NCPD Task Force on Autism

NCPD Autism Task Force

The Autism Task Force pictured below met in their first in a series of monthly meetings in November, 2010. They are assessing the state of ministry for and with people with autism and their families in the Church today. They will be reviewing and evaluating curriculum, resources and programming models that are currently in use. They will determine what is needed and make recommendations for action to the NCPD Board in October 2011.

 

Pictured : Katie Coughlin, Kim Lieb, Larry Sutton, Nancy Thompson, Charleen Katra, Jennifer Borek

 

 

 

 

 

The members of the NCPD Task Force on Autism are:

Jennifer A. Borek  (faculty University of Notre Dame, supporting students with autism through Alliance for Catholic Education and other local efforts, parent of adult daughter with autism)

Jennifer A. Borek, Ph.D.
Faculty of Supervision and Instruction
Alliance for Catholic Education
Fellow, Institute for Latino Studies
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN
 
Katie Coughlin   (Early Childhood Special Education with emphasis in autism; catechist & diocesan catechist trainer for disability ministry from Portland)
 
Katie D. Coughlin, MS
Outreach Coordinator
Casey Eye Institute
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR
 
Charleen Katra (disability ministry diocesan director, works with English speaking and Hispanic ministries, continuing Christian education)
 
Charleen Katra
Associate Director
Continuing Christian Education
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
 
Kim Lieb (curriculum development, autism expert in a program created to support those removed from previous programming options, to prepare them to be re-introduced to an integrated environment)
 
Kim Lieb, M.Ed.
Director
The School at McGuire Memorial
New Brighton, PA
 
Dan Mulhall, (speaker, writer, catechetical expert, former Assistant Secretary of Catechesis and Enculturation for the USCCB)
 
Dan Mulhall
Director of Catechetical and Professional Development
RCL Benziger
Laurel, MD

Deacon Larry Sutton (catechist, writer, curriculum author, autism program developer, board chair-National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry NAfIM)
 
Lawrence R. Sutton, Ph.D. Psychologist
Manager Western Region
Bureau of Autism Services
Pittsburgh, PA 
 
Nancy Thompson (past diocesan director of religious education and disability ministry, teacher in an inclusive Catholic high school, writer, presenter, publishing consultant, Master Catechist)
 
Nancy Thompson, D.Min.
Director of Programs and Diocesan Relations
National Catholic Partnership on Disability
Washington, DC/Iowa City, IA
 
Mary Beth Walsh (lecturer, writer, conference presenter, author, parent of a son with autism)
 
Mary Beth Walsh, Ph.D. 
MA Program in Pastoral Ministry, Adjunct Professor
Caldwell College, NJ