What is the Purpose of Disability Awareness?
Disability awareness serves many purposes including informing and educating people on a certain cause. In some cases organizations and agencies use it as part of their annual campaign in an effort to bring awareness and raise money for their cause. Employers often conduct trainings on disability awareness as an effort to educate employees and to decrease bullying in the workplace. Disability awareness also can be used to address myths, misconceptions and the realities of having a disability. Ribbons are also used that are specific to awareness activities. Through disability awareness campaigns it is hoped that people learn and develop a greater understanding of those with a disability. Annual awareness observances are sponsored by federal, health and non-profit organizations. In some cases observances are worldwide including World Autism Awareness Day or World Cerebral Palsy Day.
Types of Awareness Campaigns
Awareness campaigns fall under three categories:
- Day- this is often held on the same day each year regardless of the day it falls under. There are cases where an awareness day falls on a specific day such as the last Thursday of a month.
- Week – The dates dates change and vary based on the week. In some cases, awareness activities are held on the first week of the month to the fourth week of the month
- Month- activities and awareness celebrations are held throughout the month.
The 2021 calendar includes major special needs awareness days, weeks, and months. Most websites include awareness toolkits, promotional material and fact sheets. This page focuses on awareness activities that impact people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Click on the month below to go to a specific month.
January /February/March/ April/ May/June/July/September/October/November/December
January
Louis Braille
January (Month)
January 20- International Day of Acceptance
January 24- Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day
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February
February (Month)
Turner Syndrome Awareness Month
February (Week)
February 7-14 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
February 8-12 Feeding Tube Awareness
February (Day)
February 15- International Angelman Day
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March
March (Month)
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March (Week)
March 21-27- Poison Prevention Week
March (Day)
March 1- International Wheelchair Day
March 21- World Down Syndrome Day
March 26- Purple Day for Epilepsy
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April
April (Day)
April 2- World Autism Awareness Day
April 7- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
May
Better Hearing and Speech Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Mobility Awareness Month
Prader Willi Syndrome Awareness Month
Williams Syndrome Awareness Month
May (Week)
May 5-12- Cri du Chat Awareness Week
May (Day)
May 1- Global Developmental Delay Day
May 19- National Schizencephaly Awareness Day
May 15- Tuberous Sclerosis Global Awareness Day
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June
June (Month)
Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month
June (Week)
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week (Last Sunday in June)
June (Day)
June 7- Tourette Syndrome Awareness Day
June 23- Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day (Canada)
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July
July (Month)
National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month
National Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Month
July (Day)
July 18- Disability Awareness Day (UK)
July 22- National Fragile X Syndrome Awareness Day
July 26- American Disability Act Day
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September
September (Month)
Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Awareness Month
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
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October
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Dyslexia Awareness Month
Occupational Therapy Awareness Month
October (Day)
October 6- World Cerebral Palsy Day
October 15- White Cane Awareness Day
October (Week)
October 13-19 Invisible Disabilities Week
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November
Epilepsy Awareness Month
November 7- National Stress Awareness Day
November 15- World Ohtahara Syndrome Awareness Day
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December
December 3- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Updated 1/5/2021
