Welcoming persons with disabilities

Disability Etiquette Tips

One in five Americans has a disability. There is a good chance that you interact everyday with somebody who has a disability, perhaps without even knowing it. Sometimes people are uncomfortable around people with disabilities because they don’t know how to act or what to say.

Twenty years ago the U.S. bishops issued a statement calling for inclusion of persons with disabilities in the life of the church and community. In 1982, the National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities was established to promote this ministry. And in 1995, we strengthened our commitment with passage of the guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities.

This moral framework is based upon Catholic documents and serves as a guide for contemplation and action. We hope that the reaffirmation of the following principles will assist the faithful in bringing the principles and inclusion to the many new and evolving challenges confronted by persons with disabilities today.

We join the Holy Father in calling for actions which "ensure that the power of salvation may be shared by all" (John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente , n. 16). Furthermore, we encourage all Catholics to study the original U.S. bishops and Vatican documents from which these principles were drawn.

For consultation and assistance contact: National Catholic Office for Persons with Disabilities, PO Box 29113, Washington, DC 20017-0113; (202) 529-2933 v/tty; (202) 529-4678 fax; e-mail: ncpd@ncpd.org; web site: www.nccbuscc.org