It’s hard enough for today’s parents to raise faith- filled children. But for the parents of kids with special needs, the challenges can be almost overwhelming; these parents’ own spirituality may suffer amidst the daily obstacles of raising a child with disabilities, and they may wonder how—or even if—their child can ever experience a meaningful spiritual life. In Faith, Family, and Children with Special Needs, David Rizzo—whose 12-year-old daughter has autism—offers great hope for parents who want to grow in their own spirituality while helping their children with disabilities experience God in a deeper way. Throughout the book, Rizzo’s abiding though sometimes tested Catholic faith is made clear as he thoughtfully explains everything from the practical, such as how parents can maintain sanity during Mass when the child with special needs becomes disruptive, to the profound, such as how parents can understand God in a way that is relevant to their predicament. At other times, Rizzo’s advice is intended to help the child grow in his or her own faith, as when he explains how kids with special needs can participate meaningfully in the Eucharist. By looking at big-picture issues of faith while also providing speci fic tips to nurture spiritual growth in parents and in their children with disabilities, Faith, Family, and Children with Special Needs will serve as a highly useful and inspiring resource for anyone in the community of faith who interacts with children with disabilities.

This book is a treasure-trove of heart-warming stories, practical help, and inspiration for fathers of children with special needs. Author Randy Hain and all of the contributors open their hearts to the reader and share the incredible challenges they confront as fathers of children with special needs. They also unveil the unexpected blessings that come from fathering these special children. These heartfelt stories from fathers give both insight and tremendous inspirational encouragement for other fathers.Special Children, Blessed Fathers will open your eyes to the deeper beauty often missed in the world. Includes a foreword by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Contributing writers are Joseph Pearce, Greg Willits, Kevin Lowry, Doug Keck, Matthew Warner, J.D. Flynn, Chad Judice, David Rizzo, and Bill Jones.

For many parents seeking faith formation for their child with special needs, the resources are either severely lacking or nonexistent. A family looking to participate in the life of the Church can find it a struggle to get the support, materials, and community needed to grow the faith for their child with special needs. David and Mercedes Rizzo know the struggle all too well. When they searched for sacramental preparation materials for their daughter Daniella, who has autism and is nonverbal, they found a lack of suitable resources. Both memoir and manual, Spiritually Able: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs is a life-preserver to parents who are seeking ways to grow and nourish a deeper relationship to God and their faith for their child with special needs. Full of tips, advice, and personal accounts, Spiritually Able helps bridge the gap and invites all into the welcoming embrace of the Church.

Pope Francis, in his recent exhortation Amoris Laetitia (“Joy of Love”), praises marriage as a unique “friendship marked by passion” and “a free, faithful, and exclusive love.” We live in a culture that doesn’t cherish the permanence of marriage, according to Karee and Manuel Santos. Even Catholics aren’t immune from the epidemic of divorce. But how can you make the ideals of being forever, faithful, fruitful, and free a reality? How can you maintain a healthy Catholic marriage when society is pushing against it? In The Four Keys to Everlasting Love, the Santoses draw on real-life stories, scriptural principles, and the timeless wisdom of St. John Paul II to help you celebrate the sacrament of Marriage without downplaying the difficulties of married life. In doing so, they will inspire you to stay in love with each other, Christ, and the wisdom of the Church. The Santoses tell their own story as well: how they learned not to cling to personality, culture, or religious differences; how they learned to put family first; how they overcame health crises that exacted a physical, emotional, and spiritual toll; and how they navigated stressful holiday get-togethers with extended family. They let God transform them and make their marriage stronger. Each chapter provides discussion questions, action prompts, quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and various popes, and additional online and print resources to stimulate the couple’s conversation, mutual understanding, and positive change. Free worksheets and other supplemental resources are available on the authors’ website, canwecana.blogspot.com.

Why do parish First Communion Masses so often neglect good liturgical principles? Should these celebrations resemble something analogous to a recital? Or, should they be celebrations worthy of the praise and glory of God? First Communion Liturgies explores the purpose and practice of First Communion in our time, uncovers the pitfalls associated with it, and offers a guide for preparing celebrations that will enrich the lives of children and families, bringing them into a deeper relationship with God and the church.

Deacon Larry Sutton knows first-hand how important and rewarding catechizing children with developmental disabilities can be. In How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs, he provides bishops, pastors, DREs, and other diocesan and parish leaders with a guide for creating a program that addresses the needs of children with physical, developmental, and cognitive disabilities and welcomes them into the life of the parish. How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs helps parishes: Understand disabilities—and abilities Build relationships with children with special needs? Provide one-on-one customized catechesis using existing resources Inspire teens to volunteer Revitalize, educate, and involve the entire parish How to Welcome, Include, and Catechize Children with Autism and Other Special Needs provides the insights needed to build an effective faith formation program. By sharing stories of success and inspiration that affect everyone—pastor, parent, student, teenager, and teacher—he delivers the unexpected: that catechizing children with special needs actually nurtures the faith of the entire parish.

Fr. Matthew Schneider, a priest on the autism spectrum, knows the challenges that autistics face in prayer, as well as the autistic traits that can be leveraged to deepen one’s prayer. With clarity and honesty, he shares from his own experience and that of others on the spectrum to give hope and confidence to readers. This ground-breaking book includes 52 meditations, which provide a coherent progression of material for prayer that can be used on a daily or weekly basis. Father Matthew P. Schneider is an openly autistic Catholic priest. He’s originally from Calgary, Canada, but since joining the Legionaries of Christ, has done ministry across North America. He has written for many publications including the National Catholic Register, America, Crux, and Aleteia. [, and you] You can find him on social media at @FrMatthewLC, @AutisticicPriest, and FrMatthewLC.com. He currently lives in Northern Virginia, writing a doctoral thesis in moral theology.

An Introduction to Young Children with Special Needs: Birth Through Age Eight is a comprehensive introduction to educational policies, programs, practices, and services for future practitioners serving young children with delays or disabilities in early intervention-early childhood special education (EI-ECSE). Thoughtfully addressing the needs of children at risk for learning or development delays or disabilities, revered authors Richard M. Gargiulo and Jennifer L. Kilgo offer evidence-based interventions and instructional techniques that provide students with a broad understanding of important theoretical and philosophical foundations, including evidence-based decision making, developmentally appropriate practices, cultural responsiveness, and activity-based intervention. The Fifth Edition includes the latest developments in and influences on the field of early intervention and early childhood special education, including the Division for Early Childhood’s (DEC)Recommended Practices, which are infused throughout the text. With the support of this current and innovative book, readers will gain a firm understanding of the complex field of EI-ECSE to assist them in their future study and careers. A Complete Teaching & Learning Package SAGE Premium Video Included in the interactive eBook! SAGE Premium Video tools and resources boost comprehension and bolster analysis. Interactive eBook Your students save when you bundle the print version with the Interactive eBook (Bundle ISBN: 978-1-5443-6571-8), which includes access to SAGE Premium Video and other multimedia tools. SAGE coursepacks SAGE coursepacks makes it easy to import our quality instructor and student resource content into your school’s learning management system (LMS). Intuitive and simple to use, SAGE coursepacks allows you to customize course content to meet your students’ needs. SAGE edge This companion website offers both instructors and students a robust online environment with an impressive array of teaching and learning resources.

As the parent of a child with special needs, does your heart ache with questions, confusion, or discouragement? Do you ever feel that you have no margin in your emotional reserves or sense a gaping need for encouragement, rest, and refreshment? Caring for someone with autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, emotional or behavioral disorders, or physical disabilities can be all-consuming. Bible Promises for Parents of Children with Special Needs can help you claim God’s promises for your everyday life. You’ll become more aware of God’s passion for you and your child through this handy guide that speaks directly to the unique journey of special needs parenting. These promises are for your comfort. Claim them as your own. Pray them over your family and over your children. Let them guide you into the presence of Jesus and the security that only he can provide.

What does a path to become a faculty member look like? What are the merits? What are the roadblocks? How do I balance personal and professional aspirations? Looking for answers to these questions can be overwhelming and discouraging. This book offers inspiration and support to female faculty members in higher education who are at various stages of their professional development. Twenty-four educators share both their intuitive voices and practical knowledge on the topics of career development, balancing personal and professional life, cultural and individual identity, and spirituality. This collective sharing will help readers become free from an impasse, take a leap of faith, and see roadblocks from a slightly different perspective.