Governor Jim Pillen was joined by DHHS officials and people with developmental disabilities at the State Capitol Tuesday morning as he proclaimed March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
“It allows us to raise awareness for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and I urge all Nebraskans to provide encouragement and support to these individuals to help them achieve their full potential, goals, and dreams.”
Developmental Disabilities Month was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. “The purpose of this proclamation was and continues to be today to urge Americans to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the encouragement and support and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and achieve their full potential goals and dreams,” says Tony Green, director of the division of developmental disabilities for DHHS.
Green says the state supports more than 5,100 Nebraskans with developmental disabilities who are living, working and leading productive lives in their local communities.” Green says. In addition, Green says the designation brings awareness to some of the barriers that people with disabilities continue to face, including employment.
Pillen asked Nebraskans to contact their state senators about his education funding proposals in the Legislature, including increases to special education funding.