Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Happy Development Disabilities Awareness Month!

Artwork by artist Eileen Schofield

In 1987, Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.”

Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), the National Disabilities Rights Network (NDRN), and others work together in a campaign that seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in the communities in which they live.

This is a great way to help change the way the world defines and views disability in order to:

• Raise awareness and encourage dialogue about what it means to have a disability
• Dispel stereotypes and help others understand disability
• Break down barriers and create opportunities for people with disabilities

NACDD is encouraging the public to share stories, photos, videos, and resources about topics such as education, employment and community living on social media throughout the month of March – using the hashtag #DDawareness2021. The NACDD wants to showcase the work being done to celebrate and improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities.

More about the featured artwork for this year’s #DDawareness2021 campaign: Art Enables is a nonprofit organization that helps artists with disabilities create and sell their artwork, such as the artwork pictured above. With only 20% of people with disabilities in the workforce, this program helps contribute to that by providing a studio for people with disabilities to make art, as well as career and vocational training to market and sell their artwork. These artists are able to socialize, express themselves creatively, and earn income to increase their independence and build careers.

Take a look at what the program provides for the IDD community!

https://art-enables.org/about/programs/

Hear some testimonies from artists and staff that work at Art Enables.

https://youtu.be/_vSvWRMzSz4

Meet the artists and check out their artwork!

https://art-enables.org/artists/