What is DD Awareness Month?
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life and awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.
National Disability Awareness Month History
National Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month officially began in 1987 with President Reagan's proclamation to help bring awareness and acceptance for people of every ability. Since then, families, self-advocates, advocacy groups, and Ohio’s County Boards have been working to increase opportunities for people with disabilities. But there’s still more progress to be made.
Yes, a quarter-century after establishing Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the world has changed in important ways. Much, though, remains to challenge us. In the coming years, we’ll need to fight not only for more advances but to retain the accomplishments of past decades. It is a fight in which we must all engage.
While a lot has changed since last DD Awareness Month, our desire to shine a light on people of all abilities has not. The pandemic may keep us from gathering, but it can’t keep us from connecting.