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Created in His Image: A Catholic Vision for Students with Disabilities

Familiaris Podcast for Catholic School Leaders

What does it mean for a Catholic school to truly welcome every child, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities? Mark Bradford, Fellow for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Word on Fire, brings a deeply Catholic anthropological vision to that question, rooted in his own experience as the father of a son with Down syndrome. This conversation gives leaders and parents a framework for seeing every student as indispensable to the body of Christ. What We Cover: * Why disability is not peripheral but central to a Catholic understanding of the human person * How the parable of Lazarus and the rich man reframes what inclusive education is really for * The obstacles families with disabled children face in parishes and Catholic schools and how leaders can remove them * What sacramental inclusion looks like and why it matters for every child’s eternal life * The GRACE Collaborative and other growing initiatives helping Catholic schools lead on inclusion Chapters: * 00:00: Introduction * 00:20: Mark Bradford’s Background and Role at Word on Fire * 02:51: Thomas and the Bradford Family Story * 06:24: Christian Anthropology and Disability * 15:16: Reaching All Audiences with the Message * 21:29: The Pace of Life and Relationship * 25:21: Sacramental Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities * 36:41: Persons with Disabilities as Ministers * 40:16: The Pro-Life Connection * 43:21: The Renaissance of Inclusion in Catholic Schools Resources: * Word on Fire Fellowship for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities * Mark Bradford’s essays at Word on Fire * Follow Mark on LinkedIn * Let Us Pray: Catholic Prayers for All Abilities by Mark Bradford (Word on Fire, Amazon, Bookshop) * Indispensable: A Catholic Guide to Welcoming Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities by Mark Bradford (Word on Fire, Amazon) * Gaudium et Spes * Quo Vadis Humanitas: Thinking Through Christian Anthropology in the Face of Certain Scenarios for the Future of Humanity * Redemptor Hominis Inclusion and Special Education Funding Support: * FIRE Foundation * Catholic Coalition for Special Education * St. Margaret of Castello Fund Michigan * Rosewood Foundation Chicago Join the conversation * Leave a comment and subscribe at familiaris.substack.com * Become a paid subscriber at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe Paid subscribers gain access to monthly collaborative office hours. Office hours are hosted on Zoom and are not recorded. Pop in to ask a question, get feedback on what you’re working on with families, hear what other leaders are doing in their schools. Upcoming dates: * Monday, May 11 at 3pm CST Visit familiaris-consulting.com to learn more about consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements God bless! Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios To receive new Familiaris posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Familiaris at familiaris.substack.com/subscribe