Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

WHEREAS, the health and well-being of all Virginians is of great importance to the prosperity, happiness and livelihood of our Commonwealth's families and communities; and

WHEREAS, nationwide approximately 57 million people have a disability; and

WHEREAS, more than 144,018 adults and children in Virginia have developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Virginians with and without disabilities work, play, worship, learn, and grow together; and

WHEREAS, every person, regardless of ability, has valuable strengths, infinite capacity to learn and the potential to make important contributions to their local communities; and

WHEREAS, Virginians with developmental disabilities share with the other eight million residents the right to live an independent and productive life as they choose in their education, jobs, recreation and homes; and

WHEREAS, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is an appropriate time to recognize the Commonwealth's public policy accomplishments concerning persons with disabilities and to identify additional improvements needed to fully include all citizens with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, celebrating the abilities and contributions of people with developmental disabilities can only serve to enrich the communities of Virginia and enhance our diversity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert F. McDonnell, do hereby recognize March 2013 as DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.