March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month

Hi all,

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month in the United States and there are various events throughout the US celebrating this month. I was looking for some good basic info. to explain it and the history behind it online. The ARC organizations in several states had some info. but I am posting a good article I found on the Arc of Schuyler which is located in Watkins Glen, NY. (www.arcofschuyler.org) Again if you go to the National Arc Website, www.thearc.org, you can search for a chapter in your area to look for any local events, or do an Internet search for events in your area. Anyhow, below is a good overall explanation of the history of the month:

"March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

People with developmental disabilities are valuable contributing members of our community who have much to offer. They have proven to be reliable workers and employees and excellent volunteers, capable of meeting or exceeding expectations and standards. With the assistance of organizations like The Arc of Schuyler, people with disabilities are leading lives of purpose. You can get involved with Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by contributing to The Arc of Schuyler’s Annual Fund Drive in March and making The Arc your charity of choice.

History of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan declared March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to help people with developmental disabilities lead productive and meaningful lives. This national proclamation generated renewed respect for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and has increased awareness of the issues faced by this constituency and by their families.

Purpose of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The month will commemorate the progress toward improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and also highlight the challenges that remain in achieving full inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Challenges Faced by People with Developmental Disabilities

Despite the great strides that have been made toward expanding the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities many challenges stand in their way of living fully inclusive lifestyles.
•Budget and Appropriations
•Civil Rights
•Education
•Employment
•Health Care
•Housing
•Long Term Supports and Services
•Medicaid
•Social Security

Get Involved During Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

The Arc of Schuyler is one of over 700 Arc chapters across the country on the frontlines of grassroots advocacy efforts. These Arc Chapters are private non-profit organizations that depend on private donations. During March they are encouraging people to get involved during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to increase awareness about the issues confronting people with developmental disabilities.
•Volunteer
•Employ persons with a developmental disability, or reach out to businesses about employing people with developmental disabilities.
•Invite people with disabilities to participate at your organization as a volunteer
•Contact policy makers and legislators to speak out on issues impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
•Remind others that people with developmental disabilities deserve respect and can make meaningful contributions to our community
•Make Us Your Charity of Choice"
(www.arcofschuyler.org - posted Jan. 15, 2012)

So, if you're interested in getting involved in someway, they have some good suggestions above. We personally like the organization United Cerebral Palsy, for obvious reasons, www.ucp.org, although they do not have a local chapter in our area. When I've needed info., I go to their website and in the past, I've contacted them for various things. Of course, we also love our local area organizations and resources, most of which I have the links noted in the "Useful Links" section on the right side of this blog page. I just wanted to get the information out there to make people aware and if someone is interested, hopefully, you can find info. here to look further in any way you see fit.

For those of you who don't know, the term "developmental disability", or "DD" for short in some states, is used to describe a lifelong disability (no cure) which attributes to a physical and/or mental (intellectual) impairment, and it happens BEFORE the age of 18, usually before, during, or after birth in most cases, although anytime before the age of 18. It is a term mostly used in the US and Canada. So, MANY disabilities and ranges of impairment are included under the umbrella of his term.

Of course, cerebral palsy is a developmental disability. Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a group of chronic conditions affecting body movements and muscle coordination. It is caused by damage to one or more specific areas of the brain. "Cerebral" refers to the brain and "Palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. I've said this before, but there is a wide range of impairments within the disability of cerebral palsy. Some people have intellectual impairments with CP but most don't. In Nick's specific case, his disability was caused by brain damage he sustained within the first week after he was born (he was born healthy) due to jaundice which was not treated properly. This kind of thing happens but it's rare. In Nick's specific case, he does not have any mental or intellectual impairment at all, just physical impairments. It varies with everyone. People make a lot of assumptions (which is a post for another time!) about CP so I like to educate people whenever I have the opportunity about Nick and his disability.

Blessings:-)
Amy