March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This year, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) are leading a social media campaign around the theme "See Me For Me." The campaign includes graphics and resource guide of content you can share this month on social media.
The National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC) has compiled research and resources from ACL’s National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) grantees as well as the greater disability and rehabilitation community:
See Me at School: NIDILRR-grantee produced research in this area includes articles and reports on early intervention and inclusive education; vocational education, school to work transition, and career planning; health and wellness; the college experience; and supporting families. More colleges and universities are offering programs geared toward students with I/DD. Learn more about these programs and tools to help young people get ready for the college experience at ThinkCollege.net, a center funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL).
See Me at Work: Current NIDILRR-funded research projects in employment range from specific interventions, such as Project SEARCH, to understanding and implementing effective employment strategies to bring integrated employment to scale for all adults with I/DD. Check out webinars and publications from one of these projects – ThinkWork’s Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Advancing Employment for Individuals with I/DD – to learn about Employment First, the role of families in employment, financial well-being, and more.
See Me in the Community: People with I/DD are parents, siblings, neighbors, and friends. Like all of us, they want to be involved in the community, strive to make healthy choices, and build friendships and families of their own. The community has a part to play by fostering inclusive programs and services. Learn more about how to make recreational and wellness programs more inclusive so the whole community can participate, the important roles of siblings and family caregivers in community participation, and how to support people with I/DD who are or want to become parents.
For more research and resources visit www.naric.com or contact an information specialist at (800) 346-2742. You can also sign up for News and Notes, for weekly updates from the NIDILRR community.