ATHENS, Ohio — Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month kicked off with the March on Court Street on Tuesday, March 7, bringing together over 100 local residents who walked from Baker University Center to the Athens County Courthouse in support of people with developmental disabilities.
“We had probably our largest turnout ever,” said Arian Smedley, assistant superintendent of Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
March down Court Street. Photo taken from Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities Facebook page.
The annual observation “helps people get more involved, get used to people that have disabilities and that are different, and that can show what people need,” local resident Dara Walburn said.
President Ronald Reagan established Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in 1987 at the request of Congress.
“Americans are becoming increasingly aware that such disabilities need not keep individuals from realizing their full potential in school, at work or at home, as members of their families and of their communities,” Reagan wrote in his proclamation.
One example of that statement is the Athens chapter of People First of Ohio, an advocacy group led by people with disabilities.
William “‘Billy”’ Peacock became president of the local People First chapter two years ago. He said achieving the position was a dream come true.
“I was just a member, and I had this vision of being a president,” he told the Independent. A close friend who held the position stepped down and asked Peacock to succeed him.
“Everybody has a dream in life,” Peacock said. “You dream and you follow that dream.”
At its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 11, more than a dozen people evaluated past events, planned new ones, created teams for future organizing and discussed community views of people with disabilities.
Integrate Athens, a division of the ACBDD that works to support people with disabilities, has worked closely with People First for the past two years to make the chapter more active in the community. The organizations discuss policy issues, such as barriers in transportation for people with disabilities, as well as social opportunities such as movie nights, dance nights, free concerts and a recent singles mixer.
“It’s really important to us at the county board that as we’re making decisions and actions, that we’re hearing the voices of the people that we serve and getting their feedback, so that we know we’re moving in the right direction,” Autumn Brown, director of Integrate Athens said.
Katelyn Lemley, Friends, Allies, and Neighbors coordinator for Integrate Athens discusses programming on Tuesday during a March 11 meeting of the Athens chapter of People First of Ohio recruitment event. Photo by Shiloh Antonuccio.
Other local events planned for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month include:
- March 19: Screening of “The Ride Ahead,” the true story of a young man with a rare genetic disorder looking for his place in the world. 7 p.m. at Ohio University Baker University Center Theater, 1 Park Place, Athens.
- March 27: Developmental Disability Awareness Fest; 6–8 p.m. at Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens.
- March 28: Screening of “Crip Camp,” the award-winning documentary about a summer camp for disabled teens. 11:30 a.m. at Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St., Athens.
