Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners collaborate to lead Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month(DDAM), an annual campaign highlighting how people with and without disabilities form strong communities together. DDAM raises awareness of people with developmental disabilities in all aspects of community life and is a time to address barriers to their meaningful contributions at the local and state levels. NACDD's 2025 theme, We’re Here All Year, focuses on how people and programs are always contributing, not just during this observance.
Related ACL Work
- State Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils) identify the most pressing needs of people with DD in their states/territories and work to address them through advocacy, systems change, and capacity-building efforts.
- University Centers for Excellence in DD Education, Research & Service (UCEDDs) are a nationwide network of independent but interlinked centers that address issues, find solutions, and advance research.
- State Protection & Advocacy Systems (P&As) help people navigate the legal system to achieve resolution and encourage systems change, ensuring they can exercise their rights to make choices, contribute to society, and live independently.
- Projects of National Significance (PNS) focus on the most pressing issues affecting individuals with DD and their families, creating and enhancing opportunities for people to contribute to and participate in all areas of community life.
- Independent Living Programs, including Centers for Independent Living (CILs) support community living by providing resources and supports that promote integration, opportunities, and self-determination.
- I/DD Facts and Figures: Three projects collect national longitudinal data about services provided to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) — data used to identify needs, guide policy, and inform stakeholders. In 2024, the projects partnered to develop a “5 questions” format to share understandable data with the public.
Social Media
Below is a feed-friendly image you can use to observe DD Awareness Month on social media in addition to the NACDD materials available here. The full hashtag for this observance is #DDawareness2025, and the short version is #DDAM2025.
