The Absence of Asterisks: The Inclusive Church and Children With Disabilities

Authors

Erik W. Carter, Vanderbilt UniversityFollow

Abstract

Congregations are called to be communities of belonging. Yet, many churches struggle to meaningfully include children with disabilities and their families in all aspects of parish life. This article addresses 10 dimensions of belonging and their relevance to the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in their faith communities. To belong involves being present, invited, welcomed, known, accepted, cared for, supported, befriended, needed, and loved (Carter, Biggs, & Boehm, 2016). I address the importance of each of these areas, highlight relevant research, and suggest areas for reflection and response.

DOI

10.15365/joce.2302142020

First Page

189

Last Page

192

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Carter, E. W. (2020). The Absence of Asterisks: The Inclusive Church and Children With Disabilities. Journal of Catholic Education. https://doi.org/10.15365/joce.2302142020