Fifty percent of disabilities are apparent and fifty percent are not. Physical disabilities are the easiest to identify. We as a Catholic Church, were led by a wonderful man, Pope John Paul II, whose disabilities from Parkinson Disease were seen by our world. His disabilities were present, but he witnessed to us that they did not interfere with his ministry to us. For more information visit, www.cnn.com and search for the biography of Pope John Paul II.
The National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality prepares people with physical disabilities and/or visual impairments for exciting careers in the hotel, travel, and customer service business here in Buffalo . Visit www.statlercenter.org for information.
Chronic Illness
CUSA is an apostolate of the Persons with Chronic Illness and Disabilities. This community of people who are physically disabled or chronically ill support each other through prayers and letters. Through concerns for one another, they forge a special relationship that goes beyond the realms of simple friendship. Their bond is a unity born of a common situation and a common faith forged by the redemptive suffering of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Visit www.cusan.org for more information.
Hearing Impairments
An ALD(assistive learning device) is a device that picks up sound (voice, music, etc.) at or close to its source, amplifies the sound, and delivers it to the user’s ear. An ALD has advantages over conventional amplifications systems. Because the signal to be listened to is the only sound picked up by the system and transmitted directly into the user’s ear, the person’s perception of that sound is significantly improved because the user is not distracted by outside sound and can usually control the volume. ALDs can improve interpersonal communication in meetings and other forms of public assembly.
The various types of Assistive Listening Devices are: Audio Loop systems, infrared systems and FM systems. The various types of Amplification Devices are: Telephone adapter, handset adapter, Portable amplifiers and permanent Amplifiers.
New York Relay Service: A hearing or speech impaired person with a TTY calls the New York Relay Service by dialing 1-800-662-1220 and asks the Communication Asssitant to connect them with the person with whom they wish to communicate. A NY Relay Service Communication Assistant receives and responds to the typed TDD message, phones the other person with whom the caller wishes to communicate, and relays the conversation back and forth. A person with a regular phone answers and picks up the line of communication with the calling party through the Communication Assistant at the NY Relay Service. The System also works in reverse when a caller with a regular telephone wishes to communicate with a hearing or speech-impaired person across New York State or across the Country. Dial 1-800-421-1220 (voice). People who experience a haring loss may communicate with spoken language or through sign language. People in the Deaf Community use the American Sign Language as their form of Communication.
National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD) claims their mission to Spread God’s message through the support of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Pastoral Ministry so that we may all be one in Christ. Visit www.ncod.org or call TTY (301) 587-7992.
Catholic Deaf Apostolate is based at Resurrection Church in Cheektowaga. The weekly Mass for the Deaf is at: Resurrection Church, 130 Como Park Blvd. (Corner of Como Park and Union), Cheektowaga, NY 14227. The signed Mass will be at 10:30 am each Sunday. Father Conrad and Sister Conchetta invite you to visit the Catholic Deaf services any Sunday.
International Catholic Deaf Association is a movement of communion among people from various countries brought together by the Holy Spirit out of a common conviction that Deaf persons are called to the fullness of life in Christ’s body which is the Church. Visit www.icda-us.org (must have JAVA to access) or www.deafmissions.com for more information.
Physical and Speech Impairments
A website for women with physical and speech impairments to network: www.4dwn.org
Visual Impairments
Persons with visual impairments have vision problems that cannot be corrected by the use of glasses or contact lens. They may see partially or be blind.
The Xavier Society for the Blind, a National Catholic organization serves visually impaired and print-disabled persons in the United States and Canada. It provides free spiritual material in the form of Braille, large print, and audio tape. For more information contact www.xaviersociety.com or call 1-212-473-7800.
Visual and Hearing Impairments
Persons who have lost the ability to see and hear may utilize finger spelling (an interpreter using their fingers to trace out the letter in a person’s hand) to communicate or may read braille.