Doctors have diagnosed 19 percent of Indiana’s population with a disability. Each year when March comes around, Indiana makes it their priority to celebrate Disability Awareness Month, which is led by the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities. This is the 26th year for Disability Awareness Month in Indiana.
HSE’s Best Buddies is contributing to increase awareness and promote independence, integration and inclusion of all people with disabilities, with their campaign of “Spread the Word to End the Word.” The club is selling handmade bracelets labeled “STW” standing for “Spread the Word” and has a banner by Cafeteria D for students and staff to sign pledging that they won’t use the “R”-word.
With the goal of inclusion for people with disabilities in mind, junior Sarah Bryant passionately advocates for this cause as Vice President of Best Buddies.
“The goal of Best Buddies is inclusion. Inclusion in the workplace, school, friendships and in society,” Bryant said. “Best Buddies isn’t about being a voice for those who don’t have one- people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have voices, we’ve just got to listen and give them opportunities to speak.”
The colorful beaded bracelets and signed banner have caught the eyes of some students and have succeeded in allowing them to gain perception. Unaware of Disability Awareness Month, sophomore Jackson Cooley, took appreciation into Best Buddies’ benefaction towards raising awareness.
“Spread the Word to End the Word campaign along with the bracelets is a great idea to subtly make awareness,” Cooley said. “It involves the whole school to work together for a good cause.”
This month is not only to raise awareness, but to also emphasizes that people with disabilities want to and should be as welcomed in the community as everyone else.
“Although it’s called ‘Disability’ Awareness Month,” Bryant explains, “the purpose is more to recognize and celebrate the abilities of people with disabilities!”
