The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) together with the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MiDDC) and Governor Gretchen Whitmer are recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The recognition is meant to raise awareness and educate the public about developmental disabilities while highlighting the strengths, abilities, and important contributions of people with developmental disabilities. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was first proclaimed on March 2, 1988 by then-President Ronald Reagan, setting aside the month of March to increase public awareness of developmental disabilities, to promote the dignity, equality, and self-determination of all individuals.

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions that manifest before the age of 22 and result in significant impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavioral areas. Common developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, visual impairment, hearing loss, and ADHD. Developmental disabilities occur among all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

Throughout the month, MiDDC will be sharing personal self-advocacy stories of those with developmental disabilities to help raise awareness about what living with a developmental disability means for approximately 180,000 residents in Michigan."MiDDC is proud to highlight our work advocating for improved community inclusion of people with developmental disabilities," said Vendella Collins, MiDDC executive director. "March is also an opportunity for us to bring greater public awareness to the ongoing work of full inclusion and integration of people with developmental disabilities into employment and typical community activities."

Kelly Rockwell serves on the MiDDC and is co-founder of MiWork Matters, a local non-profit organization that advocates for employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Mi Work Matters was formed in July of 2018 when its founders realized the need for a more focused approach to addressing employment issues for those with disabilities, a segment of the population that in Michigan that has only a 20 percent employment rate. She is pleased to see state leaders and organizations bringing attention to this often underserved population. "It's very gratifying because it's a group of people that really doesn't get a lot of recognition," she says. "Even within many companies that promote diversity, equity, inclusion efforts, in a lot of companies, disabilities aren't something that's always included and developmental and intellectual disabilities specifically are the group that's left furthest behind. It's really encouraging to see that support from the governor's office." Rockwell adds that companies that do hire individuals with developmental disabilities enjoy several benefits including reduced turnover rates and improved company morale and overall business culture to name a few, according to Forbes Magazine.

Andrea McCarter-Edgar's son, Ian is employed at Mi Work Matters' first business venture, Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop in Livonia. "We are grateful the MDHHS and MiDDC, along with Governor Whitmer are recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Highlighting personal self-advocacy stories connects real stories from real people and shows that individuals with developmental disabilities can and do provide benefits to their community," she says. "Our son, Ian, age 29, who is developmentally disabled, feels great satisfaction from interacting with the public and his peers while working at Anastasia and Katie's Coffee Shop in Livonia."

MiDDC will also engage in various activities to help improve public understanding and promote inclusion for people with developmental disabilities in our communities. Resources and information will be shared on their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MIDDCCouncil/.

For more information on Mi Work Matters, go to http://www.miworkmatters.org.