The Defiance County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DCBDD) and Good Samaritan School joined communities across Ohio last month to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month — a time dedicated to promoting inclusion, understanding and opportunity for people of all abilities.
This year, the state’s theme for the month was “The Power of Support,” highlighting the role that families, professionals, educators and communities play in helping individuals with developmental disabilities thrive.
Developmental Disability Awareness Month serves as an opportunity to increase public understanding of the barriers individuals with disabilities may face and to emphasize the importance of full inclusion, according to a media release from the Defiance County Board of DD.
Inclusion means recognizing the connection between how people function and how they participate in society, and ensuring everyone has equitable opportunities to learn, work and engage in community life, the media release stated.
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) serves more than 109,000 Ohioans.
Locally, the DCBDD supports more than 325 individuals, from birth through adulthood. In addition to serving eligible individuals, the agency partners with families and care teams to promote independence, dignity and an enhanced quality of life.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as DD Awareness Month, following years of advocacy and progress toward community inclusion. The proclamation emphasized the importance of encouragement and opportunity, recognizing that with the power of support, individuals with developmental disabilities can reach their full potential by attending school, maintaining employment, living independently, engaging in their communities and contributing meaningfully to society, according to the media release.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month remains important as it helps confront bullying and harmful stereotypes, which often lead to social isolation and limited employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, the media release stated. It also promotes meaningful peer relationships by fostering empathy, the release added.