03/01/2006

“Everyone Belongs” is the theme for Developmental Disabilities Month 2006

“It is time to recognize individuals with disabilities as active citizens, good workers, and good neighbors”
 

Governor Mike Rounds has proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in South Dakota. As the proclamation states, let this be a time when you reflect on your perception of individuals with disabilities. It is time to put the person first, the disability second.

“It is time to recognize individuals with disabilities as active citizens, good workers, and good neighbors,” Robert Kean, Executive Director of South Dakota Advocacy Services said.

South Dakota Advocacy Services, the SD Council on Developmental Disabilities and USD Center for Disabilities celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March and invite you to consider the true meaning of this year’s theme, “Everyone Belongs.”

The disability community is the largest minority group in our country. It includes people of both genders and from all religions, ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic levels. Unique to the disability community is that it is the only minority group that anyone can join in the split second of an accident.

“This is a time when our organization focuses on encouraging the public to better understand people with disabilities,” Arlene Poncelet, Director of the SD Council on Developmental Disabilities, said. “I want to encourage you to bring diversity to your community by welcoming people with disabilities into your neighborhood, workplace, house of worship and school.”

“During this month we encourage people to learn more about the people in all communities who have disabilities. For example, when you see a child who uses a wheelchair, see the child, not the chair or the disability,” Judy Struck Director of the USD Center for Disabilities said. “People First Language puts the person first, the disability second.” It describes what the person has, not what a person is. Using terms like “the handicapped” or even “the disabled” evokes negative feelings of sadness, pity, and fear.

To achieve inclusion, community and freedom for people with disabilities, we must use People First Language. As Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”

South Dakota Advocacy Services, the SD Council on Developmental Disabilities and USD Center for Disabilities would like to take this opportunity to thank Gov. Rounds and the public in helping South Dakota be a proactive state when it comes to inclusion for people with disabilities. “Our state and legislature has set an example for other citizens of South Dakota and we thank you for that,” Poncelet said.

For more information about developmental disabilities and People First Language, call South Dakota Advocacy Services at 1-800-658-4782 or the USD Center for Disabilities at 1-800-658-3080 or the South Dakota Council on Developmental Disabilities at 605-773-6369.

Additional information can be found at the agency websites:

SD Council on Developmental Disabilities – www.state.sd.us/dhs/ddc

SD Advocacy Services - http://www.sdadvocacy.com/

USD Center for Disabilities - http://www.usd.edu/cd/