In an effort to remove the stigma associated with mental disabilities, Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling III proclaimed March Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Month.

"It is becoming necessary to educate people about people having disabilities. They are the same as we are," Spradling said.

Spradling said recognizing members of the community who have been able to work and contribute despite their disabilities is a worthwhile goal.

"I'd like people to have some reason to look beyond the proclamation and start looking at some information about the developmentally disabled, or have employers work them into their work force," he said.

Developmental disabilities are conditions which affect people during their developmental years. They include mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, spina bifida, visual impairment, hearing impairment, learning disabilities and traumatic brain injury.

Ed Miller, who works with Habcare and Day Co. in Sikeston, was on hand to receive the proclamation. Habcare is an organization that provides individual support to people with developmental disabilities so they live on their own. Day Co is a support group that works with the disabled on the job.

He said it may take a few months to train a mentally disabled person to perform some jobs but once trained they are loyal employees. Miller said his organization guarantees a job task will be completed during the training phase whether it is accomplished by the employee or a member of his group that is assisting the training.

Miller said there were state and federal incentives for employers to hire the disabled but they no longer exist. He said the turnover rate among mentally disabled employees is roughly the same as the average worker.

Lee Trankler of the Region IX Council on Developmental Disabilities said she hopes the proclamation will bring an awareness and acceptance of disabled people to the public.

"People with disabilities are just as independent and capable as the next person. They have dreams and aspirations just like anybody else does," Trankler said.

The council is based in Sikeston and is an advocacy organization that assists parents in receiving assistance from the region and state.