All Belong Symposium Best Practices Shared:

• Educate members and clergy of the church regarding sensitivity to people with disabilities and guidelines for the sacraments.

• Provide food allergy accommodations.

• Integrate stories and values into a homily. o Could we provide homily messages / content?

• Have a Mass specifically for people with special needs.

 • “Just be nice”.

• Allow people to share their stories.

• Work with families to help their children participate in the sacraments.

• If you don’t know, ask.

• Tell people their mistakes in a non-accusatory way.

• Educational webinars.

• Provide translators (sign language).

• Have options for inclusive seating in the church.

• Collaborate with neighboring parishes.

• Provide opportunities for people with this special needs to be involved in the mass in the church and in the community.

• Modules in catechism about inclusion.

• Help catechist feel comfortable teaching students with special needs by educating them.

• Reach out to pastors with more experience.

• Understand canon law.

• Invite people who have previously felt unwelcome into the church back and ask them why they left in a non-accusatory way.

• Have accessible buildings.

• Advocate for children of God.

• Make clear the message, “all are welcome”.

• Webinar series for clergy to create understanding and awareness.   ~ 5 sessions of 15 minutes each with AOD “best practice” speakers.  Each session delivered virtually as a webinar series with each session recorded for replay.

• DRE Webinar series (like clergy series) with topics relevant to DRE’s and “best practice” presenters from the AoD.

• Parents Webinar series (like Clergy series) with relevant topics, delivered online, archived with “who to call” for more information.