March is Disability Awareness Month

Disable the Label 2009

Organization

The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities

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Be a part of Disability Awareness 2009

Defining people only by their disabilities can be hurtful and limiting. See others for who they really are and you’ll learn a lot about true character.

Overview

19th annual MDAM campaign

Unique theme every year

Artwork featured people of all ages, with and without disabilities, painting over a wall with disabilities written on it

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Opportunity

Educate people on people with disabilities

Evaluation forms from previous year allowed the Council to improve campaign and materials

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Additional Factors

Well-known campaign

Media were friendly and helpful

Educators, community and organization leaders expected the campaign and were ready to organize activities R

Ethical Issues

Advocacy

Independence

Fairness

Writing and phrasing

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Goals

Raise awareness and understanding of disability issues in the home, business, school and neighborhood.

Promote independence, integration and inclusion of all people with disabilities.

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Key Publics

Children

Youth 12-20

People uneducated on people with disabilities

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Key Messages

Put people first. Instead of saying “the blind boy,” say “the boy who is blind.”

See others for who they really are--don't just focus on their disability. Define people by their true character.

Say "my friend has a disability," rather than "my friend is handicapped."

Treat people equally. Don't feel sorry of go overboard in how you treat people with a disability just to make them "feel" better.

Give the person a chance to say something or do an activity on his/her own. Like you, he/she has ideas and wants to try new things.

Wait to offer help until someone is ready or asks for help. Then you can help him/her out.

It’s okay to ask questions when you're unsure of what to do. Visit IndianaDisabilityAwareness.org for more information.

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Strategies

Media: PSA’s, Press Releases and Television Ads

Outreach: On Target Newsletter, Governor's E-newsletter and Conferences

(All to order MDAM materials) P

Communication

Follow-up calls to coordinators to find events to pitch to media

Press Releases sent to Indiana television, radio and newspapers

PSAs sent to Indiana radio stations

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Educational Materials

Bookmarks Stickers Posters Activity Idea Booklets MDAM Information Packet CD-ROM

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Discussion

Media- all publics› Press releases› Personal feature stories

Educational Materials- children and youth› Classroom activities› Community events C

Results and Evaluation

Recorded media coverage› Clippings› Google alerts› PSA follow-ups

Coordinator feedback forms› Satisfaction and comments on MDAM› Activity› Impact on and number of participants› Impact on community E

Next Steps

Use coordinator feedback Traditional Media

› PSA› Press releases

Social Media› Twitter› Facebook fan/event page› Blogs

Training & idea sharing conferences E

Works Used

About. (2009). Retrieved April 19, 2010, from Indiana Disability Awareness: www.indianadisabilityawareness.org/about.html

Borshoff. (2009, Feburary 19). Celebrate March Being Disability Awareness Month: PSA Pitch. Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Borshoff. (2009, Feburary). MDAM Bookmark 2009. Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Borshoff. (2009). MDAM Evaluation 2009. Governor's Council for People With Disabilities: Indianapolis.

Borshoff. (2009, Feburary). MDAM Press Release 2009. Indianapolis, IN, USA.

Regnier, J. (2010, March 30). Account Coordinator. (E. Vincent, Interviewer)