Join the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Arkansas (the Council) and our partners during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) in highlighting the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to improve lives and create better access to home and community-based supports across our state.
Community living is healthy living, so access to community-based supports is vital. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience better health, higher quality of life, and increased independence when living in community-based settings. Community living promotes greater social participation, improved mental health, and access to personalized, inclusive, and active lifestyles.
We encourage you to share stories, photos, and resources to expand the conversation on community living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. You can email [email protected] with info on events, stories, photos, and resources you would like us to share.
Each year in March the Arkansas Council works with our national association, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), and other partners across the United States, to promote acceptance, further disability inclusion, and increase awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still face in connecting to the communities in which they live.
2026 DDAM Theme
We’re Here. Then. Now. Always.
People with developmental disabilities have always been part of our communities. Living, working, learning, and belonging – just like everyone else.
Decades of progress have allowed people with developmental disabilities to participate fully in their communities and live their best lives. That progress depends on continued commitment to community-based supports.
Join us to advocate for a future where community living is protected, expected, and funded.
Opportunities for Action:
- Share your story!
- Learn why community living matters
- Share this message with someone outside your circle
- Help make inclusion part of everyday life
- Learn how community living improves outcomes and reduces long-term costs
- Protect policies that support choice, independence, and participation
History of DDAM
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan made a public proclamation that the month of March should be recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to “increase public awareness of the needs and potential of Americans with developmental disabilities.” Though our mission remains largely the same, so much has changed since 1987. While we still aim to increase public awareness, our focus has shifted to the importance of inclusion and acceptance.