Did you know that March is “Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month”?
It’s also “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month”--President Ronald Reagan made the proclamation back in 1987.
The late 1980’s were a time of exciting social change in the disabilities world. Over the last decade, the “deinstitutionalization” movement had taken hold; now the President was asking Americans to provide “encouragement and opportunities” for people with developmental disabilities.
In 1990, a landmark act was passed (the Americans with Disabilities Act), and suddenly workplace discrimination against people with disabilities was truly illegal.
Lots was happening at UCP Oregon, too—take a look at our history.
So, here we are in 2018, celebrating Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month more than thirty years after it was started. Much has changed for the good. But there are still lots of challenges.
How will you make a difference this March?