October is a Busy Health Awareness Month!

October is Health Awareness Month

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

• ADHD Awareness Month
• AgrAbility State Fair
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Bullying Prevention Month
• Depression Education and Awareness Month
• Disability Employment Awareness Month
• Down Syndrome AwarenessMonth
• Dwarfism Awareness Month
• Dysautonomia Awareness Month
• Dyslexia Awareness Month
• Eczema Awareness Month
• Health Literacy Month
• Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
• Liver Cancer Awareness Month
• Lupus Awareness Month
• Raynaud’s Awareness Month (Oct in the US, Febin the UK)
• Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
• Selective Mutism Awareness Month
• Spina Bifida Awareness Month

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!

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

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!