Supporting Detroit Nonprofits during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! The CDC defines developmental disabilities as “a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.” The CDC also estimates that 1 in 6 children have developmental disabilities or delays. Developmental disabilities are incredibly diverse and include conditions such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, and cerebral palsy. People with developmental disabilities can live long and fulfilling lives with proper support and access to said support.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was first celebrated in 1987 as a time to recognize the contributions of developmentally disabled people and to assist in their ability to thrive. SHARE Detroit works with a number of wonderful nonprofits that do just that! Our nonprofit partners work in three major areas: offering holistic support, promoting workplace preparedness, and contributing to advocacy.
Offering Holistic Support: Friendship Circle of Michigan and Gigi's Playhouse Detroit both feature a wide array of programs, ranging from tutoring to family support, with Gigi’s Playhouse specifically devoted to people with Down syndrome. JARC embraces Jewish values while providing community and housing support to disabled people. Team GUTS hosts recreational activities for children and adults with disabilities. Kids On The Go, Detroit Institute for Children (now known as Boldi - Exceptional Youth Services), and Easterseals MORC all offer mental health services, with Kids on the Go and Boldi focusing their service on children. These organizations know that support comes in many forms.
Promoting Workplace Preparedness: Mi Work Matters, Soaring Dreams, Services to Enhance Potential, TrueLife Academy, Inc, All-Ways Care Services, and Progressive Art Studio Collective include in their programming jobs training for people with developmental disabilities and mental health differences. This work is crucial for ensuring the independence of disabled people.
Contributing to Advocacy: We are also partnered with several branches of the Arc organization including The Arc Detroit, The Arc Michigan, The Arc of Macomb County, The Arc of Oakland County, and The Arc of Northwest Wayne County. The Arc has long engaged in advocacy that has contributed to the advancement of the rights of disabled people. They do this while also providing a variety of educational and recreational activities.
We hope that you will take the time to support one or more of these organizations this month by attending an event, volunteering time, donating money, or shopping their wish-lists! If you can’t support these organizations directly, remember that education is a vital first step in building a better world, so check them out on social media for informative content and to stay up to date with ways to support their missions!