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DISABILITY AWARENESS MAGAZINE
An amusement park for all | Making your parish inclusive w w w. p i t tsb urghcatho l i c.org
PITTSBURGH
Catholic MAGAZINE — Celebrating 175 years • 1844-2019 —
Vol. 11, No. 3 Publisher | Bishop David A. Zubik General Manager | Ann Rodgers Editor | William Cone Operations Manager | Carmella Weismantle Disability Awareness Magazine Project Editor William Cone Associate Editor Matthew Peaslee Staff Writer | John W. Franko Graphic Designer E. Denise Shean Advertising Director Carmella Weismantle Account Executives Michael A. Check | Paul Crowe Michael Wire Circulation Mgr./Parish News Coord. Peggy Zezza Administrative Assistant | Karen Hanlin Office Assistant | Jean DeCarlo
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VISIT: WWW.PITTSBURGHCATHOLIC.ORG
111 Blvd. of the Allies • Suite 200 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1613 1-800-392-4670 www.pittsburghcatholic.org
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3 | 40 years on: National Catholic Partnership on Disability continues mission to make everyone feel welcome in church.
4 | Keeping busy:
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6 | Horseback heroes: Therapeutic riding program allows greater freedom for adults with disabilities.
Pirates, Steelers partner with KultureCity to expand game experience.
10 | A whole new world: Morgan’s Wonderland amusement park forms memories for special families.
12 | Benefit dinner:
Pittsburgh Catholic Disability Awareness Magazine is a complimentary publication available at all Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Pittsburgh from the Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates, Inc. Paid first-class delivered subscriptions are available.
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Fly tying group is dedicated to physical and emotional rehabilitation.
8 | Take me out to the ballgame:
Advertising: ads@pittsburghcatholic.org Editorial: editor@pittsburghcatholic.org Marketplace: www.pittsburghcatholic.org
Acceptance of an advertisement in the Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine, while based on an assumption of integrity on the part of the advertiser, does not imply endorsement by the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.
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St. Anthony School Programs hosts annual fundraiser in Downtown Pittsburgh.
15 | ReWalk hits milestone: Groundbreaking system creates mobility for those with spinal cord injuries.
Disability Awareness 2019
Longing for belonging — 40 years on Catholics with and without disabilities are one in the body of Christ and should be participating together in the sacraments and the life of the church NATIONAL CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP ON DISABILITY We receive calls from sorrowful parents who have been told their child with Down syndrome cannot be prepared to receive the Eucharist. Other families with deaf members cannot locate a Sunday Mass with a sign-language interpreter. We all belong, but does it feel that way? “We face these continuing challenges and ask this question as we launch our Longing for Belonging fundraising campaign and prepare for our Recognizing the Body of Christ anniversary events,” said Janice Benton, executive director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD). “Among our God-given rights is one of belonging — belonging to the human race; belonging in the Catholic Church. We are all one through the unity of the body of Christ. We all belong. Yet many faith-filled Catholics with disabilities do not feel that sense of belonging. Many continue to have a longing for belonging,” said Benton. “We all belong, but not all of us recognize this unity in the body of Christ. Catholics with and without disabilities, one in the body of Christ, should be participating together in the sacraments and the life of the church.” NCPD was created by the U.S. bishops nearly 40 years ago, following their Pastoral Statement on Persons with Disabilities to lend support, guidance and education to dioceses and, through them, to parishes so that every person is rightfully recognized as belonging in the church — with access to the sacraments, full participation in the liturgical celebrations, and fulfilling their obligations as Catholics and parishioners. The Longing for Belonging campaign seeks generous supporters to enable NCPD to continue its pioneering ministry. We have seen much progress over 40
Disability Awareness 2019
years. But we also recognize that there is much more work to be done before we can say that all Catholics with disabilities experience the sense of belonging that is inherent to their being. Donations may be made and more information may be found on NCPD’s website: www.ncpd.org. During this campaign, NCPD is celebrating the closing of the 40th anniversary year of the bishops’ statement with its Recognizing the Body of Christ anniversary events this Nov. 8-10. A celebration dinner will be held on Friday,
See Belonging, Page 4
Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood opened its doors to celebrate “God’s special people” during Disability Awareness Week. Following the liturgy, a breakfast social followed in the Most Holy Name school hall.
I FOUND inclusion. ..
It is what children with Intellectual Disabilities can find when they are in an inclusive school program. Academic challenge. Friends. And a caring community that helps them grow. You will find St. Anthony School Programs in Catholic Schools throughout the region. Enrolling now for grades K through Post-Secondary. Find out more at stanthonykids.org or 724-940-9020.
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Fly tying gives religious brother a supportive connection to vets By CORI FUGERE URBAN Catholic News Service BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Burlington was quiet on a steamy summer day except for the sound of a fan and occasional banter among the veterans who concentrated on the tiny pieces of feathers, fur and thread in front of them. Their hands worked diligently, yet carefully, illuminated by adjustable desk lamps. Their task: Tying fishing flies. The therapeutic task and the camaraderie are what has them hooked on their weekly gettogether sponsored by Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Inc. Dr. Leigh Wheeler, 75, a parishioner at St. Andrew Church in Waterbury, Vermont, was an infantry officer in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and drives 35 miles each week to join the group. He finds support from the other veterans who empathize with his experiences in the war, especially having had a “number of contacts with the enemy” and witnessing soldiers being killed in action. “It’s a comfortable environment,” the retired emergency physician told Vermont Catholic magazine, publication of the Burlington Diocese. Project Healing Waters is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of
BELONGING Continued from Page 3 Nov. 8, recognizing the pioneers in this ministry and honoring Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus, for the Knights’ years of financial support and for their ongoing work with people with disabilities. In addition, at the dinner NCPD will celebrate Janice Benton, who is retiring after 40+ years working in this ministry. We are collecting stories of Jan Benton and other pioneers. Share your stories at 40thAnniversary@ncpd.org. On Saturday, Nov. 9, NCPD is hosting a symposium for clergy, pastoral and catechetical ministers, seminarians, theology students and academics to understand the distinctively Catholic approach to disability. The symposium is
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disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and related activities including education and outings. The nonprofit organization is incorporated in Maryland. Though not a veteran, Edmundite Brother Francis Hagerty, a spiritual and retreat director based at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont, is active in the Burlington group. Brother Hagerty always has loved being in nature and fly fishing has brought him closer to it. “The more I’ve learned about the life cycles of insects and the habits of fish, the more deeply I have appreciated the beauty of creation and the wonder of it all,” he said. Daphne Zencey, a Project Healing Waters volunteer and Veterans Administration peer support specialist, is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran. She also is a former Project Healing Waters participant. “We are searching for that camaraderie and being part of a group of veterans who understand a different perspective of life and serving the greater good,” she said. Brother Hagerty’s fly-tying skill and his presence are appreciated in the group, Zencey added. Cliff Lang, a parishioner of St. Mark Church in Burlington and a U.S. Army veteran, enjoys fly tying and building fly rods, then fishing. “It’s a ‘me’ time. It takes your mind away co-sponsored by Catholic University of America’s Institute for Human Ecology. A leadership networking session with national leadership from NCPD will be held on Sunday, Nov. 10, to explore the future direction for promoting meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in parish life. The session also will look at Catholic education. For more information and to register for any of these events, please visit https://ncpd.org/join-us. National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) was established by the United States bishops in 1982 to implement in U.S. parishes and dioceses the 1978 Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities. Rooted in Gospel values that affirm the dignity of every person, NCPD works collaboratively to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the church and society.
CNS PHOTO/CORI FUGERE URBAN, VERMONT CATHOLIC MAGAZINE
Dr. Leigh Wheeler of St. Andrew Church in Waterbury, Vt., a U.S. Army veteran, and Cliff Lang, also an Army veteran, at the VFW with Vermont’s Burlington Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing group. The project is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings.
from troubles,” the former mechanic and truck driver said. “You feel blessed to be out in a stream or brook and be back with nature.” Moe Forcier, a retired Vermont Department of Public Safety training officer who lives in Jonesville, Vermont, is another Army veteran. He said fly tying and fishing in Project Healing Waters “takes your mind off your demons because you have to concentrate.” And when he is outside fishing, “it is kind of like a prayer ... being in tune with God through nature.” Brother Hagerty said a veteran once told him, “When you’re tying flies or fishing, all the bad stuff goes away.
Urban is content editor/staff writer for Vermont Catholic magazine of the Diocese of Burlington.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES CONTACT INFORMATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Cognitive............................. 412-456-3361 Hearing Loss/Deafness.... 412-456-3361 TTY...................................... 412-456-3122 McGuire Memorial (medically fragile).............724-843-3400 Physical............................... 412-456-3361 Religious Education.......... 412-456-3090 St. Anthony School Programs...........................724-940-9020 Vision Loss/Blindness...... 412-456-3361
Disability Awareness 2019
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Disability Awareness 2019
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CNS PHOTO/THERESA LAURENCE, TENNESSEE REGISTER
Zach Wood, a participant in the Therapeutic Equine Assistance Method program, rides on a horse in Oak Hill, Tennessee. The program is an ecumenical outreach ministry to serve adults who have disabilities and also to help veterans.
New therapeutic riding program serves adults with disabilities Horses help address physical, cognitive, social-emotional issues By THERESA LAURENCE Catholic News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Educator and riding instructor Curt Stacy, wearing a silver and gold crucifix around his neck and a smile on his face, stands in the middle of a dusty horse ring and calls out
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instructions to two riders, affirming the young men as they carefully follow his directions. He’s exactly where he has always wanted to be, combining his love of working with people with disabilities and horseback riding. Stacy, a Catholic, has been involved with horses since he was a young boy growing up in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley; he has worked on ranches and as a trail ride leader. He’s also an educator of children and adults with disabilities
and holds a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in horse science. As part of his thesis, Stacy designed a business plan to open a therapeutic horseback riding program. Since last summer, he has been busy putting that plan into action, building a new program in Nashville. In partnership with First Presbyterian Church in Oak Hill, he recently launched the Therapeutic Equine Assistance Method program as an ecumenical outreach ministry to serve
Disability Awareness 2019
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he vision of the program is “to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by serving them through a therapeutic horseback riding outreach program in a caring, Christian atmosphere.”
adults with disabilities and veterans. The vision of the program is “to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by serving them through a therapeutic horseback riding outreach program in a caring, Christian atmosphere.” “We wanted to cater specifically to adults,” Stacy said, since he saw a lack of similar programs in the area for adults. Saddle Up, based in Franklin, Tennessee, is a therapeutic riding program that serves children ages 4-18, but once they age out of it, they don’t have a natural “next step” to continue with a therapeutic horseback riding program. “We’re new here and it’s a struggle to find age-appropriate things,” said Lisanne Palacios, mother of Kenton, 29, who has developmental disabilities and lives with his parents. The Palacios recently moved to Nashville from out of state and are still trying to find activities for Kenton. “There’s still such a need for it,” Lisanne told the Tennessee Register, Nashville’s diocesan newspaper. The Palacios were thrilled to find Stacy’s program and they plan to sign Kenton up for the next session. “It gives him such pride” to take care of and ride a horse. “We get him on a horse whenever we can.” Therapeutic horseback riding can benefit children and adults with a range of disabilities and mental health issues by addressing physical, cognitive and socialemotional issues, Stacy said. Getting on a horse and riding “can help with increased balance and muscle control,” and caring for a horse can help with “concentration, focus and bonding issues.” It also can be particularly beneficial to adults with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, who have trouble focusing and following instructions needed to engage in complex activities. Stacy also led the first therapeutic
Disability Awareness 2019
horseback riding program for veterans in June. If a veteran has post-traumatic stress disorder, anger issues or is having trouble reconnecting with family after serving overseas, “building trust with a horse can help build trust with family members,” Stacy said. Leah Wood said her 24-year-old son Zach has loved horses since he a young boy but before joining Stacy’s program, he hadn’t ridden them in seven years. She said riding “gives him a sense of accomplishment and relaxes him.” “We feel very blessed with Curt and his passion for animals and people with disabilities,” she said.
Laurence is a reporter for the Tennessee Register, newspaper of the Diocese of Nashville.
Papal blessing
CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING
Pope Francis blesses a woman in a wheelchair during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 29, 2019.
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Pittsburgh sports stadiums 10 easy partner with KultureCity ways to To know that you soon Heinz Field, PNC Park make your designated as certified sensory “ will be able to see inclusive environments families attend a game parish with their loved ones who have a sensory challenge inclusive and who were not able to Within the past year Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers, and PNC Park, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, announced partnerships with KultureCity to certify the stadiums as a sensory inclusive environment. This new initiative promotes an accommodating and positive experience for all fans with sensory issues as the team works to make all games hosted at Heinz Field and PNC Park sensory inclusive. The certification process entailed the staff at the stadiums being trained by leading medical professionals on how to recognize those guests and fans with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. Sensory bags, equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards, and weighted lap pads will also be available to all guests at sporting events and concerts who may feel overwhelmed by the environment. These fans will also be able to have use of dedicated sensory rooms designed by medical professionals for those who may need a quieter and more secure environment. Sensory sensitivities or challenges with sensory regulation are often experienced by individuals with autism, dementia, PTSD and other similar conditions. One of the major barriers for these individuals is sensitivity to overstimulation and noise, which is an enormous part of the environment in venues like Heinz Field and PNC Park. With the new certification, team members are now better prepared to assist guests with sensory sensitivities in having the most comfortable and accommodating experience possible when attending any event.
previously attend, is truly a heartwarming moment.” — Traci Johnson
“We are proud to work with KultureCity to provide the most inclusive environment for all of our fans throughout the season,” said Pirates president Frank Coonelly. “We recognize that during each game sensory sensitivities may hinder some of our biggest fans from enjoying the game they love. With this in mind, we are working diligently to ensure there are tools at their disposal as well as areas within the ballpark they can take advantage of to make their experience a great one.” KultureCity is a leading non-profit recognized nationwide for using their resources to revolutionize and effect change in the community for those with sensory needs; not just those with Autism. In the past year alone, KultureCity has created several sensory inclusive venues and events including the NFL Pro-Bowl, NFL Super Bowl, NBA arenas, NHL arenas, MLB ballparks and countless zoos, science centers and aquariums across the nation. “To know that you soon will be able to see families attend a game with their loved ones who have a sensory challenge and who were not able to previously attend, is truly a heartwarming moment,” said Traci Johnson, KultureCity executive director.
1. Include children, youth and adults with disabilities in liturgy as an altar server, Eucharistic minister, lector, cantor, usher, musician, etc. 2. Form a well-rounded committee on inclusion to increase meaningful participation for persons with disabilities. 3. Hold focus groups or conduct a church survey to personalize church needs and to prioritize improvements. 4. Train ushers and lay leaders as role models to include and welcome persons with disabilities and their families. 5. Make prayers and petitions more inclusive of persons with disabilities. 6. Place an “inclusion box” in the church with paper and pencils for church members to easily express suggestions for better inclusion. 7. Use large-print prayer books, missals, bulletins. 8. Provide a sign-language interpreter at a regular liturgy time. 9. Audio record or print large-print homilies and promote them in the bulletin. 10. Include a person who uses a wheelchair, walker or crutches or a family member on the committee for planning renovations or additions to the church as well as on pastoral council. From Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, Pathways Awareness Foundation.
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We’re here for you. All of our buses and light rail vehicles are accessible with space inside for you. Every one of our buses are equipped with ramps to make boarding easier. Elevators in the Downtown stations make using the light rail a breeze. And our ACCESS paratransit service is available for people who cannot independently use the bus or rail system due to a disability. We are here, to get you there.
PortAuthority Disability Awareness 2019
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Texas theme park provides accessible entertainment for everyone Call her a catalyst, a spark, an inspiration. Morgan Hartman doesn’t realize it, but her ability to smile through physical and cognitive challenges spurred her parents — Gordon and Maggie Hartman — to do things never before accomplished for individuals with special needs and their families. Morgan not only inspired the creation of a one-of-a-kind theme park but also a unique school and other initiatives benefitting the special-needs community. The tipping point occurred in 2005 when Gordon observed Morgan wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool, but the kids were leery of Morgan and didn’t want to interact with her. Then and there, Gordon resolved to create opportunities and places where those with and without disabilities can come together not only for fun but also for a better understanding of one another. That led to the construction of Morgan’s Wonderland in an abandoned quarry in San Antonio, Texas. It’s apropos that the butterfly is the symbol of this unique theme park; soaring to one success after another is now commonplace. When it celebrated its grand opening April 10, 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland became the world’s first theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment. The completely wheelchair-accessible park features more
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he vision of Morgan’s Wonderland is to provide a special place where smiles and laughter lead to wonderful memories with family members, friends and caregivers.
than 25 elements including rides, playgrounds and other colorful attractions. From the very beginning, anyone with a special need has been admitted free of charge, no questions asked. It is Morgan’s fervent hope that everyone with a special need — young and older, healthy or ailing, introspective or outgoing — will be touched in a very special way by Morgan’s Wonderland: a shrine of inclusion, an oasis of friendship, an unforgettable wonderland… Morgan’s Wonderland! The vision of Morgan’s Wonderland is to provide a special place where smiles and laughter lead to wonderful memories with family members, friends and caregivers. The goal for Morgan’s Wonderland is to be a place where the common element of play creates an atmosphere of inclusion for those with and without disabilities, encouraging everyone to gain a greater understanding of one another. Morgan’s Wonderland is just like any
other theme park except for a culture and environment that assures 100 percent enjoyment by every person who enters through the Welcome Center. Unfortunately, countless children and adults with special needs do not have access to facilities that enable them to fully enjoy outdoor recreation. Morgan’s Wonderland has begun to change that. The park is a 25-acre oasis of inclusion including a wheelchair-accessible Ferris wheel and swings, catch-and-release fishing, and plenty of other attractions like the Sensory Village, Butterfly Playground, The Wharf, Whirling Wonder and Wonderland Express. Since 2005, Maggie and Gordon Hartman and The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation have committed more than $50 million for the betterment of those with special needs. In 2007, he recognized the tremendous need for fully accessible outdoor recreational facilities, so he made another dream come true with the opening of Morgan’s Wonderland. Two years later, global automotive giant Toyota, a leader in mobility solutions for drivers with disabilities, opted to become the presenting sponsor of Morgan’s Wonderland under a long-term philanthropic agreement.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORGAN’S WONDERLAND
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Disability Awareness 2019
Supporting Individuals with Intellectual and Physical Disabilities
For those with the greatest need, there should be the greatest care. Please support those with intellectual and physical disabilities by funding community organizations that support individuals with disabilities who live "everyday lives". Verland, with 37 community homes and a 10 home main campus, is an organization that has provided these services to our region for 41 years. People with intellectual and physical disabilities should be able to live life to the fullest. But, because of their disabilities, they need support. We should care for them as we would our brothers and sisters or our fathers and mothers. Please consider a donation to Verland where more than 200 of your "brothers and sisters" live full lives through your generosity. Please send donations to: Verland 212 Iris Road, Sewickley, PA 15143 Verland is registered with the state of Pennsylvania as a charitable entity.
Learn about our caring work at www.verland.org or call 412.741.2375 ext. 1256 Verland has many employment opportunities at different locations. Call HR at 412.741.2375 ext. 1208 Disability Awareness 2019
Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine 11
Former Pirates coach to speak at St. Anthony dinner School programs serve children with intellectual disabilities By JOHN FRANKO Staff Writer The stories about St. Anthony School Programs are truly inspiring. Through the diligence of the staff and his own willpower, an autistic boy who was nonverbal now speaks and communicates well. Another boy who had limited verbal skills now reads at school Masses.
“They can now find their way in the world,” said Jerry Gaughan, director of the programs’ charitable foundation. The faith-filled work of St. Anthony’s will be highlighted at its 22nd Annual Dinner and Auction Oct. 18 at the downtown Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh. The guest speaker will be former Pirates coach Rich Donnelly. Rooted in the Gospel, the program provides an academic course of studies and vocational training for students ages 5-21 with intellectual disabilities. It strives to
We help people with disabilities lead lives of personal significance
. . . .
Advocacy & Family Supports Community Supported Living Early Intervention Employment Supports
. . . .
Home & Community Supports Parenting Education Recreation Special Needs Trusts
412.995.5000 | www.achieva.info ACHIEVA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency
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Donnelly
maximize the student’s potential for learning, fosters self-respect and confidence, and helps develop competence in employment and living skills. “We provide the hope and perseverance that helps them to become functional people in the world,” Gaughan said. Donnelly has his own story of overcoming obstacles and persevering in life, Gaughan said. Donnelly is the author of “The Chicken Runs at Midnight: A Daughter’s Message from Heaven That Changed a Father’s Heart and Won a World Series,” in which he describes losing his daughter, Amy, to a brain tumor at 18. In 2018, he lost his son, Michael, in a tragic road accident. “He talks about faith and hope and perseverance,” Gaughan said. “That’s what our kids do, they persevere.” St. Anthony School Programs promotes inclusive education within schools of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. It operates at four elementary locations — Blessed Trinity Academy, Glenshaw; Mary of Nazareth, White Oak; St. Thomas More, Bethel Park; and St. Therese, Munhall. The secondary locations are Bishop Canevin High, Crafton; Serra Catholic, McKeesport; and North Catholic, Cranberry Township. A post-secondary program is hosted by Duquesne University. The cost to educate a student in the program is approximately $18,000 a year. Parents pay about $6,000, with St. Anthony’s paying the balance. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. The program does not receive government funding, and Gaughan said it operates primarily through the generosity of benefactors and supporters. The dinner is the third leading means of support. Information on the dinner and auction is available by calling 724-940-9020, visiting www.stanthonykids.org or on Facebook at St. Anthony School Programs.
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Keep your mind and faith sharp! To order your own Bible Quiz Booklet at $20 per book (all orders are prepaid), contact Karen at 412-471-1252, ext. 3573 or khanlin@pittsburghcatholic.org Answers to Quiz #61: 1. J, 2. F, 3. H, 4. G, 5. D, 6. C, 7. I, 8. A, 9. E, 10. B
WIN 4 TICKETS TO KENNYWOOD HOLIDAY LIGHTS! Submit this coupon to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win 4 tickets to Kennywood Holiday Lights between November 22 through December 30, 2019. Name Address City
State Zip
Phone # RULES/DISCLAIMER: To enter, complete the entry form here and mail it no later than Monday, November 4, 2019, to: KENNYWOOD HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST, PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC, 111 BLVD. OF THE ALLIES, SUITE 200, PITTSBURGH PA 15222-1613; FAXES ACCEPTED AT 412-471-4228 or e-mail to officeassistant@pittsburghcatholic.org. Employees of the Pittsburgh Catholic Publishing Associates and Diocesan headquarters are not eligible. One entry per household.
Winners to be announced in the Pittsburgh Catholic Christmas Traditions magazine available in November, 2019. 14 Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine
Disability Awareness 2019
ReWalk Robotics announces placement of 500th exoskeleton system ReWalk Robotics announced that the company has placed its 500th robotic exoskeleton medical device. The majority of these devices are personal systems used by individuals with spinal cord injury in their homes and communities, while others are located in rehabilitation centers to evaluate and train potential new device owners. The first ReWalk device was placed in 2011 to the Vatican Hospital in Rome, and it became the first exoskeleton to be cleared by the FDA for sale in the United States in June 2014. To continue its growth, the company is focused on expanding insurance coverage of exoskeletons for all persons with spinal cord injury and has helped develop national coverage policies with payers in several countries, including Germany, Italy and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in the United States. “This is animportant moment in our mission to improve the quality of life for individuals with lower limb disability,” said ReWalk CEO Larry Jasinski. “Most of all, we see this moment as a
chance to reflect on the myriad lives that have been impacted by the technology. Every single patient was told he or she would never walk again. Innovation and their determination has helped spinal cord injured patients stand up and regain many of the daily life functions they thought were lost forever.” ReWalkers have made news using their systems over the years. Claire Lomas in the United Kingdom has completed multiple marathons in her ReWalk, including the 2012 London Marathon and the 2018 Greater Manchester Marathon. Retired Captain Derek Herrera, the first recipient of a ReWalk Personal system in the U.S., received the Bronze Star at his retirement ceremony from the U.S. Marine Corps while using his ReWalk. ReWalk Robotics develops, manufactures and markets wearable robotic exoskeletons for individuals with lower limb disabilities as a result of spinal cord injury or stroke. The company’s mission is to fundamentally change the quality of life for individuals with
Soccer accomplishment
A man demonstrates the ReWalk Personal 6.0 system.
lower limb disability through the creation and development of market leading robotic technologies. Founded in 2001, ReWalk has headquarters in the United States, Israel and Germany. For more information on the ReWalk systems, please visit www.rewalk.com.
Have you HEARD? We speak miracles at
Learn more or make a gift at www.DePaulHearingAndSpeech.org
PHOTO PROVIDED
The Olympic Blazers soccer team won the gold medal at the Western Fall Sectionals at Slippery Rock University Sept. 28. The Blazers now travel to Villanova for the Fall Fest tournament later this month.
Disability Awareness 2019
Pittsburgh Catholic Magazine 15
McGuire Memorial
Helping children and adults with disabilities
lives to the fullest for more than 50 years.
live
www.mcguirememorial.org
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