Dr. Anne Masters
Anne Masters, Ph.D., FAAIDD is the Director of the Office for Pastoral Ministry with Persons with Disabilities for the Archdiocese of Newark. A special area of interest for Anne is individuals with autism learning to attend Mass and participate fully in parish life. Previously, Anne has also served in parish catechetical, social outreach and development in the San Francisco Bay Area and northern New Jersey. Anne collaborates with Catholic and interfaith partners, contributes to the work of the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities (NCPD), is a Fellow of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and a past president of its Religion & Spirituality Interest Group. Anne has written and consulted for Our Sunday Visitor and the University of Dayton VLCFF program, and presents on inclusive catechetical and pastoral practices in the US and Europe. She was awarded her Ph.D. in Theology in 2020 for her thesis, Who Do You Say That I Am? Overcoming the Marginalization of Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the US Catholic Church
Raising a Son or Daughter with a Disability: Believing in Possibilities
This presentation is helpful for parents and pastoral leaders who want to better understand parents’ experiences and feel more equipped to respond pastorally to their concerns and questions. You will meet Ben, Benny, and Grace, along with their parents who share lessons learned from their experiences, the challenges, joys and surprises along the way, and a developmental pediatrician who shares recommendations based on his years of experience accompanying individuals with disabilities and their families.