March 31, 2025
By John Carmichael, GT Independence CEO
We’re coming to the end of March and the annual Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM). This effort by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) and its partners highlights who contributes to strong communities. Not surprising to us at GT, it’s everyone—people with and without disabilities.
DDAM 2025 reminds us that recognizing people with developmental disabilities shouldn’t happen during just one month. It should happen every month and every day of every month of the year. The 2025 theme of “We’re Here All Year,” DDAM 2025 challenges everyone. It calls on us to meet, know, and involve people with development disabilities in our communities year round.
Like anyone else, people with developmental disabilities have unique talents and gifts that help make strong and vibrant communities. They can be active participants in neighborhood life. Their life may involve working, going to school, playing, volunteering, or otherwise socializing. But as a society, we need to be intentional about empowering individuals to contribute, and each one of us plays an important role.
Everyone can make a place in their minds and expectations for people with developmental disabilities. We can all look for where people with disabilities are, where they aren’t, and why the current state persists. For people who don’t have a disability or a personal connection with someone who does, such a task can be a challenge. But it’s worth the effort.
Connecting to DDAM 2025 on a personal level
I grew up with an older brother with a developmental disability. It was clear to me from a very young age that he had unique perspectives and abilities that enriched our family and community. For a time, Ben lived in an institutional setting. It was considered the best place for him until the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision.
That decision confirmed what our family knew to be true: “confinement in an institution severely diminishes the everyday life activities of individuals.” The court noted that people in institutions missed out on things that make life richer. They missed out on relationships, education, employment, independence and other opportunities.
The court also noted that institutionalization assumed that people with developmental disabilities were “incapable of or unworthy of participating in community life.” I only need to take a walk with Ben down the streets of our hometown to witness how capable and valued he is in our community. His interactions, friendships, and daily activities are an important part of our neighborhood. He knows more people and knows the town better than I do.
For Ben, transitioning to a life of full participation took time and continued advocacy by our family. At first, he moved from an institutional setting into a group home. But the dynamic didn’t fit his hopes, dreams, and interests. He has long had the energy and desire to get out and explore the world. With the right supports in place, he can do that. He lives in his own home, works, has friends, and pursues many interests.
Witnessing the positive impact of Ben’s involvement in our town has been powerful. When I see the village of support that he has created around himself, I know that people beyond my family look out for him. Ben looks out for his neighbors, as well, and makes a point to check in on them. He’s forming the close bonds that help everyone feel like they are in a safe, supportive, and caring environment.
Shifting our collective mindset
Having an older brother with a developmental disability has always been normal for me. We treat Ben like any other member of the family, and we all have the same hopes: to live the best life we can. People with developmental disabilities are our peers and should be treated like any other people. At times, our system is set up to treat people with disabilities with kid gloves and make sure they are always safe. It’s important to be cautious, but we need to learn to embrace the dignity of risk.
People without disabilities take risks every day—in what they eat, where they go, where they work, and who they invite into their lives. That’s because we don’t give a second thought to the choices, big and small, we get to make every single day. If those choices were taken away and we were told how to live every moment, I have no doubt that a revolt would ensue.
People with developmental disabilities have the same right to pursue happiness that we all do, even if it means taking some risks. This is part of living a full life and participating in community. It’s how we all learn. It’s how we discover our talents and gifts that add value not only to our own lives but to those around us. Full participation is a two-way street. It benefits the individual and their surroundings.
Increasing access to self-direction
Much of what Ben—and more than a million others across the U.S.—can do today is because of self-direction. When he was ready to live life on his own, our family looked to self-direction. It was a way to help Ben choose how he wanted to live and the caregivers he wanted to hire for support. Going through the process of getting him set up inspired our family. We made a commitment to advocate for others like him. Today, we work to make self-direction easier to access and manage.
My family has often remarked that Ben provided the purpose for GT Independence. Our personal experience around his journey helped identify barriers to self-direction. We understand that it can feel overwhelming to participants and their families. One of our goals is to make self-direction easier. At our core, we believe that everyone has the right to make choices about their own lives. Anyone can do it with the right long-term services and supports (LTSS) in place.
With self-direction, people with developmental disabilities can stay in and contribute to their communities. They control their LTSS and have more independence. They can choose what is meaningful to them. Self-direction makes space for each person to be active in their community. They can share their unique life experiences. The more we learn from everyone, the more we can support diversity, problem-solving, and a culture of empathy and understanding.
Fostering greater involvement in our communities
Making space for everyone to take part in the community has vast benefits. It can improve economic health. For example, businesses benefit from the diverse talents and viewpoints that people with developmental disabilities add and often see greater employee satisfaction and retention. This holistic participation can lead to more robust and resilient communities.
To make space, we need to start by looking around us and noticing if people with developmental disabilities are present with people without disabilities. Are they participating in community events, meetings, and social gatherings? If not, we must reflect on the barriers that might be preventing their involvement. Is it accessibility? Lack of invitation? Or societal perceptions about their capabilities?
By creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, we enrich our communities. We can start by ensuring physical accessibility. We also need to cultivate environments where every person is valued for their unique contributions.
Getting involved and learning more
DDAM reminds us that people with developmental disabilities should be seen and supported every day. DDAM is a great time to learn more about how to make that happen. And it’s important to keep learning more throughout the year. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
- Learn More – Visit NACDD’s website for more information and resources for families.
- Share Your Story – If self-direction has helped you or a loved one, tell others! Stories help people understand why this is important.
- Join DDAM 2025 – Post pictures, use the hashtag #WeReHereAllYear, and talk about why full participation in all aspects of life matters.
Let’s work together to make a world where people with disabilities have the same choices as everyone else. Because we’re here all year.