March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
The goal of the month, which was instituted by President Ronald Reagan in 1987, is to promote inclusion and raise awareness of persons with developmental disabilities.
At MMI, inclusion and advocacy are core parts of our mission. And while this is a daily commitment, it’s gratifying to see March identified in a nationwide effort to support these goals and focus on the individuals MMI serves. Your social media feeds in March should be flooded with photos and items tagged #DDAwareness19, and, to help the conversation, organizers have broken the month into four weekly focus areas — education from March 1-8, employment from March 11-15, community living from March 18-22 and general topics from March 25-29.
MMI will be taking part in this nationwide effort, as well, but our work to raise awareness stretches well beyond March. From seminars on disability leadership to events such as April’s “Light It Up Blue” event on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, from Camp Munroe Theater Co. performances to robust turnouts at the various events held by our supporting boards, MMI’s message of inclusion spans the year, crosses the state, and positively impacts the lives of the people we serve.
So as we celebrate Developmental Disability Awareness Month and work to get its message out, we remain aware that our commitment to transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities and complex health care needs is ongoing. Let’s use March to elevate our efforts, spread the word and make an impact by promoting inclusion and awareness for our MMI families and all persons with developmental disabilities throughout the state, the nation and the world.