March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

See Me for Me!

February 25, 2018

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) have come together again to plan a campaign for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month 2018. The goal for this month is to create awareness about developmental disabilities, teach the importance of inclusion within every aspect of life, and to share the stories of individuals with a disability to show that a successful life is possible.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan made a public proclamation that the month of March should be recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to "increase public awareness of the needs and potential of Americans with developmental disabilities." Though our mission remains largely the same, so much has changed since 1987. While we still aim to increase public awareness, our focus has shifted to the importance of inclusion and living life side by side. During this month, we are asking people to share their stories, photos, and resources far and wide to expand the conversation of inclusion and accessibility. This year's theme is "See Me for Me!" To us, this means looking beyond someone's disability and seeing them as a person and not just a person with a disability.

How to Participate

Share stories, photos, and videos that expand the conversation of inclusion and disability on your social media channels using #DDawareness18
Search social media for #DDawareness18 and like, comment on, share, and retweet the posts from others
Use this schedule to help guide the topic of your posts:
- March 1-9 (Week 1): See Me as your Classmate (share Education stories)
- March 10-16 (Week 2): See Me as your Coworker (share Employment stories)
- March 17-23 (Week 3): See Me as your Neighbor (share Community Living stories)
- March 24-30 (Week 4): See Me as your Friend (share any kind of story)
See this resource guide for additional information and some suggestions of posts that you can share from campaign participants.
Additional information, including graphics; social media links for AUCD, NACDD, and NDRN; informational webinar archives; and DD Awareness Proclamations from several states are posted online at NACDD.org/DDAM.