03/05/2026
March is an important month but it shouldn’t just be a month for celebrating the great accomplishments of the I/DD community, it’s actually just everyday, all year. “Nothing about us without us”. We succeed only when we look to every single community member to show up and only when we focus our lens on what each person needs to be successful! I look forward to events this month promoting everyone to be involved in a continuing story of community.
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Check out this proclamation from Governor Tina Kotek. This year’s theme is “Nothing About Us Without Us.” It reminds us that every decision about policies, services and supports must start with the voices and meaningful participation of self-advocates.
Want to get involved? We’re partnering with the Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition, and The Arc Oregon to host an in-person celebration in Salem on March 10. Get the details and learn about other ways to participate at https://www.ocdd.org/dd-awareness/
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Full text of the proclamation:
State of Oregon
Proclamation
Office of the Governor
Whereas: Nationwide over 5.2 million people have developmental disabilities; and
Whereas: Nearly 67,000 adults and children in Oregon have developmental disabilities; and
Whereas: Oregonians with and without disabilities from all racial and cultural backgrounds live and work side by side across Oregon to form strong communities; and
Whereas: Differences are celebrated and every person belongs, has valuable strengths, infinite capacity to thrive, and the potential to make important contributions to their communities; and
Whereas: People with developmental disabilities in Oregon share, with the state’s 4.2 million residents, a vision to live full lives that include opportunities for competitive, integrated employment, safe and accessible housing, meaningful relationships and access to physical and mental health care, and the many wonderful resources we all share; and
Whereas: Families of people with developmental disabilities deserve recognition for their commitment to helping their family member achieve that vision for a full life as an independent and contributing member of their community; and
Whereas: “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month” is an appropriate time to recognize Oregon’s public policy accomplishments on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities and also to identify and make needed changes to public policy to fully include all Oregonians in sustaining and creating community, opportunity, and progress in this beautiful state we all call home; and
Whereas: Oregonians with developmental disabilities are present in all spaces where decisions are made that impact them, reinforcing a core value of the intellectual and developmental disability community: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
Now therefore: I, Tina Kotek, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim March 2026 to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Oregon and encourage all Oregonians to join in this observance.
In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Oregon to be affixed. Done at the Capitol in the City of Salem in the State of Oregon on this day February 26, 2026.
Signed Tina Kotek, Governor, and Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read
