Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month takes place annually in March, and marks an opportunity for organizations to showcase their support for individuals with learning and developmental disabilities.
At Getting Hired, our goal is to drive enhanced engagement between employers and job seekers with disabilities throughout the U.S. and DD Awareness Month is another opportunity to support our partners in accomplishing this goal.
What is DD Awareness Month?
Developmental disabilities are conditions that impact a person in their formative years. Examples of these disabilities include autism, behavioral disorders, and intellectual disabilities.
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as the month in which the challenges faced by this group are brought into focus across the country. He called upon Americans to provide both encouragement and opportunities to assist those with developmental disabilities in fulfilling their full potential.
As a result, today we celebrate the progress that has been made in driving a greater understanding and awareness of developmental disabilities within the U.S.
How can we support DD Awareness Month?
Each year there is a new theme that surrounds DD Awareness Month. In 2018 the theme’s focus is ‘See Me for Me!’ This embodies a ‘person first’ mentality and highlights the importance of seeing someone for more than just a person with a disability.
Organizations interested in getting involved in the conversation can showcase their support by completing the following:
- Leverage social media by promoting stories and articles about developmental disabilities and using the hashtag #DDAwareness18
- Contact the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) directly to spread your own positive stories of disability inclusion
- Reach out to your Getting Hired Account Manager for support with DD Awareness Month campaign ideas
For more information about DD Awareness Month, follow Getting Hired on Twitter and read the stories we will be highlighting!
