March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month

Michigan Lt. Governor, Brian Calley, is serving as the keynote speaker for a Oakland County rally celebrating March 2017 as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The Ability Awareness rally is being held on Thursday, March 9, 2017 from 1 – 3 p.m. at the Troy Community Center, and is co-hosted by Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA), Community Living Services – Oakland (CLS), and Macomb-Oakland Regional Center (MORC).

Three time Emmy Award recipient and Fox 2 News Anchor, Taryn Asher, is serving as host during this celebration. Oakland County residents with developmental disabilities who have attained their goals to achieve community involvement; lead active, independent lives; or own and operate a business are being recognized.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to recognize the abilities of people with developmental disabilities during the month of March,” says OCCMHA Executive Director and CEO, Willie Brooks. “It’s a special honor to be joined by Lt. Governor Calley as we also advocate with and educate our community on important life matters that impact people with developmental disabilities and their families.”

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.

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

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.occmha.org.

About OCCMHA

Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority is the public mental health system responsible for identifying, influencing, and delivering services and supports to approximately 25,000 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.

OCCMHA’s current network of service providers include: Common Ground, Community Housing Network, Community Living Services, Community Network Services, Easter Seals 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 OCCMHA’s website. For more information about OCCMHA call (800) 341-2003 or visit www.occmha.org.