Wednesday, September 30, 2020

October is a Busy Health Awareness Month!

Woman wearing red top and black leggings in yoga pose
October is Health Awareness Month

Numerous health, disability, and wellness topics are celebrated during the month of October. These include (in alphabetical order):

October also contains awareness weeks and awareness days related to health and disability topics, including:

October 4-10

Mental Illness Awareness Week

October 6

World Cerebral Palsy Day

October 7

Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day

October 7

Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Registration Day

October 8

National Depression Screening Day

October 8

International Podiatry Day

October 8

World Sight Day

October 9

PANDAS / PANS Awareness Day

October 10

International Disability Rights Affirmation Conference

October 10

World Mental Health Day

October 10

Virtual Walk to End Lupus

October 11-17

OCD Awareness Week

October 13

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

October 15

White Cane Awareness Day

October 19-23

National Health Education Week

October 20

World Osteoporosis Day

October 21

Disability Mentoring Day

October 21

Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day

October 22

International Stuttering Awareness Day

October 24

World Polio Day

October 25

World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day

October 25-31

National Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week

October 29

World Stroke Day


As Victor Hugo said, “Not being heard is no reason for silence.” If you are an advocate in one of these areas, please consult the website link to find ways to share the needs of that group with your community.

Our voices are important. Speak up!

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Things to Do - Fall is State Fair Time! - (AgrAbility Virtual State Fair Oct. 1-30)

Two large pumpkins, one orange and one white
Pumpkins at the State Fair


My family always enjoyed going to our State Fair each fall. Perhaps you did too.

Maybe you were a 4-H member, showing off the lamb or rabbit you had raised over the summer. Perhaps you were a baker or gardener and entered several contests. Or you might be the person who wandered through the livestock pavilions and quickly found the food tents to stock up on giant turkey legs, fried butter, and cotton candy.

Whatever your reason, State Fair time has always been fun for all family members.

During the month of October this year, you can attend a Virtual State Fair hosted by AgrAbility.

AgrAbility serves farmers, ranchers, and others who work in production agriculture who have disabilities, functional limitations, or are members of certain minority populations (e.g., African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanic/Latino agricultural workers, and veterans). It also serves their families and the communities they live in, supporting rural America. AgrAbility state projects provide information and resources related to employment, assistive technology, rehabilitation, and caregiver support.

Beginning with an introduction to AgrAbility on Thursday, Oct. 1, the Virtual State Fair schedule includes weekend special topic focus days and reports from various state projects. Daily Virtual State Fair content will be posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Let’s all go to the Virtual State Fair in October!