Certificate in Ministry with Persons with Disabilities

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Audience

This certificate program is designed for adults in schools, parishes, or dioceses who are engaged in ministry with persons with disabilities or preparing to begin this important ministry in their community.

Requirements

  1. Complete the application form (use the link found below) and pay the $20.00 / $35.00 fee for Level 1.
  2. Complete the 5 required courses for Level 1. Successfully complete the required work for each course.
    1. Normal course fees apply.
    2. You are responsible for self-registering for all courses.
  3. If you choose to continue after completing Level 1, complete the application form and pay the $20.00 / $35.00 fee for Level 2, then complete the 5 required courses for Level 2.
    1. Applications for Level 2 are temporarily paused. See the note under registration below.
  4. Up to two courses taken with a diocese may be applied toward each level of the Certificate in Ministry with Persons with Disabilities.
    1. The Diocesan Catechetical Leader is required to submit a letter to the VLCFF Curriculum Design Specialist indicating that the selected course/s was equivalent to 2.5 CEUs (25 clock hours of work) and met the equivalent VLCFF course objectives.
  5. It is your responsibility to keep track of your progress in the program: Keep track of the courses you have taken, and when you have finished a level, contact Richard Drabik to request your certificate of completion for that level.
  6. Certificate of completion for each level: You will receive a certificate of completion for each level you complete. You are encouraged to continue on to the next level, but you are not required to. If you do continue, levels must be completed in order.

Level 1 Courses

  1. Disabilities in Parish Life: An Overview
  2. Fundamentals in Deaf Faith Formation Methodologies
  3. Creative Methodologies: ADHD in Parish Life - Pastoral Implications
  4. Autism in Faith Formation
  5. Faith Formation for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Level 2 Courses

  1. Disability across the Life Span: Prenatal Diagnosis – End of Life Care
  2. Chronic Illness: Mental Illness, Grief, Trauma Support and Counselling
  3. Moral Injury: When Our Pain Blocks God’s Joy
  4. Veteran and Military Family Outreach
  5. Bioethical Issues, Including Care for the Aging and Support for Families

Textbooks

For required texts, please refer to the Course Catalog and note the descriptions for each course.

Register

If you are new to the VLCFF, please complete a user profile (in the Become a New Student page, click the link to create your profile). You must be logged in to see the registration link.

  1. Register for the Certificate in Ministry with Persons with Disabilities, Level 2

    Please note:
    Applications for Level 2 of this certificate are temporarily paused while we undertake a comprehensive revision of the Disabilities Level 2 courses and enhance the overall VLCFF certificate program.

    Thank you for your understanding during this period of renewal. We look forward to sharing the updated program with you soon.