N is for Nothing about us without us. This slogan was first used to describe the disability rights movement in the 1990s in English, but originated in Latin as “Nihil de nobis, sine nobis”. The phrase is used to describe the concept that no policy should be decided without the full participation of the population affected by that policy.
N is for the National Federation of the Blind. Founded in 1940, this is the largest organization that focuses on the rights to independence, equal treatment, and works to ensure that only blind people speak for the blind. For more on this group, check out NFB.org.
N is for the National Down Syndrome Society. Founded in 1979, throughout the 1980 & ‘90s to foster acceptance and opportunities for people with Down Syndrome. Over the last 40+ years, NDSS has worked tirelessly to advocate for policy change, acceptance, and more for people with Down Syndrome.
N is for National Mental Health Act. Signed in 1945 by President Truman, this act established the need for a National Institute of Mental Health. August 18, 1945, was the first meeting of the National Advisory Mental Health Council. The National Institute of Mental Health, now a $1.5 billion enterprise, came to fruition in 1949 and is one of 27 organizations that make up the National Institutes of Health. For more on the National Institute for Mental Health, check out their site here.