March: Dates of Significance

In March, we acknowledge Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, International Wheelchair Day, Self-Injury Awareness Day, World Teen Mental Wellness Day, World Hearing Day, World Birth Defects Day, World Lymphedema Day, International Women’s Day, International Day to Combat Islamophobia, National Trisomy 18 Awareness Day, World Behaviour Analysis Day, International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Transgender Day of Visibility. Read more about each date of significance below, written by members of our Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee.

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

March is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month, aimed at increasing public understanding about this condition, which affects 1 in 1000 Canadian children under the age of 16. It’s more prevalent than cystic fibrosis and childhood diabetes. Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the body instead of protecting it from foreign substances.

No exact cause is known, but researchers link juvenile arthritis to genetics, certain infections, and environmental triggers. Although there is no cure for juvenile arthritis, some children achieve permanent remission. However, any physical damage to the joint remains. Diagnosis of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is based on a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and imaging studies.

March 1: International Wheelchair Day

Developed in 2008, International Wheelchair Day falls each year on March 1^st and is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the positive aspects of wheelchairs for those who require the use of them throughout their lives. According to the National Institute of Health, in 2023, it was estimated that approximately 1% or 288,800 Canadians used a wheelchair over the course of a year.  Wheelchairs have been around for many years, with the first wheelchairs being invented in China in the fifth Century BCE. Today the technology has continued to advance and will continue to assist individuals for years to come.

March 1: Self-Injury Awareness Day

Self-injury Awareness Day is on March 1 each year and focuses on increasing education and support on a misunderstood problem. Self-injury occurs in many forms, including cutting, scratching, punching, and ingestion of chemicals. Those who self-harm do so for a variety of reasons. Some of them include coping with fear, stress, anxiety, or inducing positive feelings. It is reported that children and youth with developmental disabilities, such as autism and intellectual disability, are more likely to engage in self-injury than children without these disabilities.

HOW TO OBSERVE SELF INJURY AWARENESS DAY

• Learn more about self-injury and find help if you need it. If your client is engaging in self-injury, consider reaching out to members of the behaviour services team.
• Understand that no one has to suffer alone, and there is help.
• Wear orange to show your support.
• Help remove the stigma associated with this and other mental health concerns.
• Open a dialogue by starting the conversation.

March 2: World Teen Mental Wellness Day

World Teen Mental Wellness Day is globally observed on March 2. Unfortunately, teenagers who experience mental health difficulties are often stigmatized. You may hear people say some comments like “You’re too young to have stress” or “You’re not paying bills; you’re fine,” which can ignore the feelings that they are trying to express. Anxiety-related struggles and depression are common among teenagers. As adults and clinicians, we can support teenagers by listening to them and encouraging them to speak to another peer or adult that they trust.

March 3: World Hearing Day

On March 3, World Hearing Day is globally celebrated each year to raise awareness regarding hearing and hearing loss, promoting ear and hearing care, and calling for action to address hearing loss and related issues.

The 2024 World Hearing Day theme is changing mindsets. Changing mindsets is crucial for improving access and reducing the cost of unaddressed hearing loss. Consider promoting care for your ears and hearing by reducing high volume levels while watching TV or listening to music, wearing hearing protection when exposed to loud volume levels cannot be avoided and consulting with your family physician and/or audiologist if you have concerns. Visit the World Health Organization (WHO) website for more information.

March 3: World Birth Defects Day

Created in 2015, World Birth Defects Day and the World Birth Defects Movement provide an opportunity for the community and community organizations to make improvements in birth defect prevention, care, and treatment worldwide. These advancements in research and care will continue to help to improve the lives of individuals with birth defects to ensure that they can continue to live full, rewarding lives.

March 6: World Lymphedema Day

World Lymphedema Day, observed annually on March 6, serves as a global platform to raise awareness about lymphedema and related lymphatic disorders. Lymphedema is a chronic condition characterized by swelling due to the accumulation of lymphatic fluid, often resulting from surgery, trauma, or infection.

This day aims to educate the public, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about the impact of lymphedema on individuals’ quality of life and the importance of early detection, treatment, and management. Through advocacy efforts, community outreach, and educational initiatives, World Lymphedema Day seeks to reduce stigma, improve access to care, and empower those affected by lymphatic disorders to lead fulfilling lives. It also honours the resilience and strength of individuals living with lymphedema while fostering solidarity and support within the global lymphedema community.

March 8: International Women’s Day

On March 8, people around the country come together to celebrate International Women’s Day 2024 in Canada. It’s a global day organized annually that recognizes and celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

It is a day for us to join voices with people around the world and shout our message for equal rights loud and clear: “Women’s rights are human rights!” We celebrate all women in all their diversity. We embrace their facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity, or disability. We celebrate those who came before us, those who stand beside us now, and those who will come after. It’s a time to celebrate the achievements of women, whether social, political, economic or cultural.

March 15: International Day to Combat Islamophobia

On March 15, we at Grandview Kids join the global community in observing the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, a day that underscores our unwavering commitment to fight against intolerance and violence directed towards Muslims around the world. This observance, established by the U.N. General Assembly in 2022, serves as a solemn reminder of the tragic events in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, which vividly brought to light the critical need to challenge hatred and misconceptions.

Islamophobia, manifesting as a form of racism through xenophobia, negative profiling, and harmful stereotypes, demands our attention. We are particularly concerned about its gendered aspect, which subjects Muslim women and girls to discrimination based on their attire, often misinterpreted as a sign of oppression (Read about World Hijab Day here).

At Grandview Kids, recognizing this day is a crucial step in our journey to dispel such misconceptions and cultivate a culture rooted in compassion and respect. We believe in the power of open dialogue, and we encourage everyone to ask questions and engage with our Muslim colleagues and families. This approach is instrumental in clarifying misunderstandings, breaking down stereotypes, and fostering a truly inclusive community.

Let’s embrace this opportunity to learn from one another and unite against Islamophobia, thereby reinforcing our dedication to building a diverse and empathetic Grandview Kids family.

March 18: National Trisomy 18 Awareness Day

Edwards syndrome, also known as trisomy 18, is a genetic condition that affects how a child’s body develops and grows. Having three copies of chromosome 18 instead of the typical two causes Edwards syndrome (trisomy 18). It occurs in an estimated 1 out of every 5,000 to 6,000 live births. Children diagnosed with trisomy 18 have a low birth weight, multiple birth defects and defining physical characteristics. Children with trisomy 18 have a chance to live longer, enriched lives with the appropriate medical care and support. More information here!

March 20: World Behaviour Analysis Day

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a therapy based on the science of learning and behaviour. As the field of behaviour analysis is always evolving, the research and process of implementing ABA is also changing. Behaviour clinicians choose activities based on their client’s interests and interactions within their environment. This way of teaching will sometimes include methods of repeating and rewarding desirable behaviours but in a more fluid and natural approach.

March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Annually on March 21, we observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a day rooted in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. This significant day commemorates the tragic events of 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa when 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed by police during protests against apartheid “pass laws.” It serves as a reminder that racial discrimination persists globally, including here in Canada.

Despite progress, Indigenous peoples, and racialized and religious minority communities continue to face racism and discrimination in various forms, from systemic injustices to overt acts of hate. The day calls upon us all to take action, urging individuals, organizations and governments to work actively toward eliminating racial discrimination, injustice, systemic racism and hate. By recommitting our efforts, we strive to ensure that everyone is treated with respect, has equal access to opportunities and can thrive in safety.

It is important to leverage this day as an opportunity to educate ourselves and others, speak out against racism and discrimination, support marginalized communities, and promote anti-racism and racial equality in all aspects of life. Together, we can contribute to a more just and inclusive society.

Learn more about the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day

March 31: Transgender Day of Visibility

This day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and their contributions to society and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide. This day acts as a reminder to celebrate transgender and non-binary people worldwide and acknowledge the courage it takes to live openly and authentically.

The day was founded by an American transgender activist named Rachel Crandall in 2009 as a reaction to the lack of recognition of transgender people, citing the frustration that the only well-known transgender-centred day was the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which mourned the murders of transgender people but did not acknowledge and celebrate living members of the transgender community.