LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Raising awareness about developmental disabilities

To the editor:, March is “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month,” during which Americans are urged to provide the “encouragement and opportunities” necessary for people with developmental disabilities to fulfill their potential. The Arc Mercer’s mission is to help these individuals flourish by providing support, training, and opportunity to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD)., Our goal this month is to create awareness about developmental disabilities and to promote respect for people with special needs. People with special needs want to live full, healthy, and productive lives. During March and throughout the year, we need to consider daily struggles these individuals, their families and other loved ones undergo., Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are overlooked and often ignored in the workforce, causing them to experience high levels of unemployment. The Arc Mercer works to reverse this tide by providing job training and opportunities to many I/DD residents. They also suffer from a lack of healthcare options because of a lack of I/DD specialty physicians. The Arc Mercer aims to improve specialty health care access and quality through a new partnership with the Medina Community Clinic., It is important for the general public to become more aware of the tremendous abilities and contributions of people with special needs. Take time out during this Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month – and throughout the year – to reach out to someone with special needs, perform an “act of kindness,” or offer a helping hand or a kind word. Inclusion strengthens us all., Steven P. Cook, Executive Director, The Arc Mercer, Ewing