Did you ever wonder why there is confusion over when to recognize and honor Disability Awareness? What is Disability Pride Month? Is it the same as Disability Awareness Month? What month is Disability Month- is it in March or October? If so, you are not alone. To answer some of these questions, there are several websites that you can turn to for information and clarification. (Please note that there are many recognized disabilities, and this is not an exhaustive list, but an overview of some of the more well-known recognitions and celebrations.)
There are many reasons for the confusion, as various organizations recognize and honor various disabilities throughout the year. One helpful resource is the Disability and Diversity Calendar (https://www.disabilitytalent.org/disability-diversity-calendar-2024). This calendar shows the various timeframes that different disabilities are recognized throughout the year from January through December. (*The 2025 calendar was not yet available at the time of this article.)
According to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, (https://nacdd.org/ddam1/) March is Developmental Disabilities Month. This organization works to create a social media campaign to highlight how including people with disabilities helps create stronger communities by including people with and without disabilities in all facets of community life.
April is World Autism Month, with World Autism Awareness Day being on April 2nd. According to Autism Speaks, (https://www.autismspeaks.org/) which was founded in 2005, World Autism Month began with the United Nations when they recognized World Autism Awareness Day. Everyone is encouraged to participate in order to minimize misconceptions and fears as well as provide an opportunity for people with autism, along with their family and friends, to live in a supportive, accepting and inclusive community.
Disability Pride Month is celebrated in July to recognize and honor the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law on July 26, 1990. July 26th is also known as National Disability Independence Day to not only celebrate the signing of the ADA into law on this date, but also to bring awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face every day.
On September 30, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. proclaimed October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The 2024 Theme is ‘Access to Good Jobs for All’. This theme coincides with the Department of Rehabilitation’s mission to ensure that people with disabilities are given the opportunity to be employed in a competitive and integral setting, with the ability to earn a living that will provide them with independence in their community. (https://rsa.ed.gov/whats-new) (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/09/30/)
Regardless of which month you may choose to recognize people with disabilities and the value that they add to their community, there are many dates to choose from. Perhaps it would really be best to recognize the abilities of persons with disabilities every month, all year long.
-Submitted by Kim Stevens, NAPSA Secretary