
Father Walter Rydzon, MDiv, Chaplain of the Catholic Deaf Community
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"ALL ARE WELCOME......."
Mission Statement: Called and sustained by God and commissioned by the Bishop, the Department for Persons with Disabilities, within the Secretariat for Catholic Education of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, is committed to making it possible for Persons with disabilities to fully participate in the life of the Church. Our vision of a church where all people can worship together inspires us to offer educational and catechetical services and resources that encourage:
Awareness of the gifts and religious needs of Persons with disabilities.
Accessibility and accommodations for Persons with disabilities.
Advocacy for and with Persons with disabilities.
Acceptance of Persons with disabilities.
The Department for Persons with Disabilites focuses on four main areas of ministry:
Persons with Cognitive Disabilities
Persons with Hearing Loss/Deafness
Persons with Physical Disabilities
Persons with Vision Loss/Blindness
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE:
1. Disability Awareness Masses
What is a Disability Awareness Mass?
- An opportunity to celebrate the gifts Persons with disabilities bring to the Parish
- Welcomes Persons with disabilities and encourages full participation in the life of the church
- Click on the link above for more information on how your parish community may be able to celebrate the different abilities of all Persons.
2. Parish Advocacy
The Parish Advocacy Program is sponsored by the Department for Persons with Disabilities, Secretariat for Education of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. The Department for Persons with Disabilities invites volunteers from each parish to work as advocates on behalf of their fellow parishioners who have a disability. The parish advocate is a caring compassionate friend who is sincerely interested in the well-being of people with disabilities and in their inclusion in the life of the parish.
The goal of the program is to make it possible for persons with disabilities to fully participate in the life of the Church.
Role of the Parish Advocate
The role of the parish advocate is to follow the example of Christ the Good Shepherd and seek out parishioners who have disabilities and together determine their spiritual, religious and ministry needs. The parish advocate will be recommended to the program by the pastor of their parish. Click on the the words "Parish Adovacte" above to access more information. For more information on becoming a Parish Advocate, please contact: (412) 456-3119.
3. Opening Doors
The Opening Doors Program is an educational awareness program of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh about understanding Persons with disabilities.
The program is designed for students, Grades K through 12, in Catholic Schools, Religious Formation Programs, Youth and Parent Groups.
Please contact our office to schedule an Opening Doors Program for the 2012-2013 School Year. For more information, click on "Opening Doors" above.
Primary Resources:
Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops
on People with Disabilities
Sacramental Guidelines