March is DD Awareness Month

[Guest guest]

For Immediate Release

March 1, 2011

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

NapervilleWorks invites you to consider true meaning of this year's theme -

'Together'

NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS - NapervilleWorks celebrates Developmental Disabilities

Awareness Month in March, starting today with a City Council Proclamation

presented to both NapervilleWorks and the Advisory Commission on Disabilities at

7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers. This year's theme, 'Together', highlights

that when residents with disabilities are welcomed into local neighborhoods,

workplaces, civic and community groups, and houses of worship, everyone wins.

" NapervilleWorks promotes work as the #1 goal for young adults with

developmental disabilities from Naperville School District 203 and Indian

Prairie School District 204, " said Margie Sillery, Co-Coordinator of

NapervilleWorks. " Whether that's paid work, volunteerism, or a combination of

both will look different for each person. The point is that they have a lot to

offer to our community and employers when given the chance. "

" Families need to understand the value of networking and of planning ahead for

when their children with disabilities become adults, " adds Kenn ,

Naperville City Councilman and volunteer on NapervilleWorks' Business Advisory

Committee. " Jobs are very important for those who want to work. When we come

together as a community, we can find productive and meaningful ways for these

residents to contribute to the continuing success of Naperville. Together we

accomplish more. "

NapervilleWorks is hosting a free forum on Thursday, March 24th, from 10:00 a.m.

to noon, at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 South Eagle Street, Naperville,

Illinois 60540. The topic is " Make the Day Matter! Creating a Sustainable

Transition Plan for Young Adults with DDs in our Community " , and will feature

concrete tools and strategies that are working for real families in School

Districts 203 and 204. It is open to the public.

Other activities planned for March include Resource Displays at each of the

Naperville Public Libraries throughout the month as well as resource displays in

many of the School District learning centers. For a complete list of area

events during March, please visit napervilleworks.web.com.

NapervilleWorks is a grassroots organization comprised of parents, local

business people, professionals and staff from Naperville Community School

District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204. Together we strive to

increase job opportunities for our students with developmental disabilities and

promote awareness of the contributions these citizens make in our community.

Contact Margie Sillery for more information 630.291.4955.