During March, people with disabilities, families, schools and others will celebrate Disability Awareness Month statewide with community events, school assemblies and classroom curriculum, and other activities.

Governor Mitch Daniels has proclaimed March as Disability Awareness Month in the state and has designated it as a time to increase awareness and promote independence, integration and inclusion of all people with disabilities in Indiana.

Led by the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, this year’s Disability Awareness Month, themed “Free Your Mind,” will help guide Hoosiers to embrace the differences of adults and children with disabilities that represent slightly more than 19 percent of Indiana’s population.

Each year, the Council develops a unique theme for Disability Awareness Month and produces campaign materials that are available free of charge to Hoosiers who want to help building awareness of the contributions people with disabilities make within the communities where they live and work.

The Council facilitates Disability Awareness Month by providing information and activity planning packets that assist individuals in planning everything from disability-focused art contests to increasing ADA awareness in a business. In addition, the Council offers theme-specific materials, including posters, bookmarks and stickers – all at no charge. In 2009, the campaign directly reached more than 42,000 people through grassroots efforts, special events and educational programming.

“Our goal is to reach every community in the state to raise awareness of the positive contributions people with disabilities have made throughout the state of Indiana,” said Suellen Jackson- Boner, executive director of the Council. “We hope this year’s theme, ‘Free Your Mind,’ will encourage Hoosiers to embrace people with disabilities as valued members of our communities.

To learn more about Disability Awareness Month, visit indianadisabilityawareness. org.