DC Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Every March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) celebrates Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with events and a social media campaign. The purpose is to highlight and celebrate people with developmental disabilities and the positive impact they make in their communities. The theme for March 2023 is “Beyond the Conversation”. The campaign’s goal centers around inclusion and building awareness of how people with and without disabilities form strong communities together. They also seek to educate the public about the barriers still faced by people with disabilities within their communities. #DDAM2023
Importance
The CDC estimates that 1 in 6 children have one or more conditions considered a developmental disability or developmental delay. As defined by the CDC, developmental disabilities are a “group of conditions due to impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas.” They include:
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Cerebral palsy
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
- Learning or intellectual disabilities
- Hearing loss
- Vision impairment
- Other developmental delays
Ways to Continue the Conversation
- How do you help someone with a developmental disability?
- How should you to interact/communicate with someone with a developmental disability?
- Talk to your children about disabilities and inclusion.
- Read for tips about terminology and language related to developmental disabilities. While these are general guidelines, they do not reflect the perspectives of everyone. It is always a best practice to talk with individuals in the community and approach the discussion with curiosity in terms of what terminology and language best represent them.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training
Project Implicit – A Harvard self evaluation: Implicit Association Test (IAT) – Link
Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care – Link
