Since 1987, when a pen stroke by President Ronald Reagan proclaimed March as National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, great strides have been made to increase the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the communities where they live.

While this increased awareness has led to improved access to education, health care, employment, and community living opportunities, for individuals with I/DD, each March opens the door to highlight the many barriers and challenges remaining for this misunderstood, stereotyped and often marginalized population.

This March one self-advocate is hoping to raise local awareness one painted rock at time.

“I want to raise awareness about capability,” said Christine Motokane, sitting at her dining room table, displaying the painted rocks she plans to place in public areas around Sequim and Port Angeles.

Motokane is a self-advocate with autism, an author of the memoir “Working the Double Shift: A Young Woman’s Journey with Autism,” a college graduate and a paraeducator.

“In the town we live, the ideas about intellectual and developmental disabilities, they are old fashioned ideas,” Motokane said. “That we can’t do anything.”

Wanting to connect with the community in a creative way, Motokane — with the support of her community engagement coach — began painting rocks. Sayings were chosen for the front of the rocks and hashtags were chosen for the back, with hopes that anyone who finds the rocks will share them on their social media.

According to Motokane, the wording on the rocks are sayings that are important to individuals with I/DD. Sayings about acceptance and what people can do to support individuals with I/DD such as “Accommodate Me,” and “Know me for my ability, not my disability.”

“People really have no idea what people go through on a daily basis,” Motokane said. “There needs to be more compassion to be included in the community. I’m hoping you read the sayings and take them to heart, for they are more than just a saying on a rock to families, and to individuals with I/DD.”

In addition to increasing the appreciation of individual capabilities, Motokane was quick to explain the benefits of community engagement services. These are services that are offered through the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to connect individuals to supportive and creative resources in their local communities leading to fuller social participation and engagement.

For Motokane these services have supported her goals to volunteer and develop fun and creative ways to advocate, among other activities.

“The painted rocks will be a multiple week project,” said Motokane. “Placed in high traffic areas, they will be easy for people to find.”

To follow the project online look for #ClallamMosaic, #DDawareness2022, #DDAM2022 or #WorldsImagined.

Worlds Imagined is the social media campaign for the 2022 Developmental Disability Awareness Month created by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, that highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.

To learn more about community Eengagement services, visit clallammosaic.org/community-engagment.

“Working the Double Shift: A Young Woman’s Journey with Autism,” is available through amazon.com.

Catherine W. McKinney is Program & Communications Director for Clallam Mosaic and the Clallam County Parent to Parent Coordinator.