Arkansas Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities

inclusion. integration. independence.

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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 form stronger, more diverse communities across our state.

Imagine our world with full inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life! What must we do to eliminate barriers that people with disabilities still face in connecting to the communities in which they live? What will you do? Take action. Advocate!

Our challenge to you during DDAM 2022 for Worlds Imagined is simple. Stop asking yourself and others “What If?”. Start asking “Why Not?” Make a plan of action. And let us know about it! Let the world know about it.

We encourage you to share stories, photos, and resources to expand the conversation on community inclusion. Please contact the GCDD staff by emailing [email protected] with info on events, stories, photos, and resources you would like us to share.

On social media search for and use the hashtags #DDawareness2022, #DDAM2022 or #WorldsImagined

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 and inclusion, as well as increase awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

2022 DDAM Theme
The national theme for DDAM 2022 is “World’s Imagined”. Our world is changing as we move beyond the pandemic, as we examine intersectionality & IDD, and as we look at how people with IDD are living longer & more productive lives. The “Worlds Imagined” theme helps us explore new and ever-changing opportunities through our role as advocates.

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.

ARTIST CREDIT
Carolina Gardenhire is an artist from Beebe, Arkansas. She is the daughter of GCDDAR member C.W. Gardenhire. Carolina shared several art pieces with us for DD Awareness Month. One of her pieces is the background image of our Worlds Imagined DDAM2022 art/logo.

JOIN US ON MARCH 14TH AT THE CAPITOL     DOWNLOAD

TIPS FOR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY ON PIE DAY     DOWNLOAD

ARKANSAS ALLIANCE FOR DISABILITY ADVOCACY
This is a funded project of the GCDD, in partnership with Disability Rights Arkansas. The Arkansas Alliance for Disability Advocacy educates and empowers disability advocates, builds awareness about the issues people with disabilities face every day, and fosters collaboration between advocacy programs to give self-advocates, peer advocates, parent advocates, and legislative leaders the tools they need to be active participants in the disability rights movement.

GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION-DD AWARENESS MONTH 2022 IN ARKANSAS
Each year, the Governor issues a proclamation for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) for the month of March. This year, along with our partners at the AR Department of Human Services, we celebrated the kickoff of DDAM at the Capitol.