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

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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

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God bless!

Produced by Saint Kolbe Studios

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