March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) is hosting a rally to create awareness about developmental disabilities and teach the importance of inclusion. The event is being held in honor of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The Ability Awareness Rally will take place on Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 1-3 p.m. at OCHN, 5505
Corporate Dr. Troy, MI 48098. The event is co-hosted by Community Living Services, and MORC.

Three time Emmy Award recipient and Fox 2 News Anchor, Taryn Asher, is serving as host during this
celebration and the event will feature renowned TEDx speaker Marina K. Morris.

Oakland County residents who have attained their goals to achieve community involvement; lead active,
independent lives; or own and operate a business are being recognized.

Some of the business owners will be selling their merchandise during the event. There will also be
resources and information on employment, housing, and transportation for people with disabilities.

March was originally proclaimed at Developmental Disabilities Awareness month in 1987 by President
Ronald Reagan.

A developmental disability is a severe, chronic disability attributable to mental or physical impairment,
or combination of such impairments, which manifests before the person is age 22 and is likely to
continue indefinitely.

It results in substantial functional limitations in three or more of these major life activities: self-care,
receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living and
economic self-sufficiency. Some examples of a development disability are autism, cerebral palsy,
intellectual disabilities and epilepsy.

People with developmental disabilities strive to be equal participants in their communities, and to live
productive and fulfilling lives. Approximately 180,000 adults and children have a developmental
disability statewide, which includes more than 5,000 Oakland county residents currently receive
specialty public mental health services provided by OCCMHA, CLS, and MORC. For more information
about services for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities visit www.oaklandchn.org.

About OCHN
Oakland Community Health Network is the public mental health system responsible for identifying,
influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,800 Oakland County residents,
including individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, adults with mental illness, children
with serious emotional disturbance, and persons with substance use disorders. Most of these individuals
have Medicaid.

OCHN’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network,
Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easterseals Michigan, Macomb-Oakland
Regional Center, Oakland Family Services, Inc., and Training and Treatment Innovations. A complete
list of substance use service providers is available on OCHN’s website. For more information about
OCHN call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.oaklandchn.org.