SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—Earlier this week, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro and County Council passed a resolution declaring March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and designating March 1 as Inclusion Day. The campaign is celebrated throughout the nation to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all areas of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still face in connecting to the communities in which they live.
To celebrate Inclusion Day, Summit County Development Disabilities Board (Summit DD) collaborated with the Akron Zoo to offer free admission on February 27 to March 1. Summit DD also encouraged county residents to wear orange on March 1 to kickoff Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and promote community inclusion.
“Summit County prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive community for all people of all abilities,” said Executive Shapiro. “Events like Inclusion Day are evidence of this and the Akron Zoo’s sensory inclusive initiatives are great examples of how we are making sure our community is truly welcoming for all.”
“We have made great progress in making sure people of all abilities have an opportunity to live fulfilling lives in our community, but there is always more work to be done,” said District 4 Council Member Jeff Wilhite. “Summit DD and its many community partners are working hard to make sure no one misses out on a chance to realize their full potential.”
Summit County Development Disabilities Board is sponsoring other events during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Visit https://www.summitdd.org/news/dd-awareness-month-2021/ for more information.
