By NICOLE CORNELL
CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE
As a pediatric occupational therapist, I have the unique privilege of intersecting families on their journeys at very vulnerable and often confusing times. These intersections in life can take many different appearances and each has a unique meaning to the families I serve.
I am not only responsible for the medical treatment of their child with special needs, but I also have a unique role as their occupational therapist in addressing the intimate, functional needs of their family. Often, this can mean improving a child’s ability to self-dress; handwriting for school tasks; nutritional intake and variety; or developing strategies for greater attention to daily tasks.
However, on occasion, this can also mean the spiritual and religious needs of their family. This could mean helping a child tolerate sitting through Mass without a sensory meltdown or receiving First Communion without instantly gagging on the host. Being a client-centered profession, I have the unique honor of working on the goals that are most important to a family’s function; and for my Catholic families, this often includes the sacramental and spiritual components of their family’s identity.
Many of the Catholic families I serve face barriers in regards to their child with special needs in the spiritual realm. This can be detrimental over time to the spiritual growth of the children of the family, including the member with special needs; and it can also slowly chip away at the spirituality of the parents when they might most need to rely on their faith. I have found that helping these families to more fully engage in the life of the Church is a spiritually enriching opportunity for me.
Special needs come in all shapes and forms. One common thread I find, though, is that often the capacity for spirituality within a child with special needs is underestimated. Though the complexity of Catholic doctrine may be out of reach for many, understanding the love of Jesus and the importance of Mass, and translating that into loving practice, is often within the heart’s capacity of a child with special needs. As any parent or professional who has had the honor of working with children with special needs can attest, there is no lack of desire to love and be loved by these children.
Some children may need noise-canceling headphones during Mass to decrease overwhelming sensory input; others Picture Exchange Communication System adaptations to follow along in the Mass; and others additional practice with unconsecrated hosts prior to First Communion. Regardless, their hearts seek to know the love of Christ and be loved all the same.
As Catholics, we are called to actively love one another. I invite you to consider how you can enrich the lives of a family with a special needs child. They need our love, support and encouragement so their entire family can fully participate in all aspects of life in our Church community.
For me, it has been a privilege to intersect families on their own spiritual journeys and help their children with special needs participate in the life of the Church to their highest capacity. Though this looks different with every family I work with, the underlying foundation remains the same. This foundation is built on Christ’s love for all his people and helping those who find barriers to fully engaging in that love find ways to participate more deeply in the life of the Church.
Those interested in practical techniques and suggestions for deepening their family’s spiritual life and getting their child with special needs involved in their faith can check out the following two books:
“Spiritually Able: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs” by David Rizzo and Mercedes McBride Rizzo. (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2015).
“Faith, Family, and Children with Special Needs: How Catholic Parents and Their Kids with Special Needs Can Develop a Richer Spiritual Life” by David Rizzo. (Chicago: Loyola Press, 2012).
Nicole Cornell, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist at the Center for Pediatric Therapy in Evansville. She is also an active member of St. Benedict Cathedral parish and a new member of the Southwest Indiana Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. You are welcome to contact her at [email protected].