LEONARDTOWN, Md. — Surrounded by advocates and members of the Commission for People with Disabilities, St. Mary’s County Commissioner Eric Colvin presented a proclamation Tuesday recognizing March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
The proclamation was delivered during the March 3 meeting of the St. Mary’s County commissioners in Leonardtown.
“Well, thank you all for being here this morning for this important proclamation,” Colvin began.
The proclamation traces the national observance back to 1987, when President Ronald Reagan first recognized March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, also known as DDAM, “to increase public awareness of the needs and contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities.”
Colvin read that individuals with developmental disabilities “come from all racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic back[grounds] and have the power to enrich these communities through their diverse talents, perspectives and experiences.”
The proclamation continues: “By celebrating the achievements of those with developmental disabilities, we affirm their inherent value and worth and foster a community culture where every individual is recognized for their unique contributions and empowered to thrive.”
It also recognizes “the dedication of caregivers, families, advocates and community professionals, and supporting people with developmental disabilities.”
Colvin then formally declared: “Now, therefore, we, the commissioners of St. Mary’s County, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as Developmental Disability Awareness Month in St. Mary’s County. Let us come together to honor the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, to promote understanding, to reaffirm our commitment to creating opportunities, and to strive for a society where everyone has the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, signed all the commissioners.”
Following the reading, Cindy Slattery, the county’s ADA/FMLA coordinator and staff resource for the St. Mary’s County Commission for People with Disabilities, spoke about the group’s ongoing work in the community.
“Good morning. I’m Cindy Slattery. I’m the ADA/FMLA coordinator for the county. Also get to serve as resource and staff for the commission for people with disabilities,” Slattery said. “We make it our priority to learn about resources available to people with disabilities in our community. We do public awareness, information, every meeting that we have to try to build partnerships and relationships with our resource providers to make sure everyone in the community has access to all we have to offer.”
Slattery also announced the commission’s upcoming meeting. “Our next meeting is March 19, at 4 o’clock in Room 14, and we have some members with us today,” she said.
Commission members and community representatives in attendance briefly introduced themselves, including Dr. Andrea Alston, an educational consultant and advocate for Alston Advocacy and Consulting; Robin Johnson, a commission member; and Crystal Heeslip, a commission member and therapeutic recreation coordinator for Recreation and Parks.
The presentation concluded with a group photo, marking the county’s official recognition of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and reaffirming its commitment to inclusion, access and opportunity for all residents.
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