Villanova’s Steve McWilliams, VUnited Program Receives “One Body in Christ” Award from Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Persons with Disabilities & Deaf Apostolate

VILLANOVA, Pa.—Villanova University Director of Disability Services Steve McWilliams, PhD, and the University’s VUnited team have been named a recipient of the “One Body in Christ” Award from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 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.  Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez was the principal celebrant and homilist at the annual Mass—offered 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 – Romans 12:5: “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” 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 “innovative, inclusive college programing to enhance the lives of persons with intellectual disabilities,” as well as for the recent launch of the VUnited Scholars program.

McWilliams has served as the University’s 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. In addition to these responsibilities, McWilliams produces and directs students in the University’s 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, “Green Bananas: The Wisdom of Father Bill Atkinson.” The book details Father Bill’s life after an accident left him paralyzed from the neck below. McWilliams served as an aide for Father Bill for more than two decades.

“Steve’s commitment to serving others is at the core of both his professional and personal life,” said Kathleen Byrnes, Villanova University’s Vice President for Student Life. “He puts the Gospel message to ‘love one another’ into action every day as he touches the lives of students and community members though his efforts. Steve, along with the dedicated Villanova students involved in our VUnited program, are deserving recipients of this award.”

The award also recognizes the work of Villanova’s 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 Villanova student—fostering 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.

“This award is the culmination of the efforts of so many generous, dedicated Villanova students,” noted McWilliams. “The founders and the volunteers have as their mission to promote a more inclusive campus community and I’m proud that they’ve received this wonderful recognition.”

Most recently, McWilliams and a team at Villanova launched the VUnited Scholars Program—a two-year residential certificate program for highly motivated young adults with intellectual disabilities offered through Villanova'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—merging academic knowledge, social and psychological development, independent living skills, and career and vocational skills—will allow students to explore and realize both their learning potential and maximize their personal growth, while preparing students for future, meaningful employment.

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

In addition to McWilliams and VUnited, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 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.”

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 http://opdarchphilly.org.

About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova University’s 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—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation’s top universities, Villanova supports its students’ intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu.