October Celebrations & Observances
October is already here, and with it comes a myriad of disability community observances. These celebrations are a chance for advocates with disabilities and their allies to not only raise awareness of challenges facing the disability community as a whole, but also to boost understanding and support for people with specific disabilities like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and Spina Bifida. Read on to learn more about this month’s celebrations and observances.
Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Oct 1-Oct 31
This month is about recognizing and celebrating the diverse and valuable abilities, goals, and accomplishments of the more than 5 million people who have Down syndrome worldwide. It also seeks to break down the barriers faced by people with Down syndrome.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): Oct 1-Oct 31
NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities. This year’s initiative promotes 31 things that employers and others can do to boost inclusivity this month, with the theme of “Celebrating Value and Talent". See our article above to find resources on resume-writing, interviewing, and more for jobseekers with disabilities.
Spina Bifida Awareness Month: Oct 1-Oct 31
During this observance, supporters are encouraged to celebrate the contributions of people who have Spina Bifida, share information about the disability to boost public understanding, and advocate for the needs of the more than 166,000 people nationwide who have Spina Bifida.
World Blindness Awareness Month: Oct 1-Oct 31
Did you know that people with non-vision-related disabilities are 15 to 20 times more likely than people without disabilities to experience blindness or serious difficulty with sight? World Blindness Awareness Month is a time to learn about and break down the barriers faced by those with blindness and vision loss, while also recognizing the achievements of people who are blind.
Anniversary of Rosa’s Law: Oct 5
On October 5, 2010, President Obama signed a bill called Rosa’s Law, which ended the use of the R-word in federal laws and policies. Then and now, this change has been a reminder that discriminatory language should have no place in our society. The anniversary of Rosa’s Law is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made and encourage others to continue to push back against derogatory language.
World Cerebral Palsy Day: Oct 6
Yesterday was World Cerebral Palsy Day, a day when we recognize the successes of people with cerebral palsy (CP) and advocate for increased inclusion of people with CP. This year’s theme, "Unique and United", is a reminder that each person with CP has different needs, experiences, and ideas about what needs to change.
Invisible Disabilities Week: Oct 18-24
An estimated 10% of people in the United States have an invisible disability, meaning that others may not be able to tell the person has a disability. During Invisible Disabilities Week, we raise awareness of the unique challenges and experiences of people with invisible disabilities. This week is also a time for people with invisible disabilities to explore resources or tools to help them discreetly self-identify as people with disabilities in certain situations—such as when navigating the airport or interacting with law enforcement—if they so choose.
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