March 13, 2023
Developmental Disabilities Month
Did you know that March is Developmental Disability Month? March has been recognized as Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month since 1987 when President Ronald Reagan issued a public proclamation urging Americans to provide individuals with developmental disabilities “the encouragement and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” Developmental disabilities include physical, learning, language, or behavior disabilities that occur before the age of 22. They include but are not limited to autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, spina bifida, hearing loss, vision impairment, and other developmental delays. DD Awareness Month is a great time to think about the contributions of people with a developmental or related disability who live, work, and play among us and to advocate for their full inclusion into all facets of community life.
From PEATC’s March Edition of Waze to Adulthood
Resource Links
- Arlington County’s Developmental Disabilities Services
- The Arc of Northern Virginia: Make Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month Meaningful
- National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities Supporting Families Initiative
1:1 SWIM LESSONS
Register by March 17
Georgetown University’s Chapter of Special Needs Undergraduate Swim Lessons (SNUGS) – a national organization originally founded in 2017 at Yale University – is offering swim lessons. Student volunteers are dedicated to offering free, one-on-one swim lessons to children (ages 3-17) with disabilities in our community. They focus on the life-saving and therapeutic aspects of swimming, recognizing that our top priorities are being safe and having fun in and around the water. They are excited to offer swim lessons to any child with a disability, regardless of swimming experience. Please click here for more information about SNUGS.
Swim lessons will be offered at the Yates Field House pool on Georgetown’s campus on Saturday, 3/25; Saturday, 4/1; Saturday, 4/15; and Saturday, 4/22 from 10:15 – 10:45 am. SNUGS asks that if you would like your child to participate in this spring that they must be able to attend all four of our lessons for this session. Parents/guardians (up to two) and children must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for entry into Yates Field House. If you are interested in SNUGS at Georgetown, please click here to complete the form. In order to participate in lessons the spring, please complete this form by 11:59 pm on Friday, March 17th, 2023.
The Virginia Family Special Education Connection March Family Flyer is now available online, and includes information and resources for the following topics:
- March Brain Injury Awareness Month
March Brain Injury Awareness Month Resources - The CARD™ Toolkit for Educators, Parents, and Healthcare Professionals
The CARD™ system (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) is a science-based, proven framework to help prepare children for stressful events, like school-based vaccinations, presentations, and examinations.
Access the CARD™ Toolkit for Educators, Parents, and Healthcare Professionals - Critical Crossroads: Trauma-Informed Care for Families Impacted by Disability
Resources are available in English and Spanish, and are shared by Formed Families Forward
CHADD’s All Things ADHD & ADHD 365 Podcasts Women’s History Month features include the following topics:
- Women, Executive Function and Emotional Labor
- Women in Midlife and ADHD
- Mental Health for Teens with ADHD
- How to Help Your Teen with ADHD Engage in Self-Advocacy
PEATC’s Transition to Adulthood March Newsletter, Waze to Adulthood, is now online with helpful resources.
Please visit the PRC’s Events page for information on upcoming PRC, APS and community events.