Ministry for Persons with Special Needs

Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities Revised Edition

Training and Resources for Persons with Special Needs

Ministry for Person with Special Needs (MPSN)

The Ministry with Persons with Special Needs (MPSN), Diocese of La Crosse, offers support services to Catholic schools, parishes and families to assist teachers, DRE’s/CRE’s, parish members or parents who are working with individuals with special needs.  Possible services can include the following:

  • phone/email consultation
  • on-site observation and consultation
  • assistance with developing ISP’s
  • evaluations
  • recommended resources
  • limited funds to purchase resources or other supports
  • training on a variety of topics
  • supports to parents

Diane Hietpas is the Diocesan consultant for the Ministry for Persons with Special Needs.  Diane has a Master’s Degree in Education and Special Education and has over 35 years of experience working with students with special needs in public & private school systems.  Diane Hietpas is currently the Student Support Services Coordinator for McDonell Area Catholic Schools in Chippewa Falls.  Her primary responsibility is to ensure ALL students experience success in the classroom, grades K-12.  She provides supports to teachers, completes evaluations, modifies curriculum, offers training opportunities and works directly with students who may be struggling academically or socially. She is also well-versed in the science of reading and can assist teachers in reading intervention strategies for students at all grade levels.

Diane may be able to assist with students who are experiencing difficulties in the classroom due to academic or cognitive challenges such as:

  • learning disabilities
  • dysgraphia
  • non-verbal learning disabilities
  • autism spectrum disorders
  • cognitive delays
  • fetal alcohol syndrome
  • long/short term processing deficits
  • attention deficit disorder
  • traumatic brain injury
  • other disabilities

Diane is also able to guide and train teachers with students who exhibit social or behavioral challenges in the classroom due to:

  • diagnosed mental health disorders
  • having experienced trauma

Diane is available to provide teacher / catechist inservices or other professional development opportunities on a variety of disability topics.   She will also recommend resources that could be used in the home and classroom.

Grant Money is available to pay for Diane’s services and/or resources needed for students through The Ministry for Persons with Special Needs Committee (MPSN).  The Office for Catechesis and Evangelization coordinates the Committee, which consists of Directors of Pastoral Curia Offices.  

Contact Ann Lankford at alankford@diolc.org for more information.

To access these services, contact Beth Johnson at the Office for Catechesis and Evangelization and she will forward all requests.

Phone:  608-791-2658

email:  bjohnson@diolc.org