Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is observed every March to recognize people with developmental disabilities, celebrate inclusion, and elucidate ongoing barriers that hinder participation in community life for some individuals. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month began in 1987 with a presidential proclamation calling for increased awareness of the needs and potential of people with developmental disabilities across the United States.
This year’s theme from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities is “We’re Here: Then, Now, Always.” It connects past, present, and future and recognizes progress, names what’s still at risk, and reinforces that community living and inclusion must be protected and funded.
CAI’s Diverse and Inclusive Communities Guide can help guide you and your community to promote inclusivity, recognize the impacts certain decisions may have on residents with intellectual disabilities, and create rules and regulations that help all residents thrive regardless of ability.
CAI rejects illegal discrimination in housing and favors the availability of adequate and appropriate housing for all age groups. Furthermore, CAI is concerned about the availability of accessible housing for disabled individuals. CAI supports improvements that make residential dwellings and surrounding areas readily accessible and usable by disabled people. CAI also recognizes that in certain instances the law requires the disabled person requesting a modification to the common areas to be responsible for the cost of the modification. CAI also supports the right of community associations to enforce their covenants, bylaws, and rules, provided they do not illegally discriminate against any protected class. Review CAI’s public policy on fair housing.
To further promote and protect equity, CAI supports a process by which a governing board of a community association may remove antiquated and unenforceable discriminatory restrictions contained in covenants without a vote of the owners. CAI advocates for the adoption of state legislation that provides a process to remove restrictions deemed to be discriminatory under the federal Fair Housing Act and/or state antidiscrimination laws. Review CAI’s public policy on Amendment Process to Remove Discriminatory Restrictive Covenants, review legislation currently being considered in state legislatures around the country, and see if your state has a law in place.
America’s homeowners associations, condominiums, housing cooperatives, and other planned communities house and employ people from all backgrounds and bring them together in community. This month, take time to consider your neighbors with developmental disabilities and consider what policies you can advocate for to promote fair housing in your state and nationwide.
