Developmental Disability Awareness - more than a month

March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month.
This year's theme is "Ability at Work".

Developmental Disability Awareness Month is drawing to a close, but for individuals, families, and service providers, intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD), awareness can be a lifelong struggle.

Most people have probably encountered an example of discrimination or ignorance toward someone with an intellectual or developmental disability. From saying “the r-word” to active avoidance in public, people are unknowingly perpetuating the stigma and negative stereotypes that face people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

InterHab, a non-profit association of I/DD service providers, is focusing on assisting Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities in increasing their independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion into the community.

Hand-in-hand with individuals with disabilities, community leaders and lawmakers, the members of InterHab have positively impacted the state and will continue to do so throughout the year.

“We have fought hard for many years to promote awareness and protect the rights of Kansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Tom Laing, Executive Director of InterHab. “It’s important that lawmakers, along with the general public, view those with intellectual and developmental disabilities as active members of our community with individual strengths and unique contributions to our culture and economy.”

InterHab has an in-depth 2014 legislative platform emphasizing quality-based community expansion, responsive services, and system management that meets the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

If you’re not a member of InterHab you can still raise awareness. Encourage your family, friends and coworkers to take time to recognize the contributions of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Vocalize your support on social media. Write your local senators and representatives. Most importantly, practice inclusion in your day-to-day life. Make a new friend who’s different than you, volunteer, and be respectful and mindful of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.