Disability inclusion means understanding the relationship between how people function and how they participate in society and ensuring everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires. In an effort to effectively spread awareness and foster inclusion, each month we commemorate and share Disability Awareness information, resources, and celebrations.
People with all abilities should have the ability to live their life to the fullest. That is why it is essential to bring awareness to disabilities so that we can move beyond the conversation to the action of acceptance and inclusion. If you need resources, visit TNPathfinder.org and type in the keyword “developmental disabilities” to find help near you.
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Bottom (l to r): Elise McMillan, Jennifer Padron, Karen Mevis, Andrea Castillo
March is Women’s History Month! A time to celebrate the contributions that women have made to the world. The women pictured here make history every day with their tireless efforts to assist countless numbers of individuals and families gain access to disability resources! The Pathfinder team celebrates Women’s History Month because simply, WOMEN ROCK! ?
Find ways to tell a woman in your life how amazing they are and learn more about all the contributions of women in your communities.
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Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood, affecting body movement and muscle coordination.
CP is caused by abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement, balance, and posture. CP is the most common motor disorder and the second-most common disability found in children. Currently, over 700,000 people live with CP.
For resources and support for people living with Cerebral Palsy, visit TNPathfinder.org. Here are a few for you.
United Cerebral Palsy of Middle TN
Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA)
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“Change your Colors…and you change your World,” is the theme for Color Therapy Month which has been celebrated in March since 2011. It’s a time to celebrate ways in which people are using color in their everyday lives. Find out ways you can celebrate this month colorfully.
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Colorectal Cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States. Every March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month spotlights this disease and inspires more people to get checked starting at age 45. Find out more about this cancer, means of protection, and ways to bring arwareness here.
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Nationally and globally, there is growing awareness about Multiple Sclerosis (MS), people living with the disease and the MS movement. This month, let’s all do our part and spread awareness by sharing information about multiple sclerosis. Here’s how you can do your part.
Below is a Tennessee resource for you to learn more and additional days you can celebrate the awareness month.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid South Chapter
MS Awareness Week: March 12-18
World MS Day: May 30
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March has been proclaimed Trisomy Awareness Month in a record number of states. Tennessee is one of those states. See proclomations here. We’re celebrating along with the families of children impacted. The message of awareness is not just about what Trisomy is and how it can affect the children but also to celebrate the love the families have for their children regardless of their diagnosis.
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World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is March 21st and is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The theme for WDSD is With Us Not For Us.
Find out more about this special day and Down Syndrome by visiting two of our community partners, Down Syndrome Association of Memphis and the Mid-South and Down Syndrome Association of Middle TN (DSAMT). And check out DSAMT awareness facts on their Instagram page. The facts are quite informative and the images will make you smile.