March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, and this year’s theme, “We’re Here All Year,” serves as a reminder that individuals with disabilities deserve support, celebration, and recognition year-round. At ProAct, we take pride in being a service provider that stands alongside the disability community every day, assisting individuals in achieving the independence they seek through day support services, employment services, home support, and community engagement.
While March is a time for raising awareness, discussions surrounding Medicaid funding and policy changes are ongoing and have real implications for the clients we serve. As lawmakers in D.C. and Minnesota engage in these discussions, it’s crucial that the needs of the disability community remain a priority. ProAct and other service providers work tirelessly to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to the resources and opportunities necessary for them to thrive.
ProAct equips individuals with disabilities with the tools they need to lead independent and fulfilling lives. Programs like employment services, individualized home supports, and day support services offer the access to social interaction, education, employment opportunities, and the means to achieving the level of independence each individual desires. When individuals, no matter their ability level, can achieve independence, their lives improve, their families and caretakers can feel greater ease, and their communities have members with an interest and passion to give back. A person’s ability level need not prevent them from taking part in their community, from volunteering to help those most in need, from working at a variety of different jobs to strengthen the local economy. Varying ability levels simply need support that service providers like ProAct provide to ensure they are empowered to live life on their own terms.
On March 18th, ProAct will participate in Disability Services Day at the Capitol in St. Paul to advocate for ongoing support for disability services. This event presents an opportunity for us to remind lawmakers of the urgent need for funding and resources to support individuals with disabilities throughout the year.
As we observe Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we are reminded that our dedication to the disability community extends beyond March. ProAct will never stop advocating for policies that ensure individuals with disabilities have the opportunities and resources they need to live independently and flourish.