At its genesis, The Unique Friends Foundation was a mother's desire for a her child to be as independent as possible.
While the month of October is typically recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Women's Small Business Month, and other more popular causes... we, here at T.U.F.F. want to bring attention to other areas deserving of recognition.
This month is also a time to raise awareness about Down syndrome, dwarfism, and cerebral palsy. October also brings with it the need to draw attention to Disability Employment Awareness Month. Yes, that's right... October is the perfect month to emphasize our mission of empowering our Unique Friends to elevate their thinking and compete for their places in society through employment and/or volunteerism.
When it comes to employment, having a more detailed knowledge of Down syndrome - a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21, and cerebral palsy - a group of disorders that affect movement and muscle tone or posture caused by damage occurring as a result of immature brain, is extremely valuable when it comes to consideration for employment.
As a society, it's important for us to do our part and be attentive to the treatment of our Unique Friends within the community...inclusive in offering opportunities for our Unique Friends to participate in the community, and empathetic to their challenges.
Through our mission, we want to encourage you to be champion for our Unique Friends. When you see something, do something. Ask those tough questions of local businesses who could improve their hiring practices by tapping into such an eager and willing talent pool. Encourage the organizations you're a part of to offer volunteer opportunities our Unique Friends.
Yes, Susan G. Komen has done a phenomenal job coining October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but let's make room for Disability Employment too. Let's expand our awareness mindset to include Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and employment for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
ARE YOU A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER?
We encourage you, during the month of October, to take a closer look at our Employer Certification. Learn how you can improve your hiring practices and tap into our Unique Friends talent pool.