News
For Immediate Release
March 2, 2026
Oregon Celebrates DD Awareness Month, Elevating Self-Advocates’ Voices with Theme: “Nothing About Us Without Us”
Salem, OR (March 2, 2026) –
On March 10, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities will host a celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Barbara Roberts Human Services Building (500 Summer St. NE, Salem). The event will bring together people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their families, community partners, state agencies, and legislators to honor inclusion and advocacy.
Although DDAM is observed in March, the IDD community promotes awareness throughout the year. This year, the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC), and The Arc of Oregon are partnering to continue last year’s message, “Developmental Disability Awareness Always,” and highlight the 2026 theme: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
This year’s theme reflects a long-standing value of the IDD community, reminding us that every decision, service, and support should begin with people with IDD—their voices, lived experiences, and meaningful participation in all spaces where decisions are made.
Governor Tina Kotek has signed the 2026 proclamation declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Oregon. The in-person celebration will include a reading of the proclamation, unveiling of the 2026 poster, and remarks from community leaders and advocates:
- Welcome – Brent Watkins, Interim Executive Director, OCDD
- Reading of the proclamation – Kelly McCauley, Self-Advocate and OCDD Chair
- Self-advocate speaker – To be announced
- Paulina Larenas, Parent and OCDD Family Member Committee Chair
- Em Braman, Parent and Executive Director, The Arc of Oregon
- Keynote address – Allen Hines, Housing Access Director, Community Vision
- Acacia McGuire Anderson, Director, Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS)
Nearly 67,000 adults and children in Oregon have developmental disabilities. They live and work side by side with their neighbors to form strong, diverse communities.[ii] The theme “Nothing About Us Without Us” underscores the importance of active and meaningful participation by people with IDD and their families in all spaces in Oregon where decisions are made—so they may live, work, play and learn the way they choose in their communities.
For event details and additional DDAM 2026 activities, visit https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness, or call (971) 225-3659.
[i] Prevalence of intellectual and developmental disabilities: Estimates from the 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 106(3), 231 252.
[ii] Census Bureau population date: https://data.census.gov/profile?q=United%20States&g=010XX00US .
The current national prevalence rate of people with developmental disabilities is 1.58%, determined using the calculation identified in the American Journal on Mental Retardation 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements. Larson, S.A., Lakin, K.C., Anderson, L., Kwak, N., Lee, J., & Anderson, D. (2001).
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About OCDD
OCDD in one of 56 Governor-appointed Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils) across the United States and its territories. The DD Councils support programs that promote self-determination, integration and inclusion for all people in the United States with developmental disabilities. With a vision that all communities welcome and value people with disabilities and their families, OCDD advances social and policy change so that people with developmental disabilities, their families, and communities may live, work, play, and learn together.
MEDIA CONTACT: Johanne Regunathan
johanne.regunathan@ocdd.org
Sources:
[i] Prevalence of intellectual and developmental disabilities: Estimates from the 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 106(3), 231 252.
[ii] Census Bureau population data: https://data.census.gov/profile?q=United%20States&g=010XX00US .
The current national prevalence rate of people with developmental disabilities is 1.58%, determined using the calculation identified in the American Journal on Mental Retardation 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements. Larson, S.A., Lakin, K.C., Anderson, L., Kwak, N., Lee, J., & Anderson, D. (2001).
For Immediate Release
March 3, 2025
Oregon celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Always
Salem, OR (March 3, 2025) – On March 7, 2025 at noon, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families, community partners and state agencies will gather at the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Barbara Roberts Human Services Building (500 Summer St. NE, Salem) to kick off Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This year’s theme, Disability Awareness Always, highlights that awareness takes more than a month – it’s something we do all year.
Governor Tina Kotek signed a proclamation declaring March 2025 to be DD Awareness Month in Oregon. The proclamation invites everyone to celebrate members of Oregon’s I/DD community and the many ways they contribute to their local communities. The celebration event, organized by the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities (OCDD), will feature a reading of the proclamation as well as remarks from:
- Brent Watkins, OCDD Interim Executive Director
- Dana Hittle, ODHS Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS) Interim Director
- Senator Sara Gelser Blouin
- Cheryl Cisneros, Creating Opportunities Executive Director
- Kelly McCauley, OCDD Chair
- Gabrielle Guedon, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition (OSAC) Executive Director
Nearly 67,000 adults and children in Oregon have developmental disabilities.[i] They live and work side by side with their neighbors to form strong, diverse communities.[ii] The DD Awareness Always theme highlights that every person has valuable strengths, infinite capacity to thrive, and the potential to make important contributions to their local communities. We all deserve to live full lives that include opportunities for competitive, integrated employment, safe and accessible housing, meaningful relationships and access to physical and mental health care.
To learn more about the celebration event and developmental disabilities awareness, visit https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness, or call (971) 225-3659.
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About OCDD
OCDD in one of 56 Governor-appointed Councils on Developmental Disabilities (DD Councils) across the United States and its territories. The DD Councils support programs that promote self-determination, integration and inclusion for all people in the United States with developmental disabilities. With a vision that all communities welcome and value people with disabilities and their families, OCDD advances social and policy change so that people with developmental disabilities, their families, and communities may live, work, play, and learn together.
MEDIA CONTACT: Johanne Regunathan
johanne.regunathan@ocdd.org
Sources:
[i] Prevalence of intellectual and developmental disabilities: Estimates from the 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 106(3), 231 252.
[ii] Census Bureau population data: https://data.census.gov/profile?q=United%20States&g=010XX00US .
The current national prevalence rate of people with developmental disabilities is 1.58%, determined using the calculation identified in the American Journal on Mental Retardation 1994/1995 National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplements. Larson, S.A., Lakin, K.C., Anderson, L., Kwak, N., Lee, J., & Anderson, D. (2001).