Welcoming Persons with Disabilities

The same Jesus who heard the cry for recognition from the people with disabilities of Judea and Samaria 2,000 years ago calls us, His followers, to embrace our responsibility to our own disabled brothers and sisters in the United States.

Pastoral Statement of U.S. Bishops on Persons with Disabilities

“My greatest suffering is not in my disabilitybut in the attitudesof others”

young blind mother

54.4 million Americans (18.7%) have a disability ;

35 million (12%) have a severe disability

Less than 14% of the disabled population claims to be Christian, and more than one-half of all families experiencing disability are outside of any organized religion.

Less than 30% of Families with a disabled member …Found supportwithin theirchurch

84-91% of pregnancies end in abortion when the prenatal diagnosis is Down Syndrome.

64% Of disabled children are likely to be abused

Divorce rate of families with a disabled child is 85%

Unemployment70 to 90% of people with intellectual disabilities in the United States are estimated to be unemployed.

60% of Americans do not believe that children with intellectual disabilities should be educated in their child’s school.

AUTISMPrevalence is estimated at 1 in 91 to 1 in 100 births

1 to 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder

Fastest growing developmental disability with 1,148% growth rate

“People with disabilities are not looking for pity. They seek to serve the community and to enjoy theirfull baptismal rights as members of the church.”Pastoral Statement of U.S. Bishops on Persons with Disabilities

“There can be no separate church for persons with disabilities. We are one flockthat serves a single shepherd.”Pastoral Statement of U.S. Bishops on Persons with Disabilities

Statistical information gathered from the following web sites:

www.ncpd.orgwww.cdc.govhttp://codi.buffalo.eduwww.uscensus.gov/populationwww.autism-society.orgwww.physiciansforlife.org

Contact Information

Office for Disabilities MinistryArchdiocese of Baltimore

Bill Fleming320 Cathedral St.Baltimore, MD 21201

410-547-5410bfleming@archbalt.org