The Roundtable Association of Catholic Diocesan Social Action Directors recently announced Janice Benton as the 2012 Harry A. Fagan Roundtable Award recipient. She will receive the award for her exemplary contributions to the achievement of the Catholic social justice vision through her leadership as Executive Director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD). The Roundtable presents the award each year to a person or persons whose work, in the tradition of Catholic social teaching, has led to significant progress towards greater social justice and dignity for all members of society at the national or international level.

Janice Benton assumed the position of NCPD Executive Director in May 2004 after twenty-five years of experience in the field of ministry and advocacy with persons with disabilities. She assisted in setting up NCPD in 1982, after serving two years on the precursor U.S. Bishops Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities, and continued on as staff, working in a variety of capacities. She is a frequent speaker at national and diocesan conferences, as well as a guest on various national radio programs. Janice is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order and recently celebrated her silver anniversary as a Secular Franciscan.

Jan was instrumental in the development of the Opening Doors to People with Disabilities manual, an extensive two-volume 1,500 page resource with guidance for promoting inclusion of people with disabilities at the parish and diocesan level. Through Jan’s leadership, NCPD is now reaching out to people through the NCPD Council on Mental Illness. She was active in the advocacy for the Americans with Disabilities Act and has addressed many concerns related to public policy issues involving people with disabilities. Leaders in Catholic social ministry know Jan for leading the liturgy committee and providing accommodations for people with disabilities at the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, D.C. so that they may have a voice on Capitol Hill.

Jan’s work for over 30 years in advocacy with persons with disabilities has opened doors and created welcoming communities of justice. The letter nominating her for the award stated that she is “truly is a gift to the Catholic Church for her work in the areas of human life and dignity” and that she offers a “powerful witness to the teachings of charity and justice with great enthusiasm, passion, and perseverance.” We wholeheartedly agree!

The National Catholic Partnership on Disability was created in 1982 to implement in parishes and dioceses throughout the United States the 1978 Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities. It represents the over 14 million Catholics with disabilities in the United States. Rooted in Gospel values that affirm the dignity of every person, the NCPD works collaboratively to ensure meaningful participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the Church and society. The site contains a multitude of resources around accessibility, catechesis, ministry, advocacy and awareness, and more. The organization will celebrate its 30^th Anniversary in 2012.

The Roundtable Award is named for the late Harry A. Fagan, who served as the director of Catholic Community Action in the diocese of Cleveland and later worked for the National Pastoral Life Center as staff for the Roundtable Association. Fagan also chaired the Social Concerns Department of the Ohio Catholic Conference and served on the board of the Catholic Committee on Urban Ministry. The award has been given annually since 1987.

Jan will receive the Harry A. Fagan Award during the Roundtable’s Annual Symposium on February 11, 2012 at the beginning of the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington D.C.

Download the 2012 Fagan Award Press Release.

Tags: accessibility, Americans with Disabilities Act, Harry A. Fagan Award, Jan Benton, mental illness, National Catholic Partnership on Disability, Symposium

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