Being able to choose how you spend your day is a fundamental right that was long denied to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Mosaic (www.mosaicinfo.org) is changing that by empowering people with IDD through support and advocacy.

March is National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which celebrates the achievements people with IDD make when given the chance. Mosaic highlights the month and the importance of choice with the theme, “My day, my way!”

Here in Omaha, Sarah shows what it means to live “my day, my way!” She enjoys volunteering in the Omaha community, one of her favorites being with Sacred Seed, a partner with Mosaic that helps Sarah become an advocate for our environment and for our Omaha Community. We’re happy to support Sarah to do the things that she finds meaningful.

“We serve many people like Sarah who enjoy being active and learning new things,” said Nic Batterton, executive director of Mosaic in Omaha. “But we’re always looking for new community partners. This month, especially, we are looking for people who have a hobby or activity they’d like to share with the people Mosaic serves. Many people with disabilities had limited opportunities to try new things growing up. But given the chance today, many are becoming artists, singers, athletes and more. New activities often bring new social interactions and help people be more involved in the community.”

To find out more about partnering with Mosaic to help people with IDD try something new, contact Jessica Westerlin at (402) 690-1167, or at jessica.westerlin@mosaicinfo.org. You can also visit mosaicinfo.org/nidda-month for more information.

In addition, Mosaic in Omaha is hosting a free, one-hour Discover the Possibilities event on March 8 at 9 to 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Members of the community are invited to participate in the event.

“Even people familiar with Mosaic tell me they’ve learned something new by attending a Discover the Possibilities event,” Nic said. “Our goal is to highlight the abilities people have when they’re given a chance to shine.”

To register for the Discover the Possibilities event, contact Jessica Westerlin at her phone and email listed above.

Mosaic is a whole-person healthcare organization reaching across 13 states in more than 700 communities and providing supports to nearly 4,900 people. Services empower people with disabilities, mental, and behavioral health needs and autism, as well as aging adults to live their best life. Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, visit www.mosaicinfo.org.