the governor’s council for people with disabilities
TRANSCRIPT
March is Disability Awareness Month
Disable the Label 2009
Organization
The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities
MD
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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)