This Roman Catholic community, located in the small town of LeBlanc, France, was founded in 1985, and consisted of two sisters, Line and Veronique. Today the community consists of ten sisters, eight of whom have down syndrome. They are “little sisters” because they follow the “little path” of the Roman Catholic Saint Teresa Lisieux.
The sisters engage in weaving, gardening, pottery, as well as contemplation and prayer. They have a website entitled . . .
Beth is an Orthodox Christian who has been happily married for some years now. Before she was married, one evening, at a Girls’ Night with friends, the topic of a perfect mate came up. She commented that her future mate would look past her disability (she has cerebral palsy and navigates by wheelchair). Later, though, she thought more about this, and concluded that she would want him to accept and love her as she is, which includes her disability, a part of who she is. Their life together would include details related to her disability, and this would need to be considered; otherwise, there would be unreal expectations. Let her explain all this herself, as she is a talented writer:
Not all disabilities are evident. This creates a difficulty for a person with such a disability – if their disability manifests itself in public, others will think they are strange, or troublemakers. Judging them by their first impression is not fair! As Jesus said, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Matushka Wendy had four children with invisible disabilities, and shares her experiences with this dilemma: Church and the Child with Invisible Disabilities
by Matushka Wendy Cwiklinski with an Addendum by Michele Karabin
To learn more, see the website of the IDA, which supports those with invisible disabilities, their family, and their friends:Invisible Disabilities® Association
If you’re looking for an official Orthodox Christian disability resource page, here you have it! A concise and compact list of resources for the heart and the hands. One needs to relate to people with disabilities with respect and understanding, which the articles and books will provide. The video and practical resources provide direction for initiating interaction with children, youth, and adults with disabilities. If you are pondering where to start, the first list will get your head and your heart in the right place, and the second will provide a plan of action.
I write “interaction with children, youth, and adults” rather than “ministry for . . .” because the relationships you will build with these folks will be a two way street. Not only will you minister to them, they will minister to you!” I can honestly say that after 30 years as an advisor in a community home to persons with intellectual disabilities, I feel as though I have received more than I have given. These individuals do not put on a false face for show, nor do they practice guile. Their personalities run the full gamut of human variation. And while these friends of mine can try my patience, frequently, they demonstrate that they are made in the image of God by their sincerely caring hearts (well, not all, but almost all). Some have been so deeply wounded in their souls that they put themselves in a protective shell and are hostile to attempts to get through to them. But most of these persons who come to us with their guard up drop their defenses when they recognize that we seek their good.
And of course, they also have abilities. Focus on the abilities.
Videos from the list: the first one comes from the Orthodox Youth Directors of North America, the creators of the list:
The second, third, and fourth, from Maura Oprisko:
Arms Open Wide 
