For the past decade, Disability Advocates of Kent County have focused their Disability Awareness Day speakers and workshops on transportation, housing and health care. According to Michael Williams, those issues have since developed into their own programs.
“And so we decided to redirect this year into the areas we haven’t done quite as well covering and that landed on mental health.”
Williams says unseen disabilities such as mental health issues are often overlooked by communities who are used to only treating what can be seen.
“When you say ‘disability’ to somebody that’s not within the community, they don’t necessarily think of someone with a cognitive impairment or mental health issue.”
Williams hopes events like Disability Awareness Day will help to redirect the conversation, especially when mental wellness is an issue nearly everyone can relate to.
“I think everybody, especially post-COVID, here in Michigan with seasonal depression, we all deal with mental health to some extent.”
Friday’s event is from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. You can RSVP here.