Symposium to foster awareness of disabilities
The Diocese of Metuchen’s Office for Catechesis and Respect for Life Office invite all to participate in the Symposium to Foster Awareness for People with Disabilities March 7 at the St. John Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway.
The goal of the all-day symposium is to broaden awareness and deepen the understanding of those who work or live with people with disabilities.
“There are so many people with special needs in our communities. We really need to pay attention to what those needs are and offer opportunities to be inclusive,” said Cecelia Regan, director of the Office for Catechesis.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a wide spectrum of workshops. Some workshops will focus on ministering to people with physical disabilities and those who are visually or hearing impaired, while others will focus on fostering awareness about autism and learning challenges.
There will also be workshops that will help attendees understand what they need to do to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.
“We’re all in this journey together. Somehow we hope we can make it easier for those who have special needs to be part of our communities,” Regan said.
Keynote speaker Steven McDonald, a third-generation New York Police Department detective, will present his talk “Faith and Forgiveness.” In 1986, McDonald was shot in the line of duty by a teenage boy he was questioning about bicycle thefts in Central Park. One of the bullets shattered his spine, paralyzing him from the neck down and leaving him quadriplegic.
“Detective McDonald has been an inspiration to all people of faith since acquiring his disability. He has taught us how to forgive others under the most difficult circumstances,” Regan said.
The symposium will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. In addition to the workshops and keynote speaker, the day will include lunch and prayer. The cost is $10 per person. For information and to register, call (732) 562-1990, ext. 1310 or visit www.diometuchen.org.