Look Beyond My Developmental Disability

OPWDD has launched a new statewide public awareness campaign called “Look Beyond My Developmental Disability.” This call to action seeks to combat stigma towards people with developmental disabilities by asking everyone to look beyond the disability and see the person for all that they are – our neighbor, friend, co-worker, business owner and more.

Please join us. Help spread the message and fight stigma against people with developmental disabilities. Here’s how:

1. Follow or like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
2. Re-share OPWDD’s social media messages on your own platforms.
3. Speak out against stigma on your personal or organization's social media channels. Below are some social media posts ready to use.

Example 1: 

People with developmental disabilities are: students, friends, customers, voters, co-workers, neighbors, entrepreneurs, spouses, athletes...PEOPLE. End the stigma about developmental disabilities. Look beyond and see the person, not the disability. #LookBeyond

Example 2: 

I am...a student, friend, customer, voter, co-worker, neighbor, entrepreneur, spouse, athlete...a person. End the stigma about developmental disabilities. Look beyond my developmental disability. #LookBeyond

Example 3: 

Look Beyond. See the person, not the disability. #LookBeyond

Example 4:

People with developmental disabilities might have to use adaptive equipment, but that is not who they are. Look beyond and see the person, not the disability. #LookBeyond

OPWDD has created several materials to assist you in spreading the campaign's message to fight stigma against people with developmental disabilities. The campaign posters and social media graphics were translated into 12 languages. To download the social media graphics on your computer, please click on the item, right click and save the image. 

Help spread the message to fight stigma against people with developmental disabilities by adding the Look Beyond campaign email signature to your own email. Our email signatures are just one more way we can remind our networks, colleagues and everyone we come into contact with that people with developmental disabilities are people first with their own unique goals, interests and abilities.

Instruction on setting up an email signature in Outlook

1. In the upper-left corner of Outlook, select File > Options.
2. In the Options window, select Mail > Signatures.
3. In the Email Signature section, upload the Look Beyond graphic beneath your current signature. Then hyperlink the graphic to www.opwdd.ny.gov/lookbeyond.
4. Click OK to save when you're finished.
5. Verify that the Look Beyond graphic is being included in all your emails.

This Autism Acceptance Month, We Want to Hear from You as we continue to #LookBeyond people’s disabilities and see them for all that they are. Share YOUR original I Am Message with us!  Use your voice to tell us who you are. 

Who are You?

I am a.... ___________ 

How would You describe yourself? How do You want people to see You?

I am...___________

Send us a photo of yourself to [email protected] and then fill in the blank after the words “I Am.”  You may see yourself featured on our website or social media channels.

tell us who you are

You can also share your “I Am” message on your own social media pages. You can tag us @Nysopwdd and use the hashtags #LookBeyond and #AutismAcceptanceMonth if you’d like us to “like” or “share” your message.

Examples:

I am a person with autism and I am also ___________ Look beyond my developmental disability. #LookBeyond #AutismAcceptanceMonth

I am autistic and I am ___________ Look beyond my developmental disability. #LookBeyond #AutismAcceptanceMonth

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