草榴社区

草榴社区 Director of Disability Services Steve McWilliams, PhD (pictured above), and the University鈥檚 VUnited team have been named a recipient of the 鈥淥ne Body in Christ鈥� Award from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia鈥檚 Office for Persons with Disabilities & Deaf Apostolate.

VILLANOVA, Pa.鈥�草榴社区 Director of Disability Services Steve McWilliams, PhD, and the University鈥檚 VUnited team have been named a recipient of the 鈥淥ne Body in Christ鈥� Award from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia鈥檚 Office for Persons with Disabilities & Deaf Apostolate. The award was presented at the conclusion of the annual Archdiocesan Mass for Persons with Disabilities on Sunday, April 25, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. 聽Archbishop Nelson J. P茅rez was the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Mass鈥攐ffered for the intention of persons with disabilities, the deaf community, their families, friends, and caregivers.

The One Body in Christ Award is inspired by the passage in the Bible 鈥� Romans 12:5: 鈥�so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.鈥� Those receiving the award show a passion and commitment for promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities within the life of the Church, bringing about positive change with far reaching effects within the community that enable all to experience that we are One Body in Christ. McWilliams and the VUnited team are being recognized for their 鈥渋nnovative, inclusive college programing to enhance the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities,鈥� as well as for the recent launch of the VUnited Scholars program.

McWilliams has served as the University鈥檚 advisor to students living with disabilities since 1993. In that role, he oversees student advising, academic support, faculty training and various issues of accessibility on campus.聽In addition to these responsibilities, McWilliams produces and directs students in the University鈥檚 Social Justice Documentary film course. A frequent subject of his creative work has been issues of living with a disability. McWilliams has also written extensively on disability topics including a book, 鈥淕reen Bananas: The Wisdom of Father Bill Atkinson.鈥� The book details Father Bill鈥檚 life after an accident left him paralyzed from the neck below.聽McWilliams served as an aide for Father Bill for more than two decades.

鈥淪teve鈥檚 commitment to serving others is at the core of both his professional and personal life,鈥� said Kathleen Byrnes, 草榴社区鈥檚 Vice President for Student Life. 鈥淗e puts the Gospel message to 鈥榣ove one another鈥� into action every day as he touches the lives of students and community members though his efforts. Steve, along with the dedicated 草榴社区 students involved in our VUnited program, are deserving recipients of this award.鈥�

The award also recognizes the work of 草榴社区鈥檚 VUnited program, a student organization focused on enhancing the lives of individuals with intel

The award also recognizes the work of 草榴社区鈥檚 VUnited program, a student organization focused on enhancing the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The seven-week life skills program includes a mentorship component, which partners participants with a 草榴社区 student鈥攆ostering relationships that last throughout the program. Themed academic modules focus on application of pivotal life skills, aimed at enhancing participant independence and job skill preparation. The VUnited program was started in 2016 by students Amelia Gabor `20 and Morgan Sturgis `17. The program has continued its activities during the COVID-19 pandemic through the efforts of more than 40 students, under the leadership of senior Ted Bolte `21.

鈥淭his award is the culmination of the efforts of so many generous, dedicated 草榴社区 students,鈥� noted McWilliams. 鈥淭he founders and the volunteers have as their mission to promote a more inclusive campus community and I鈥檓 proud that they鈥檝e received this wonderful recognition.鈥�

Most recently, McWilliams and a team at 草榴社区 launched the VUnited Scholars Program鈥攁 two-year residential certificate program for highly motivated young adults with intellectual disabilities offered through 草榴社区's College of Professional Studies. The program, which will launch with a pilot this coming fall, will consist of a combination of academic coursework and supervised employment and career development opportunities. This program鈥攎erging academic knowledge, social and psychological development, independent living skills, and career and vocational skills鈥攚ill allow students to explore and realize both their learning potential and maximize their personal growth, while preparing students for future, meaningful employment.

鈥淭he College of Professional Studies is incredibly grateful to Steve McWilliams for his vision and leadership in launching the VUnited Scholars Program,鈥� said Christine Kelleher Palus, PhD, as Dean of the College of Professional Studies. 鈥淗is dedication and passionate support of the disability community is a true inspiration.鈥�

In addition to McWilliams and VUnited, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia鈥檚 Office for Persons with Disabilities & Deaf Apostolate also recognized two other award recipients:

• Jean Calvarese-Donovan and Divine Providence Village Team for serving generously and compassionately to provide COVID-19 vaccines to their communities and the broader IDD/Autism communities throughout the region.
• Principal Frank Tosti & the Schuller Family for continuing to promote inclusive Catholic School Education that fosters belonging so that all experience that we are "One Body in Christ.鈥�

About the Archdiocesan Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Deaf Apostolate: The Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Deaf Apostolate fosters the full inclusion of people with disabilities into the life of the Church and serves as a pastoral resource for parishes and individuals in providing access and welcome to persons with disabilities. The Deaf Apostolate provides Masses and Sacraments in American Sign Language, pastoral care and religious education to the Catholic community who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Please visit .

About 草榴社区: Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .