Spiritually Able: A Parent's Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs

For many parents seeking faith formation for their child with special needs, the resources are either severely lacking or nonexistent. A family looking to participate in the life of the Church can find it a struggle to get the support, materials, and community needed to grow the faith for their child with special needs. 

David and Mercedes Rizzo know the struggle all too well. When they searched for sacramental preparation materials for their daughter Daniella, who has autism and is nonverbal, they found a lack of suitable resources. Both memoir and manual, Spiritually Able: A Parent’s Guide to Teaching the Faith to Children with Special Needs is a life-preserver to parents who are seeking ways to grow and nourish a deeper relationship to God and their faith for their child with special needs. Full of tips, advice, and personal accounts, Spiritually Able helps bridge the gap and invites all into the welcoming embrace of the Church. 

David and Mercedes Rizzo have been married more than 20 years, and are the parents of four children. Their daughter Danielle has autism and is non-verbal. During her sacramental preparation, the lack of religious education resources available to children with severe disabilities inspired David and Mercedes, with the help of their son Brendan, to create the Adaptive Eucharist Preparation Kit. They have contributed to the Adaptive Reconciliation Kit and the Adaptive Confirmation Kit. Together they have provided material for various blogs including Catechist Journey, DRE Connect and Catholic Mom.

David is a physical therapist who has worked extensively with children and adults with disabilities. He is the author of Faith, Family and Children with Special Needs. He has presented at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, The Mid-Atlantic Religious Congress, The National Catholic Partnership For Disabilities and the NCCL Annual Conference. Additionally, David has contributed to the Finding God series (Loyola Press). Mercedes is a certified teacher who has provided support to children with individualized education plans. She has worked in both public and parochial schools.