As a nonprofit in Greater Grand Rapids, MI, Text Pledge wants to help grow, learn, and thrive. We also want to help their classmates, teachers, and other members of their community learn how to better support them and advocate for their rights.
Take the Pledge to End Discrimination
By taking our pledge to end discrimination, you’re promising to help protect children with disabilities. This means reporting bullying to a safe adult, such as a teacher or parent. It also means using your voice to advocate for people who may not be able to defend themselves. At Text Pledge, we want to help create a future where everyone feels safe, accepted, and included.
What Disabilities Affect Children Most?
When most people think of disability, they may picture a person who uses a wheelchair. However, it’s important to remember that not all disabilities are visible. For example, there are certain types of disabilities that may affect a person’s ability to learn, think, or interact with others.
Common disabilities that affect children include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Developmental Delay
- Learning Disability
- Intellectual Disability
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Hearing Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Emotional Disturbance
- Orthopedic Impairment
Kids with disabilities face unique challenges compared to their peers. For example, some children may need special accommodations so they can learn in the classroom, ride the school bus, or get the medical care they need.
Get the Facts
As a nonprofit organization, we understand the importance of raising public awareness of childhood disability. Below are some statistics from the and the .
15%ESTIMATED PERCENTAGE OF AMERICAN CHILDREN AGED 3 THROUGH 21 YEARS WITH ONE OR MORE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (NCES)
7 Million+NUMBER OF AMERICAN STUDENTS LIVING WITH A DISABILITY IN 2022-23 (NCES)
1 in 36CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER IN THE UNITED STATES (CDC)
Treat Others with Kindness and Respect
If you don’t experience disability on a personal level, it may be difficult to imagine yourself in another person’s shoes. For this reason, we ask that you always treat others with kindness, compassion, and respect.
At the end of the day, kids with disabilities want to feel like they belong. While it’s important to accommodate a person’s needs, please don’t let their disability overshadow who they are as a human being. Their disability is a part of who they are and affects how they experience life, but it doesn’t define them.
Take the Pledge to End Discrimination
Our pledge to end discrimination includes our promise to protect kids with disabilities. To learn how to get involved and make our world a better place for all, feel free to check out our other pledges. If you have any questions for our nonprofit in Greater Grand Rapids, MI, please fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
