Annual awareness observances are sponsored by federal, health and non-profit organizations. Awareness campaigns serve the purpose of informing and educating people on a certain causes. Each year, the number of special needs organizations bringing awareness to specific disabilities and disorders seem to grow. Awareness activities range from one day to a month.
Here is a calendar of major special needs awareness months, weeks, and days. Most websites include awareness toolkits, promotional materials and fact sheets. This page focus on awareness activities that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities only.
January
January 20- International Day of Acceptance
January 24- Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day
February
Turner Syndrome Awareness Month
February 15- International Angelman Day
March
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March 1- International Wheelchair Day
March 21- World Down Syndrome Day
March 26- Purple Day for Epilepsy
April
April 2- World Autism Awareness Day
May
Better Hearing and Speech Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Month
Williams Syndrome Awareness Month
May 1- Global Developmental Delay Day
May 15- Tuberous Sclerosis Global Awareness Day
May 5-12- Cri du Chat Awareness Week
May 8-14- Brain Injury Awareness Week
June
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week (Last Sunday in June)
June 23- Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day (Canada)
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month
July
July 14- Disability Pride Parade (NY)
July 14- Disability Awareness Day (UK)
July 22- National Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Day
September
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Syndrome Awareness Month
National Spinal Cord Awareness Month
September 7- World Duchenne Awareness Day
September 9- Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day
October
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Dyslexia Awareness Month
Occupational Therapy Awareness Month
October 6- World Cerebral Palsy Day
October 15- White Cane Awareness Day
October 13-19 Invisible Disabilities Week
October 13-19 International OCD Awareness Week
National Physical Therapy Month
Special Needs Law Month
November
November 7- National Stress Awareness Day
November 15- World Ohtahara Syndrome Awareness Day