October and November

October and November are months of celebration, remembrance, and awareness. Below we’ve curated a list of resources to educate, inspire, and encourage action in our communities.

ADHD Awareness Month

ADHD Awareness Month occurs annually throughout October and is dedicated to raising awareness of and educating the public about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In raising awareness, the event aims to dismantle any harmful stereotypes or misinformation and spread reliable key facts and information.

This month, Monigle had a Chat & Learn that focused on ADHD awareness and led to great discussions on how to support our colleagues with ADHD and other manifestations of neurodiversity.

Here are some resources to learn more about ADHD:

  • Managing a Person with ADHD is an article on MindTools that suggests strategies to help manage someone with ADHD and allow them to reach their greatest potential.
  • The Disruptors film hears from many of those game-changing people about their ADHD and takes an immersive look at our approach to ADHD that debunks the most harmful myths and takes viewers inside a number of families as they navigate the challenges–and triumphs– of living with ADHD.
  • A Comprehensive Guide for Adult Women Navigating ADHD discusses techniques and skills to positively transform your life and take charge of Adult ADHD while sharing actionable steps to overcome issues in home life, work settings, relationships, and parenthood.

 

National Epilepsy Awareness Month

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. You may know that epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures. But did you know that people with epilepsy may experience multiple other daily challenges–mood changes, sleep deprivation, thinking and memory issues, and/or social and financial instability–depending on severity? Here are some quick facts about epilepsy:

  • 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy during their lifetime
  • 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy
  • 470,000 children in the United States have epilepsy
  • 150,000 people are diagnosed per year
  • An epilepsy diagnosis is usually made when a person has had 2 or more seizures
  • Seizures can look very different, ranging from staring spells to collapsing
  • Seizures can range in duration from a few seconds to a few minutes

Lack of information about the condition can often lead to greater obstacles for people with epilepsy–including decreased research funding compared to other brain disorders. Take some time this month to learn more about epilepsy’s causes and symptoms.

Check out this helpful resource: General First Aid for seizures

International Men’s Day

November 19th is International Men’s Day–a chance for us to recognize and celebrate the men that have impacted our lives.

This day of recognition is built upon 6 pillars:

  1. To promote positive male role models
  2. To celebrate men’s positive contribution to society, community, family, marriage, childcare and the environment
  3. To focus on men’s health and wellbeing
  4. To highlight discrimination against men
  5. To improve gender relations
  6. To create a safe, better world, where people can be safe and grow to reach their full potential

International Men’s Day coincides with Movember which aims to bring awareness and promote conversations about men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer.

As we build a more inclusive world, we must acknowledge the impact of all genders and identities around us. Honor this holiday by taking the the time to donate to a men’s charity, learning about lesser-known influential men, and reaching out to the amazing men around you.

Here are some resources to learn more:

  • We all know Benjamin Franklin and Abraham Lincoln, but do you know the history of Dr. Daniel Hale Williams? He performed the first successful heart surgery in 1893 at the first black-owned hospital in America.
  • Learn more about the contributions of Alan Turing and his team of codebreakers whose work was critical to British efforts in WWII in the film, The Imitation Game.
  • Read Man Enough, by Justin Baldoni, a fascinating take on toxic masculinity and how to dig deep to find out… you are enough!

October is LGBTQ+ History month

If you live in Colorado… visit the Colorado History Museum exhibit on Capitol Hill: A Brief History

If you live in New York… visit the Leslie-Lohman Museum

November is National Native American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native Heritage month!

If you live in Colorado… visit The Indigenous Arts of North America Galleries at the Denver Art Museum

If you live in New York… visit The Infinity of Nations: Art and History in the Collections of the National Museum of the American Indian

Important dates:

October:

  • Bullying Prevention Month
  • LGBTQ History Month
  • ADHD Awareness Month

Oct 2

  • International Day of Nonviolence

Oct 5 

  • Yom Kippur

Oct 10

  • World Mental Health Day

Oct 11

  • National Coming Out Day
  • Indigenous People’s Day

Oct 15

  • White Cane Safety Day (Blind Awareness)

Oct 24

  • Diwali

November:

  • Movember
  • National Native American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native Heritage Month

Nov 1

  • Dia de los Muertos

Nov 2 

  • National Stress Awareness Day

Nov 9

  • World Freedom Day

Nov 11

  • Veterans Day

Nov 13

  • World Kindness Day

Nov 16

  • National Day for Tolerance

Nov 19

  • International Men’s Day

Nov 20

  • Transgender Day of Rememberance

Nov 24

  • Thanksgiving