On February 26, 1987, then-President Ronald Reagan officially declared Proclamation 5613 making the month of March National Disability Awareness month. According to what was written about the Proclamation, it called for people to provide understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 4 people have some type of disability. In fact, the current percentage of those in the United States is 26% of all adults amounting to 61 million adults living with a disability of some type.
Some of the current research also indicated that 2 in 5 adults 65 years or older have a disability and adults living with disabilities compared to those who were without disabilities were three times more likely to experience heart disease (11.5% vs. 3.8%) and other health challenges. It explains why the CDC and other governmental agencies spend a great deal of time and money promoting the importance of healthy living particularly for those dealing with some kind of disability.
At Little Friends, we focus our efforts to help those dealing with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism. While the challenges of those we serve can be more significant than others considered disabled, we strive to see that those we serve enjoy their lives, feel productive, and remain secure. Being safe and secure has never been more important than it has been this past year dealing with the pandemic.
This month we take extra steps to raise awareness about the supports and rights of people with disabilities. While some challenges are more visible than others, this is a good time to recognize those dealing with a disability and their role in society. Please join me in celebrating their contributions to our communities as a whole.
