People with disabilities have new advocate at ORE

As the new associate director for catechesis for persons with developmental disabilities and special needs at the diocesan Office of Religious Education, David Amico has a long title but a short explanation for taking the job: He feels called to it.

"I've been reflecting," he said, "and through the course of my life and ministry, God has always put people into my life with developmental disabilities."

Most recently, Mr. Amico was the catechetical leader at St. Mary's Church in Hudson where "I was heavily involved in all aspects of parish and community life," including working with people with developmental disabilities.

Parish experience

"St. Mary's has naturally accepted people with developmental disabilities," Mr. Amico explained. "The parish is wonderfully welcoming."

People with developmental disabilities were involved in many aspects of parish life from altar serving to singing in the choir.

Mr. Amico is eager to work with others who want to open their parishes to persons with developmental disabilities. "I'm looking forward to being able to help people who want to welcome people with developmental disabilities and be a resource," he said.

New efforts

Another of his goals is working with other diocesan offices.

"One of our visions for the future is to collaborate with Catholic Charities," he noted. "We want to build a close alliance. The same with the Family Life Office. The issues go together. The Church has to be welcoming to all people."

It is an exciting time to be ministering to people with developmental disabilities, Mr. Amico said. One reason is a new curriculum developed by the Pittsburgh Diocese, which he hopes to introduce in the Albany Diocese. The program contains hundreds of lessons for people who are mildly retarded.

Calling it "a great gift to the Church," he said the new curriculum adds to the other resources that have been developed over recent years.

Inclusively yours

New resources aren't the only exciting aspect of this ministry, he continued. Changes in education in general are spilling over into religious education programs. As more and more schools move toward inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in the classroom, so do catechetical programs.

"The practical thing is to encourage as much inclusion as possible," he explained. "I encourage inclusion as much as possible, while realizing there are limits to resources."

Inclusion in a religious ed classroom can happen in many ways:

* The child can be in the regular classroom and have the assistance of an aide while working on the same projects as the rest of the class.

* The child can work with an aide on the same topic as the rest of the class but at a different level.

* In some cases, it might be in the best interest of the student to work with a catechist one-on-one but be with peers for liturgies or special activities.

Learning problems

Another area that Mr. Amico expects to work on is learning disabilities. He said it is important for parishes to incorporate those with special learning needs into parish life.

"Everyone is entitled to grow in their faith," he said. "We want to assist that process. We want to be a support to families."

Besides working with catechetical leaders, Mr. Amico looks forward to working with people with developmental disabilities themselves.

"People with developmental disabilities have a lot to teach us about who God is," he said.

(One way David Amico will be involved is through his office's retreat program for persons with developmental disabilities, aged 16 or older. The next one will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany on April 5. To contact Mr. Amico, call 453-6630 or write him at the Office of Religious Education, 40 N. Main Ave., Albany, NY 12203.)

(02-26-98) [[In-content Ad]]