Celebrating 2026 DD Awareness
Share our poster & join us for our celebration events in March! (Learn more below)
We’re excited to announce this year’s Developmental Disabilities Awareness theme and poster!
Although DD Awareness is observed in March, the IDD community promotes awareness throughout the year. This year, we are continuing last year’s message, “Developmental Disability Awareness Always,” and highlighting the 2026 theme:
“Nothing About Us Without Us.”
This guiding principle of the IDD community reminds us that every decision, service, and support must begin with self-advocates—their voices, lived experiences, and meaningful participation in all spaces.
Join us in celebrating and sharing this message in March and throughout the year!
Click on the images to view larger or download the pdf in your preferred langauge below.
2026 DD Awareness Proclamation
Governor Tina Kotek signed the proclamation on February 26th, 2026, officially kicking off 2026 Developmental Disability Awareness Month in Oregon!
Listen to a recorded reading of the Proclamation
Goals for 2026
- Promote advocacy and meaningful representation from people with lived experiences in all spaces where decisions are made about them.
- Inform decision makers about the barriers and successes people with IDD and their familes encounter to fully participating in spaces where decisions are made.
- Empower new people to become involved in storytelling and advocacy.
Save the dates for all our upcoming celebration events in March:
Virtual Self-Advocate Panel
Self-Advocacy Across Generations: Building Connection, Collaboration and Celebration
- Tues, March 24, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Who will attend: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, community partners, and support persons.
- Discussion topic: sharing and promoting advocacy and meaningful representation in all spaces.
Virtual Event – Join Us On Zoom.
Virtual Spanish Language Session
- Thurs, March 19, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Discussion details forthcoming
Virtual Event – Join Us On Zoom.
Please register to receive the meeting link.
Shareable Poster Template & Toolkit
The DD Awareness campaign is funded by a portion of a financial assistance award from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) totaling $860,782. 100% of this project is funded by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS or the U.S. Government.