accessABILITY invites Central Indiana to celebrate differences during March, which was officially declared National Disabilities Awareness Month on February 26, 1987, by President Ronald Reagan. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
“Disability Awareness Month offers an opportunity to call attention to our peers, friends and neighbors with disabilities and the ways we can honor their experience,” says Tammy Themel, CEO at accessABILITY. “People with disabilities make up 25% of the US population yet are often overlooked.”
accessABILITY asks how you are celebrating differences in March. Some suggested ways to support this campaign are to participate, learn, advocate, and give:
- Participate: Find resources at www.abilityindiana.org and print the Disability Awareness Month commitment. Take a photo and post it, tagging accessABILITY (@ability_indiana) on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn with the #CelebratingDifferences tag.
- Learn: accessABILITY is hosting low-cost learning opportunities on March 21st and 24th. Participants will learn about disability history, statistics, and models. An introduction to how to be an ally to the disability community will also be explored. To register for this event, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/accessability-33231286995.
- Advocate: Put learning into practice by creating welcoming spaces for people with disabilities at places you frequent. Connect these places with additional training and even an accessibility audit.
- Give: Empower people with disabilities by donating to accessABILITY’s Disability Awareness Month campaign at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/accessability-center-for-independent-living-inc/donate-to-accessability.
Reach out to accessABILITY for more information on any of these opportunities at info@abilityindiana.org.
About accessABILITY
As a Center for Independent Living serving Marion and the surrounding counties, accessABILITY’s mission is to empower their peers with disabilities to lead and control independent lives fully included in community life. As people with disabilities themselves, they work alongside individuals to reach the level of independence and community access they desire. accessABILITY knows that no two journeys are ever the same, so they use a personalized approach by providing peer support, experience, and resources. All services are free of charge. Ultimately, accessABILITY works to ensure acceptance, respect, inclusion, and equal access for everyone. The result is that our communities are enriched through the full participation of all people. Get more information at www.abilityindiana.org.