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 cause. 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.
The calendar includes major special needs awareness months, weeks, and days. Most websites include awareness toolkits, promotional materials and fact sheets. This page focus is on awareness activities that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities only.
January
January (Month)
January (Week)
January 19-25- Special Education Week
January (Day)
January 20- International Day of Acceptance
January 24- Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day
February
February (Month)
Turner Syndrome Awareness Month
February (Day)
February 15- International Angelman Day
March
March (Month)
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Early Intervention Awareness Month
March (Day)
March 1- International Wheelchair Day
March 21- World Down Syndrome Day
March 26- Purple Day for Epilepsy
April
April (Day)
April 1- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 2- World Autism Awareness Day
May
May (Month)
Better Hearing and Speech Month
Early Intervention Awareness Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Month
Williams Syndrome Awareness Month
May (Day)
May 1- Global Developmental Delay Day
May (Week)
May 4-6 Children Mental Health Awareness Week
May 15- Tuberous Sclerosis Global Awareness Day
May 5-12- Cri du Chat Awareness Week
June
June (Month)
June (Week)
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week (Last Sunday in June)
June (Day)
June 23- Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day (Canada)
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month
July
July (Day)
July 14- Disability Pride Parade (NY)
July 14- Disability Awareness Day (UK)
July 22- National Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Day
July 26- American Disabilities Act Day (30 Year Anniversary)
September
September (Month)
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Awareness
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Syndrome Awareness Month
National Spinal Cord Awareness Month
September (Week)
September 13-19- Direct Support Professional Week
September 7- World Duchenne Awareness Day
September 9- Fetal Alcohol Awareness Day
October
October (Month)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Dyslexia Awareness Month
Occupational Therapy Awareness Month
October (Day)
October 5- World Teacher’s Day
October 6- World Cerebral Palsy Day
October 10- National Depression Screening Day
October 15- White Cane Awareness Day
October (Week)
October 4-10- Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 5-11 Dyspraxia Awareness Week
October 13-19 Invisible Disabilities Week
October 13-19 International OCD Awareness Week
October 19-23- National School Bus Safety Week
National Physical Therapy Month
November
November (Month)
November (Day)
November 4- National Stress Awareness Day
November 15- World Ohtahara Syndrome Awareness Day
December
December (Day)
December 2- National Special Education Day
December 3- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December (Week)
