LIFE Mower County is proud to join advocates across the country to recognize March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The month will commemorate the progress in improving the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and highlight the challenges that remain in achieving full inclusion for this constituency.

Advocacy efforts around the country were crucial to President Ronald Reagan’s signing of a proclamation in 1987 affirming that “Americans are becoming increasingly aware that such disabilities need not keep individuals from realizing their full potential in school, at work or at home, as members of their families and of their communities.”

And now, LIFE Mower County will continue these advocacy efforts through raising awareness on the rights of people with I/DD to live, learn and work as they choose in the community.  People with I/DD deserve and demand respect, and while there have been many positive strides, there is still much to be done.

For the more than seven million people with I/DD and their families, respect is hard won and is possible only by changing attitudes and creating opportunity.  They want to lead self-determined lives, be fully included and enjoy their civil liberties — just like every other American.

Developmental Disabilities Month is our time – join us in raising awareness through any of the following ways: volunteer, donate, speak up against the use of the r-word, speak out to elected officials on issues impacting people with I/DD, and more. Visit www.lifemowercounty.org to learn what else you can do to help continue to change hearts and minds in March.

Taste of Mower County

Enjoy unlimited tastings of signature items from the finest home and restaurant chefs in Mower County and the surrounding area.  Food tastings by area home and restaurant chefs, wine and craft beer tastings, live and silent auctions, entertainment, door prizes and cash bar.  Become a chef, sponsor or donate to the live/silent auction at www.thearcmc.org/tomc2019.  Tickets are on sale now at www.thearcmc.org/tomc2019.  Use this promo code “TOMC2019” to receive 10 percent off per ticket. Discount available for the first 100 tickets.

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Upcoming Events

•LIFE/4-H Adventure Club: Monday

•Shamrock Shuffle Dance: Tuesday

•Special Olympics Bowling and Spread the Word to End the Word: Wednesday.

•Learning For Life: Thursday

• Minnesota State Self- Advocacy Conference: Friday-Saturday

•Bingo: March 12

•Special Olympics Bowling: March 13

•Self-Advocates Minnesota Meeting: March 14

•Open Center: March 15

•Lunch and a Movie: March 16

•24th annual Rose Sale Fundraiser – www.lifemowercounty.org/rose-sale

•9th Annual Taste of Mower County – www. lifemowercounty.org/tomc2019