The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) is proud to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month and to bring attention to the great work being done across the state that promotes inclusion and integration for people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD).

Every March, NCCDD observes National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to highlight the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. This year, DD Awareness Month will cover three main areas: education, employment and community living.

“We are proud to recognize March as DD Awareness Month and bring attention to the incredible contributions of people with I/DD and their families across North Carolina,” said Talley Wells, executive director of NCCDD.

Currently, NCCDD has funded statewide initiatives focused on community living, financial asset development and advocacy across the State – in line with its current Five-Year State Plan. In March, the Council will begin working on its next Five-Year Plan (2022-2026). It will release surveys and host Town Halls across the state to listen and gather information on issues that affect people with I/DD and their families. The first two town halls will be held on March 31 at 5 PM in Raleigh, NC at the McKimmon Center; and on April 1 at 12 PM at Extraordinary Ventures in Chapel Hill. More details to be announced soon.

The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with I/DD in all areas of community life, as well as bringing awareness to the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting within the communities in which they live.

The original article ran in the Charlotte Stories Newsletter on 3/3/2020.