I am also disabled and I think I have a vocation. There is a congregation called the Sisters of Jesus Crucified, who are aimed at those who are disabled or older and wouldn’t be able to manage the demanding schedule of many communities. You can find them at
cjcbrockton.org/.
There is also the Vision Vocation Network. They have lots of resources for people trying to discern if they are called to the Religious Life. They have a special page for disabled and older people at
vocationnetwork.org/articles/show/235. You can also find out what communities you would suit by answering a series of questions. They have a free magazine for those in the USA.
I would recommend speaking to the vocations advisor for your diocese. They can help you to narrow down what kind of community you wish to join, what kind of work you feel that God is calling you to do and what kind of spirituality you have. You will probably need at least one “spiritual reference”, so this would give you the opportunity to get to know someone who can give you one.
If you aren’t already doing it, you need to start praying to try and find out what life God is calling you to. Even if you want to be a Sister in an active order, the training period often involves a year that is spent in prayer and study. A Sister doesn’t pray any less than a Nun and you have to be able to sustain a deep and plentiful prayer life, or you won’t be able to sustain the work you do. Also, should your disability become worse (God forbid), you would have to be able to cope with spending your days in prayer for the other Sisters and the people you help.
Just as a note, if you did join a community, you wouldn’t be a nun, techinically. Nuns are enclosed, their work is praying. You would be a Religious Sister. Just so that you know what the difference is, if you’re asked whether you want to be a Nun or a Sister.
Third-order doesn’t mean that you’re “less religious” or “more worldly”. That is entirely down to the individual. I know many people in the group attached to the community of Carmelite Nuns I hope to join. They are technically secular but they aren’t worldly. The nuns joke that they’re holier than they are!
Realistically, most communities will not accept you. Many have an age limit of 35 or 40, because they have so many elderly Sisters that they simply cannot take on anyone who will add to that number. For the same reason, many communities simply cannot accept someone with a disability or long-term health problem. Their medical costs are already very high and they need new Sisters to be able to help care for the many elderly Sisters.
Many will also ask that you are able to pay your own health insurance for the time up to your vows, so you would need to start saving. Many also require at least high-school graduation to enter, because you might need to do some sort of study course as part of your training. Make sure that you carefully check out all the requirements for entry. If you’re in your 50’s and disabled, you need to make sure that you meet all the other requirements.
As long as you are prepared for the reality of having only a few choices, you will find a community if that is God’s will for you.
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Doesn’t God want us to be humble at all times? Yes, but it’s the belief in myself I roll eyes at.