March Is Disabilities Awareness Month

In 1987, when then-President Reagan declared March as the first Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, there was little housing, social help or employment opportunities for people with those disabilities.

Since then, much has changed, according to Becky Harker, with the Developmental Disabilities Council, such as the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and workplace acceptance of people with disabilities. She says what has not changed are the goals of the original declaration.

There are seven million Americans living with developmental disabilities.

Advocates in Arizona are urging lawmakers to restore at least three percent of the funding for services that has been cut in the last four years, just to keep providers from going under.