Celebrating March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

by Evander Lomke on March 2, 2026 12:15 pm

DDAM Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is honored and celebrated annually since 1987, when President Ronald W. Reagan officially designated DDAM: to foster inclusion, increase awareness of the needs and capabilities of individuals with developmental disabilities [IDD, sometimes written I/DD], and encourage opportunities toward more productive and happier lives. This proclamation emphasized community integration in support of full independence. Following his predecessor’s example, on July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law. ADA protects the rights of all citizens with IDD. Both DDAM and ADA represent great strides, especially with respect to accessibility. But there is much more to be done to end discrimination, to counter negative tropes and related stigmas whenever mental health is a concern. As part of its mission, The American Mental Health Foundation has made it a goal to promote the emotional well-being of every individual with IDD: special needs across the life spectrum—with elders being an area of particular interest.