Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Ory Docal, a 15-year-old with Down syndrome, is a first-year student at Mount St. Joseph High School who has benefitted from the school’s partnership with the Catholic Coalition for Special Education. (Courtesy Joseph Schuberth/Mount St. Joseph High School)

CCSE aims to expand special educational mission


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Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

Debbie Docal, a parishioner of St. Louis in Clarksville, wants to spread the word on a program that has enriched the life of her son, Ory.

Ory Docal, a 15-year-old with Down syndrome, is a first-year student at Mount St. Joseph High School who has benefitted from the school’s partnership with the Catholic Coalition for Special Education, an organization that provides grants to schools in the Baltimore and Washington archdioceses to operate programs for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. 

 “There are other schools out there that want to participate in this kind of education and just don’t know how,” Debbie Docal said. “Word needs to get out there that this can be done. CCSE does amazing work.”

CCSE works to ensure “children with special needs are able to attend and receive an appropriate education in their local Catholic elementary schools and high schools.” They presented $88,000 “Believe in Me!” grants this past fall to three schools, including Mount Saint Joseph.

St. John’s Catholic School in St. Mary’s County and St. Jerome Academy in Prince George’s County also received grants. 

CCSE also provides technical assistance to schools in a partnership with Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Academy of Catholic Educators.

Grants from CCSE have served more than 9,000 students, teachers and families. The organization has awarded 78 grants to 32 Catholic schools in 10 Maryland counties totaling nearly $1.2 million since its inception in 2004. 

Catholic schools use the CCSE grants to hire and train special educators, purchase equipment and materials, or provide appropriate accommodations and modifications to the curriculum. 

CCSE also provides scholarships to Catholic-school teachers pursuing advanced degrees in special education and offers workshops and other training /coaching support to Catholic schools.

Other schools (some now closed or merged with other schools) in the Archdiocese of Baltimore that have received grants include: Sacred Heart of Mary, Mother Seton, St. Margaret, St. Joan of Arc, St. Louis, St. John Regional Catholic, Seton Keough High School and St. Clement Mary Hofbauer.

To read more about Ory Docal’s experience at Mount St. Joseph, visit:

https://catholicreview.org/all-are-welcome-finding-a-home-at-mount-st-joseph/

Schools that would like information on grants and the program should contact Francesca Pellegrino at 240-292-1438 or Francesca@ccse-maryland.org.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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