Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Monday unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 15, which designates March 2000 as Developmental Disability Awareness Month in Alaska.

"An estimated 12,000 Alaskans with developmental disabilities experience severe and/or multiple disabilities which are often present at birth and are permanent," said House Speaker Representative Brian Porter (R-Anchorage), sponsor of HCR 15. "These are people with capabilities, competencies, personal needs and preferences. Recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month offers an opportunity for improving the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities in the hope that the barriers and fears that affect their everyday lives can be replaced with awareness and understanding."

Porter noted that progress continues to be made due, in large part, to the caring people of the Key Campaign. This is a state-wide network of community providers of services, consumers, parents and guardians of people with disabilities, parent organizations, protection and advocacy groups, independent living centers, vocational rehabilitation centers, residential agencies and private citizens who share the unified belief in community-based services.

"With the governor's signature on this resolution, March will be specifically set aside to acknowledge those with developmental disabilities," Porter said. "The members of the Twenty-First Alaska State Legislature will join the Alaska Key Campaign and all the caring service providers in the state of Alaska in recognizing these citizens as full members of the family of Alaska."

HCR 15 now moves to the Senate for concurrence.