July 18th is Disability Awareness Day in the UK. First introduced 30 years ago by Dave Thompson, the day is observed by and for people with disabilities and their allies to increase awareness and encourage support for those with disabilities and their families.

Disability Awareness Day continues today with the help of Warrington Disability Partnership, an organization Dave Thompson created to help promote and educate people about disabilities. This year marks the 30th anniversary. As such a momentous occasion, the celebrations this year have been moved to Sunday, September 12th. This is due to cautionary Corona Virus restrictions.

Why is Disability Awareness Day Important?

All around the world, there are many different days in the year designed to raise awareness. Although we’re in the US, our international community bands together to make each other’s voices that much louder. Days such as the disability awareness day remind people of their commitment to each other, wherever they are in the world.

According to the World Health Organization, 15% of the global population lives with a disability. That’s almost 1 billion people worldwide. And that only accounts for those who have been accurately diagnosed. 

With intellectual and developmental disabilities, there are also many times when a person has one diagnosis that is comorbid with another. For example, someone who has been diagnosed with autism may also have ADHD. 

The fact that people have disabilities is not something that should be ignored and those with disabilities should not be alienated from the rest of society. Unfortunately, when a person has a disability, they are often ignored, talked down to, and left out. 

The reality that we need to work toward is inclusion of every single person no matter age, gender, ethnicity, and disabilities. Each person deserves to have the same choices and same freedoms as the next. 

How Can You Get Involved?

On Disability Awareness Day, it is important to educate yourself about the challenges and triumphs individuals with disabilities face. It’s also a great time for self advocates to make some noise as well. 

You can do your part by participating in awareness events. You can also create your own events. Another way to get involved is to share articles like this one on social media. 

You don’t need to limit your support and engagement to disability awareness day. This will go a long way towards normalizing disabilities and making a more inclusive world for everyone.

About Stephen’s Place

Stephen’s Place is a proud observer of Disability Awareness Day. We believe that everybody in society deserves to be heard, accommodated, and included. 

We are an independent apartment community for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, located in Vancouver, WA (7 minutes from Portland, OR).

If you have a loved one with developmental or intellectual disabilities who is looking for a community to live in, please contact us for more information. 

Stephen’s Place is a private-pay apartment community due to our state-of-the-art amenities and programs. We are a nonprofit and do not profit from our community. We are private pay because we spend more than some housing communities to ensure that our residents are comfortable and can safely live their lives with independence and dignity.