SEND Awareness Days
September
9th September
Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder Awareness day
The 9th day of the 9th month is International FASD Day. This is to draw attention to the importance of going alcohol-free for the 9 months of pregnancy. In the UK we celebrate September FASD Awareness Month.
10th September
World Suicide Prevention Day
"Creating Hope through Action" is the triennial theme for the World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 - 2023. This theme is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us.
19th September
Youth Mental Health Day
Youth Mental Health Day encourages understanding and discussion of mental health in young people, enabling them to live happy and healthy lives all year round.
October
ADHD Awareness Month
Observed in October each year. The month serves as a time to celebrate the difference found in neurodiversity while also advocating for new perspectives and better support systems.
Sensory Awareness Month
October is Sensory Awareness Month. Research has estimated that 1 in 6 children in the classroom display sensory processing differences, making it difficult for them to engage and learn. The rate is much higher in children with special needs with 32% showing sensory differences.
2nd - 8th October
Dyslexia Awareness Week
An annual event to raise awareness of dyslexia. Every year we produce resources and share information with teachers, employers and the general public to highlight a different dyslexia-related theme.
9th-15th October
Dyspraxia Awareness Week
The aim of the Dyspraxia Foundation’s event is to raise awareness of dyspraxia and educate children, parents, carers and teachers alike about this disorder, how to manage and treat it and how to tailor certain activities and teaching methods to help people with dyspraxia.
10-16th October
National Braille Week
Aims to raise awareness of the importance of Braille and other alternative formats that open up the written world to people with visual impairments. It runs in the second week of October, coinciding with World Sight Day which is on October 12th.
20th October
Developmental Language Disorder Awareness Day
DLD is a hidden but common disability that affects 1 in 14 people causing difficulties understanding and using language for no known reason. The 2023 DLD awareness day theme is DLD Around the World, highlighting that DLD occurs in every language.
November
13th - 17th November
Anti-bullying Week
Anti-Bullying Week is an annual UK event held in the third week in November which aims to raise awareness of bullying of children and young people, in schools and elsewhere, and to highlight ways of preventing and responding to it
20th November
Just Talk Week
Just Talk Week highlights the importance of mental health and shines a light on the wellbeing services available in Hertfordshire, whilst promoting the year-round Just Talk campaign.
December
3rd December
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Focusing on challenges faced by people living with disabilities. The day doesn’t discriminate between mental and physical disabilities, and the spirit of the day is to ensure that all people in the world have equal opportunities for work, play, health, and success. People with disabilities can be and very often are contributing and valued members of society, and today is all about appreciating them.
January
February
Eating Disorders Awareness Week
1.25 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder right now - but behind every one is a network of loved ones struggling too. Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) is hosted by BEAT and runs from 27 February - 5 March 2023.
March
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month
During the month of March, individuals living with cerebral palsy as well as family members and activists come together by advocating for the cerebral palsy community. The goal of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month is to push for positive change in education programs, the health care system, and the job market to give opportunities to those living with cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy Day is on March 25th.
3rd March
Dyscalculia Awareness day
Dyscalculia is a maths learning difficulty which affects around 6% of the UK population. Studies into the causes of dyscalculia are about 30 years behind research into dyslexia. Dyscalculia Day is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of this often overlooked but prevalent learning difficulty, as well as a chance to talk about maths difficulties and anxieties more broadly.
21st March
World Down Syndrome Day
This global awareness day has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date for WDSD - the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
A worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
April
The Anna Freud Centre has produced a timetable of activities and resources linked to themes and events happening in the Summer term.
2nd April
World Autism Awareness day/month
Autism Awareness Month starts with with the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. It is an international opportunity to increase understanding and acceptance of autism. There are many ways you can get involved - from wearing blue to having a conversation about autism, every little helps on our journey to awareness.
4th April
Auditory Processing Awareness Day
The Hearing Health Foundation mark auditory processing disorder awareness day each year to highlight the effects and challenges associated with living with auditory processing disorders.
Stress Awareness Month
Has been held every April since 1992 to raise awareness of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. It is the time when we have an opportunity for an open conversation on the impact of stress. Dedicated time to removing the guilt, shame, and stigma around mental health. To talk about stress, and its effects and open up about our mental and emotional state with friends, families, colleagues, and professionals.
May
1st-7th May
Deaf Awareness Week
The purpose of Deaf Awareness week is to increase public awareness of Deaf issues, people, and culture. The week focuses on promoting the positive aspects of deafness, encouraging social inclusion, and raising awareness of the organizations locally, nationally and globally that support those who are deaf.
14th May
Apraxia Awareness Day
This event raises awareness of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), a rare motor speech disorder that affects less than 1% of children. Apraxia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to perform familiar movements on command without any physical paralysis. While the desire and the capacity to move are there, the person can't execute the action. So, children struggle to speak clearly as their brains can't coordinate the movements of their lips, tongue, and jaw. The condition is caused by brain damage in the areas that control speaking ability.
(resources for this day are mostly Australian).
15th-21st May
Mental Health Awareness Week
Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem.
June
7th June
Tourettes Awareness Day
The day aims to raise awareness about Tourette Syndrome and bring together those living with the condition. Tourette Syndrome is a neurological condition that is more common in boys than girls and affects approximately one school-aged child in a hundred.
19th-25th June
Learning Disability Week
Every year we have Learning Disability Week. It is all about making sure the world hears what life is like if you have a learning disability. Each year, we want Learning Disability Week to smash stigmas and end discrimination and to educate and raise awareness about learning disabilities.
25th June - 1st July
Deafblind Awareness Week
We aim to inspire those living with deafblindness and to raise awareness of dual sensory loss. Deafblind Awareness Week is always at the end of June to commemorate Helen Kellar’s birthday, 27th June. Helen Keller’s work made a huge difference to the field of sight and hearing loss. Without her efforts, the world today may be very different for deafblind people.
July