The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
mn.gov/disability-mn
Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

Governor Tim Walz Proclaims March 2023 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

View the entire proclamation by Governor Tim Walz as PDF

Read the text of the proclamation below:

WHEREAS:  
2023 marks the fifty-third anniversary of the United States Congress passing a law that today is titled the Federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act); and

WHEREAS:
The DD Act defines developmental disabilities as "a natural part of the human experience that does not diminish the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to live independently, enjoy self-determination, make choices, contribute to society and experience full integration and inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of society"; and

WHEREAS:
Approximately 1.58% of Minnesotans have a developmental disability; and

WHEREAS:
Individuals with developmental disabilities should be provided with the information, skills, opportunities, and individualized supports to make informed choices and decisions about their own lives; and

WHEREAS:
Individuals with developmental disabilities can make choices to live in homes and communities with persons and support providers of their choice, in which such individuals can exercise their full human and civil rights and responsibilities as citizens, pursue meaningful and productive lives and careers, contribute to their families, communities, state, and nation, and have independent friendships and relationships with people with and without disabilities; and

WHEREAS:
It is crucial that individuals can live free of abuse, neglect, and violations of their legal and human rights and achieve full integration, inclusion and belonging in society, in an individualized manner, consistent with the unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities of each individual; and

WHEREAS:
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month provides for individuals and families to share their experiences and knowledge with the public so that we all may be made more aware of how developmental disabilities affect all of our lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, TIM WALZ, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as:

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH
in the State of Minnesota

 

©2025 The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities
Administration Building   50 Sherburne Avenue   Room G10
St. Paul, Minnesota 55155
Phone: 651-296-4018   Toll-free number: 877-348-0505   MN Relay Service: 800-627-3529 OR 711
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The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402. The federal law also provides funding to the Minnesota Disability Law Center, the state Protection and Advocacy System, and to the Institute on Community Integration, the state University Center for Excellence. The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.

This project was supported, in part by grant number 2401MNSCDD, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

This website is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,152,808.00 funded by ACL/HHS and $222,000.00 funded by non-federal-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.