2022 Proclamation - DD March (2)

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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COUNTY OF KITTITAS STATE OF WASHINGTON PROCLAMATION NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH WHEREAS, in 1987, President Ronald Reagan recognized Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to “increase public awareness of the needs and the potential of Americans who face developmental disabilities and to provide the opportunities they need in order to live productive lives and to achieve their full potential”, and WHEREAS, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas, which include Autism spectrum disorders, Cerebral Palsy, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual or learning disabilities, hearing loss, vision impairment, and other developmental delays, and WHEREAS, recent estimates from the CDC show that in the United States, one in six children between the ages of three and seventeen have one or more developmental disabilities. The US Census Bureau estimates 13% of the population, both in Kittitas County and nationwide, is disabled, and WHEREAS, in Washington State, 72% of DDA clients live with their parents or relatives, 9% live in their own homes, 8% are in supported living environments, and about 3.5% live in adult family homes, and WHEREAS, people with disabilities are less likely to complete high school, less likely to be employed and more likely to live in poverty compared to people without disabilities, and WHEREAS, various state and local agencies and organizations provide programs and services for people with Developmental Disabilities such as employment services and community inclusion services, and WHEREAS, the mission of the Kittitas County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Committee is to foster an inclusive environment that supports citizens with developmental disabilities and their families to participate in and contribute to all aspects of the community; and WHEREAS, National Disabilities Development Awareness Month can be celebrated and promoted is by wearing the official ribbon or clothing with the colors yellow and blue; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners of Kittitas County does hereby proclaim March as Developmental Disability Awareness month and encourages all citizens to celebrate individuals with disabilities. DATED this __________ day of ____________________, 2022, at Ellensburg, Washington. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON __________________________________________ Chair __________________________________________ Vice-Chair