Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities partners with Association for University Centers on Disabilities and National Disability Rights Network to create a social media campaign that highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.

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

Developmental disabilities include disabilities such as cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and affect a persons growth and/or cognition. The figures show as of 2017, about 1 in 6 children are identified to have some type of developmental disability. But people shouldn’t have to be worried or alarmed if someone has a developmental disability. They can usually live normal lives as long as they have the proper supports.

The Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the the disabled community and demonstrates how people with developmental disabilities live normal lives. In return, the public can learn how they can help people with developmental disabilities achieve their dreams.