march awareness

• Brain injury Awareness
• Cerebral Palsy Awareness (Awareness day is March 25)
• Mental Retardation Awareness
• Learning Disabilities Awareness
• Developmental Disabilities Awareness
• National Kidney Month

These are just some of the disabilities and diseases that are in observance in the month of March.  While looking through the list for the month of March, I could think of at least one person in my life that has been affected by nearly all of them.  As much as I want to raise awareness about each and every disability or disease, I find myself focusing on the things that have had the most impact on my family’s life.

• Developmental disabilities has been a factor in my oldest son’s life since the day he was born and it has affected him  in every aspect; sitting, walking, talking, eating, writing and much more.  This was to be expected since he was born at just twenty-four weeks gestation.  We were told that preemies tend to catch up by the age of two but our son has continued to fall behind his peers.  Even at the age of six, he could only crawl in order to get around by himself.

If you suspect that your child or someone you know may have any developmental delays, you can contact the local Area Education Agency for a free evaluation.

• National Kidney Month also hits close to home for my family.  Both of my boys have been affected by kidney disease.  My oldest son has outgrown his problems but my youngest son has abnormally shaped kidneys that were found while I was pregnant with him.  Luckily he has not had any major problems due to this but it is something that we have to continue to monitor.

There are so many different ways that kidney disease can affect a person.  It can happen at any age and in any race.  The National Kidney Foundation is a great place to go if you are looking for more information.

• Cerebral Palsy  has an impact on our life every day.  Because of it, my son has a hard time with even the smallest tasks.  He cannot walk without the assistance of a walker and cannot perform fine motor tasks like other children his age (writing, holding spoon, etc).

Cerebral palsy is different for everyone affected by it.  It can affect different parts of a person’s body and in different severities. A great place to find resources in the Iowa area is Cerebral Palsy Resources.

Throughout the month of March, I will wear green in support of Cerebral Palsy awareness.   This is an easy color to remember because we will also be wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s day.

Who will wear their green with me on March 25 for Cerebral Palsy Awareness day? 

What disability or disease will you be supporting this month or in the future?