Developmental Disability Awareness Month
Promoting understanding and support for individuals with unique abilities, fostering empathy and inclusion for diverse communities.
Mobilize workplace and community support for developmental disability inclusion through orange-ribbon campaigns and advocacy partnerships that drive brand alignment with social responsibility.
- Wear Orange Wednesday: Challenge employees and customers to wear orange and share their inclusion stories on social media
- Partner with disability advocacy nonprofits to co-host educational webinars or community events celebrating diverse abilities
- Feature employee spotlights or customer testimonials about inclusion and accessibility in your workplace or services
- Launch a 'Know the Spectrum' educational content series demystifying developmental disabilities and highlighting success stories
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was made official in 1987 when US President Ronald Reagan recognized the event. The stated purpose was to increase public awareness of the needs as well as the potential of Americans who have disabilities. In addition, the event is also celebrated as a way to provide encouragement and resources to help them to achieve their full potential and lead productive lives.
While the term developmental disabilities can refer to a wide range of situations and struggles, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines it as an impairment in physical, language, learning or behavioral areas. This may include diagnoses such as autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, down syndrome learning disabilities, ADHD, hearing loss, vision impairment or other developmental delays.
Today, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is supported and observed by a number of different non-profit organizations, government agencies, educational institutions and other groups. These thirty-one days offer a perfect opportunity to learn, grow, encourage, support and share in families, schools, communities, cities and all across the globe!
Other important days to celebrate that are associated with this topic include World Down Syndrome Day, World Autism Awareness Day, and World Cerebral Palsy Day, along with many others.
Show Support with the Color Orange
The official ribbon and support color for Developmental Disability Awareness Month is orange as it symbolizes energy and positivity. So donning this color is a great way to show support! Try pinning an orange ribbon to a coat or shirt, get a group of coworkers to wear orange in honor of the event, or make a virtual orange ribbon a profile picture for social media. Raise an orange flag on your home, your business, your desk at work or even your car!
Advocate for Developmental Disabilities
Whether a person has developmental disabilities of their own or they care about those who do, Developmental Disability Awareness Day might be the perfect time to consider acting as an advocate for others. Advocate activities include speaking up for the rights of all humans, including those with developmental disabilities; fighting for policies that protect and help every person succeed; and acting as a positive force for change in the world.
Get Educated about Disability Support
Learn more about the issues invovled with suport for peole with disabilities by checking out a book from the library, getting involved with a local arm of a charity or taking a class about disability adocacy at the local community college. For more information, get connected with the Disability Advocacy and Research Network, the National Disability Rights Network and other support organizations.