Adams County Proclaims March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Adams County commissioners Kelly Jones, Barbara Moore Holt and Jason Hayslip issued an official proclamation on March 2, 2026 recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, joined by Adams County Board of Developmental Disabilities representatives Charissa Gardner, Naman Stapleton and Superintendent Scot Crace. A photo by Raedena Vogler accompanied county coverage of the proclamation event.

The proclamation “stresses how vital it is for the Adams County community to remain actively engaged in advocacy efforts that support meaningful program development and continued positive system change,” and it “acknowledges that individuals with developmental disabilities bring valuable perspectives, strengths, and contributions that enrich schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, and every part of civic life.” The county statement “also emphasizes that the most effective way to increase awareness is through visible participation within the community and a willingness to learn about and appreciate the unique experiences of every individual.”

The county placed the local proclamation in the context of federal history, citing the national origin of the observance under Public Law 99-483, which designated March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and authorized a Presidential proclamation. The federal text historically referenced in the county material includes President Ronald Reagan’s admonition: “I urge all Americans to join me in according our fellow citizens with such disabilities both encouragement and the opportunities they need to lead productive lives and to achieve their full potential.” The national materials list conditions highlighted by the observance, including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and spina bifida.

This year’s theme, “We’re Here All Year,” frames the county directive and national messaging toward sustained engagement beyond March. Local promotional material quoted an inclusion advocate urging broader action: “So let’s take action beyond March 31. Whether you’re an employer rethinking hiring practices, a community leader shaping policies, or a supportive friend looking for ways to connect, your sustained engagement matters. By continuously championing the rights, abilities, and dreams of people with developmental disabilities, we make inclusivity not just a yearly campaign - but a promise lived out every day.”

Local service organizations were highlighted alongside the proclamation. The Arc of Adams County noted that Linda has served as its executive director since 1985 and detailed programs including Community Honors, a Spring Disability Resource Fair, and an annual summer picnic featuring face painting, balloon animals, magic shows and food. Arc contact information provided with local outreach reads 634-6888 and jwann@arcadams.org; the organization also included a Spanish-language solidarity statement on civil rights and inclusion.

The county proclamation frames March observances as a prompt for ongoing work: the document urges visible participation, meaningful program development and continued positive system change under the “We’re Here All Year” theme, signaling a county-level push to translate a federal observance into sustained local policy and community action.