What: The Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) will celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) by displaying eight banners featuring Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities and premiering a short film about a resident at the Conway Human Development Center. The event will also mark the 6th Anniversary of The Blue Umbrella.

When: March 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

Where: DHS Central Office (700 Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72201)

Who: DHS Secretary Kristi Putnam, DHS Medicaid Specialty Populations Director Melissa Weatherton, Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Director Jennifer Brezée, Arkansans featured on banners plus their families

More Details: Each March, DHS recognizes Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) to highlight the importance of understanding and supporting Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. DHS and its Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) serve approximately 70,000 of these individuals across the state, helping them lead fulfilling lives and contribute to their communities.

To celebrate, DHS will display eight 10-foot banners featuring Arkansans with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

These banners will be hung on the outside of the DHS Central Office building at 700 Main Street in downtown Little Rock during the month of March. DHS will also share stories about beneficiaries with developmental and intellectual disabilities on social media, including a short film about a resident at the Conway Human Development Center that will debut at this event. 

The event will also honor The Blue Umbrella’s 6th Anniversary. The Blue Umbrella is a store located inside DHS that provides a platform for individuals with disabilities to sell handmade products, offering them a source of income and independence.

Attendees can shop in-store, enjoy cupcakes, enter a drawing for door prizes, meet Blue Umbrella artists, and take part in an online silent auction here: Blue Umbrella Silent Auction 2025

For more information on DDAM programs and services, visit ar.gov/ddawareness.

Photos from last year’s event is for reference: DDAM Banner Photos 2024