March Is National Developmental Disabilities Month

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. A developmental or intellectual disability can be caused by accidents or arise before adulthood and impacts an adolescent’s physical, mental or behavioral development. Common developmental disabilities include ADHD, autism, vision impairment, hearing loss, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and more.

During the month of March, activists and community members will be working to spread awareness about developmental disabilities and aid in educating the public on the specific needs and challenges of these individuals.

The Call to Action

Organizers created National Developmental Disabilities Month to better advocate for the rights of millions of people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. By raising more awareness of the everyday challenges individuals can face, activists hope to foster a more inclusive world.

Advancing the Movement

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month began in the 1980s when Ronald Reagan created a Presidential Proclamation for the month of March. Since 1987, organizers and activists have worked throughout the month of March to create better lives for those with developmental disabilities.Participants have worked for increased visibility in the public, more opportunities in education and employment, and better protection in health care and the legal system. Today, the month-long event continues to encourage Americans to become more involved with the disabled community and their efforts toward improvement.

How to Get Involved

Interested in participating in National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month? It is easier than ever, and there are several ways to become involved. Here are some ideas on how to participate:

• Become more informed about the unique problems that individuals with disabilities face. There are plenty of educational resources out there, including the CDC and the Arc.
• Spread awareness on social media. Create posts that discuss the achievements of individuals and organizations involved in the disability community. Also, discuss what else can be done to further help those with developmental disabilities.
• If you are an educator, learn how to create a more inclusive space for those who have a developmental disability.
• If you are an employer, provide more opportunities by hiring and creating positions that people of all abilities are able to fulfill.
• Donate to organizations and charities that provide support to people with developmental disabilities. There are numerous disability groups that specialize in campaigning, advocacy, research, health care, legal protection, technology development and more. Donations will help fund these efforts to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.
• If you know someone who is affected by a developmental disability, make sure they have access to quality health care that they need.

How DCI Can Help

Direct Care Innovations specializes in providing a unique business platform for care providing agencies who work with individuals needing services both at home and in the community. If you are running a care organization that helps provide services to individuals, DCI is a one-stop-shop for care providers and agencies.

DCI provides technology that makes it easier for employees to manage resources; that time can be better spent on providing care services to individuals. Using our unique mobile application, providing services has never been easier. With access to resource optimization, scheduling, payroll, billing, authorization, and electronic visit verification, caretakers can ensure their hard work and efforts are being accurately documented and consumers are receiving the proper care they need.

Contact us for a sales demo at (480) 295-3307 to learn more about our mission, our vision, our values, and our goals today!

Making the Future Brighter

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is a time to celebrate past successes and look to the future for even more improvements. Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities are still subject to incidences of stereotyping. Furthermore, there is always a threat of funding cuts made to critical programs and services for individuals with disabilities. DCI is hopeful that with continued education about issues affecting people with disabilities, positive advancements will continue in the industry.