Since 1987, March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and to champion the opportunities they need to lead productive lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, developmental disabilities encompass conditions that are caused by an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior.
As you can imagine, with a definition that broad, the signs and presenting symptoms vary greatly. Some developmental disabilities include Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Spina Bifida, and more.
At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we celebrate the diverse community of individuals with developmental disabilities who we serve every day with our job skills programs. They deserve every chance we can give them to reach their full potential.
Goodwill provides community based assessments to help individuals with disabilities choose which job options are right for them. We also provide job training that includes general work skills such as communication, problem-solving, and attendance. We can even help individuals explore different careers through job shadowing.
These services provide a path to achievement, self-confidence, and overall fulfillment. At Goodwill, we believe we all deserve to live fully enriched lives!
There are many ways you can help bring attention to Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Here are just a few!
The more people who participate in Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the more opportunities we have to create opportunity, inclusion, awareness, and understanding in our community. That’s our ultimate goal!