March 4, 2025
Albany, NY - March 3, 2025 –The Office for People With Developmental Disabilities kicked off a bold new awareness campaign for National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month today called “Dare to Be You,” which calls upon New Yorkers to dare to dispel stereotypes about people with developmental disabilities and instead focus on the many talents and contributions they bring to our communities.
“We are daring New Yorkers to support inclusion in their communities for Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month,” said Willow Baer, OPWDD’s Acting Commissioner. “By daring to show people what we are all capable of achieving, we are changing perceptions from negative to positive, from disability to capability and from exclusion to inclusion.”
Throughout the month of March, OPWDD will introduce New Yorkers to people with developmental disabilities, like Marisol, who are daring to be themselves. Marisol is a mother, a homeowner and a voice in her community. She helps others find their voice with her work for the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS. Read a new story each week during the month of March at the following link: https://opwdd.ny.gov/news/ddam2025.
The people with developmental disabilities OPWDD will feature during the month are people who “dare” to be homeowners and taxpayers, dare to be students, teachers and advocates, and dare to participate in their community or compete in a sport.
“Connection is so important to our health and wellbeing,” continued Acting Commissioner Willow Baer. “Yet forming a connection with another person or with the larger community often requires putting yourself out there, being vulnerable enough to show your authentic self, and stepping out of your comfort zone. In other words, daring – in the best sense of the word- to be yourself. That’s what we are encouraging everyone to do this month in our “Dare to Be You” campaign, as we get to know and appreciate one another more for what makes us who we are.”
“I congratulate OPWDD on its launch of the ‘Dare to Be You’ campaign,” said Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill Ridley. “People with disabilities have goals just like everyone else and this campaign encourages them to pursue their dreams while educating the public about all people with disabilities can accomplish.”
In honor of DDAM, New York State will also be lighting its landmark buildings orange on Friday, March 7 to commemorate the importance of recognizing the contributions and talent that the developmental disabilities community adds to the overall diversity of the state.
People with developmental disabilities continue to face barriers to inclusion every day, including the barriers of stigma, discrimination, lack of understanding from the community, inaccessible transportation and physical barriers. The people featured in this campaign who generously shared their stories and experiences will remind all New Yorkers of the power of visibility and motivate them to take on new challenges as well.
OPWDD invites partner organizations and other state agencies to collaborate on “dares” to help raise awareness about developmental disabilities while also promoting activities that everyone can enjoy and participate in. OPWDD also encourages the public to participate in this campaign by sharing how they dare to be themselves this month, To participate, send a photo of yourself to [email protected] and then fill in the blank after the words “I Dare to _____.” You may see yourself featured on the website or social media channels. You can also share your “I Dare to” message on your social media pages and tag @NYSOPWDD and use the hashtag #DareForDDAM.
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