Calendar
Calendar of Events
If your organization is planning an event that might be of interest to AGS members, let us know. The deadline for posting is four weeks before the event.
This list of Awareness Days/Weeks/Months was created from various websites, including https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/2022 Awareness/2022 Awareness-dates.php#apr. To plan around Awareness Days/Weeks/Months in 2023 and beyond, we encourage you to search the internet.
JANUARY
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
January 4, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in January
January 2 - Personal Trainer
January 4 - World Braille Day
January 27 - Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN) (International)
January 30 - Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
January 31 - World Leprosy Day - (International)
January is Awareness Month for
Alzheimer’s (Canada)
Celebration of Life Month
Co-dependency
National Mentoring Month (U.S)
Poverty in America
Self-Help Group
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month (U.S)
Volunteer Blood Donor Month
Weight Loss
FEBRUARY
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
February 1, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in February
February 2 - Rheumatoid Arthritis
February 4 - World Cancer Day
February 11 - World Day of the Sick (International)
February 12 - Sexual and Reproductive Health
February 12 - International Day of Women's Health (International)
February 20 - World Day of Social Justice
February 22 - National Heart Valve Disease
February 29 - Rare Disease Day
2024 Awareness Weeks in February
1st Week - Eating Disorder Awareness Week
1st Week - National Therapeutic Recreation Week
1st Week - White Cane Week
February is Awareness Month for
American Heart Month
When we take care of #OurHearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for those around us to do the same. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/american-heart-month
Black History Month
Boost-Your-Self-Esteem Month
Children's Dental Health Month
Heart and Stroke Month (Heart and Stroke Foundation)
Human Relations Month
MARCH
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
March 7, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in March
March 1 - International Wheelchair Day
March 6 - World Lymphedema Day
March 8 - International Women's Day (UN)
March 12 - World Glaucoma Day
March 15 - International Long COVID Awareness Day
March 16 - Brain Injury (Global)
March 20 - International Day of Happiness
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day
March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day (UN)
March 25 - U.S. National Cerebral Palsy
March 26 - Purple Day for Epilepsy
2024 Awareness Weeks in March
1st Week - Lymphedema Awareness Week
1st Week - World Glaucoma Awareness Week
March is Awareness Month for
American Red Cross Month
Color Therapy Month
DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Prevention
Developmental Disabilities Month
Endometriosis
Epilepsy
Essential Tremor
Foot Health Month
Help Fight Liver Diseases Month
International Long COVID Awareness
Multiple Sclerosis Month
This is a national campaign with several online educational activities sponsored by the MS Association of America. https://mymsaa.org/
Nutrition Month
Social Workers' Month
Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. Learn more about the many positive contributions of the profession and find toolkit items to celebrate all the social workers you know. For more information on the toolkit, email media@socialworkers.org.
APRIL
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
April 4, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 AGS Spring Symposium
April 18, 2024
2024 Awareness Days in April
April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day
April 4 - Auditory Processing Disorder
April 7 - World Health Day (UN)
April 8 - Cushing Disease/Syndrome
April 9 - National Alcohol Screening Day (NASD)
April 11 - Parkinson's Disease International
April 13 - Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (International)
April 16 - National Stress
April 17 - World Hemophilia Day (UN)
April 22 - Earth Day
April 25 - World Meningitis Day
April 25 - World Malaria Day (WHO)
April 29 - World Primary Immunodeficiency Day (Canada)
Last Saturday in April. Show Your Mettle Day encourages amputees to show their metal (prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, etc).
2024 Awareness Weeks in April
April 15-21 - Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week
2nd Week - World Homeopathy Awareness Week
3rd Week - National Medical Laboratory Week
April is Awareness Month for
Alcohol
American Cancer Society Month
Autism
Child Abuse Prevention Month
Community Service Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Limb Loss
Occupational Therapy Month
Older Americans Month
Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads our nation’s observance.
Oral Health Month
Parkinson's Disease
Primary Immunodeficiency
Sexual Assault
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
Spondylitis
Stress
Testicular Cancer
Volunteer Appreciation Month
MAY
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
May 2, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in May
May 3 - Start of Brain Tumor Action Week
May 6 - International 2022 Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)
May 7 - Bladder Cancer
May 7 - World Asthma Day
May 8 - World Ovarian Cancer
May 8 - World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
May 10 - World Lupus Day
May 12 - ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia (FM) International Awareness Day
May 12 - International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND)
May 14 - Childhood Speech Apraxia
May 15 - International Day of Families (UN)
May 16 - Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)
May 17 - Worldwide Neurofibromatosis (NF)
May 25 - World Thyroid Day (WTD)
May 15 - National Senior Health & Fitness Day
Always set for the last Wednesday in May, National Senior Health & Fitness Day has hundreds of thousands of older adults participating in activities at more than 1,000 locations. Area Agencies on Aging, hospitals, park and recreation departments, and senior centers are just a few of the participating organizations.
May 20 - World AiArthritis Day
May 24 - Schizophrenia
May 27 - World Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
May 28 - World Hunger Day
May 31 - World No Tobacco Day (UN)
2024 Awareness Weeks in May
2nd Week in May - Williams Syndrome Awareness Week
May is Awareness Month forALS
Arthritis Awareness Month
Arthritis is one of the most widespread health conditions in the United States. It affects about one in four adults overall. That’s over 58 million men and women. To recognize this toll on Americans’ health, CDC, the Arthritis Foundation, and other partners observe this each May.
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Month
Brain Tumor
Celiac Awareness Month
Correct Posture Month
Fibromyalgia Awareness
Foot Health Month
Foster Care Month
Guide Dog Month
Hepatitis
High Blood Pressure Month
Huntington's Disease
Lupus Awareness Month
This is an opportunity for the lupus community to join together across the country to raise funds and awareness of the physical, emotional, and economic impact of lupus.
Mobility
National Mental Health Month
This has been observed in the United States since 1949 and was started by the Mental Health America organization. Each year they release a tool kit of materials to guide outreach activities, and organizations interested in mental health create activities based on a different theme each year.
National Nurses’ Month
The American Nurses Association has expanded National Nurses Week to a month-long celebration, providing more opportunities to celebrate nursing.
National Tourette Syndrome Month
Older Americans Month (OAM)
OAM is held each May to honor older adults and their contributions, particularly those who defended our U.S. country. OAM was declared by President John F. Kennedy and has been around since 1963 when only 17 million living Americans reached their 65th birthday. In contrast, the 2011 report by the Census Bureau suggested that 41.4 million people aged 65 and greater comprised the U.S. population. Further information on activities and other inclusions within your community can be found at the official Older Americans Month website.
Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Stroke
JUNE
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
June 6, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in June
June 1 - International Children's Day
June 1 - World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness
June 3 - Telehealthcare
June 5 - National HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors
June 7 - National Cancer Survivors Day
June 7 - World Food Safety Day (UN)
June 8 - World Brain Tumor Day
June 11 - Neuropathy Action
June 14 - World Blood Donor Day (UN)
June 15 - World Elder Abuse (WEAAD)
June 18 - Autistic Pride Day
June 19 - World Sickle Cell Day (UN)
June 19 - Juneteenth
June 20 - World Refugee Day - (UN)
June 21 - Global day of recognition of ALS/MND
June 26 - International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking - (UN)
June 27 - U.S. National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Day
June 29 - Chronic Migraine
June is Awareness Month for
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Migraine and Headache
Hemiplegic Migraine
Men’s Health Month
National Hunger
Pride Month
PTSD
JULY
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
July 4, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in July:
July 1 - Doctor's Day
July 12 - Disability Awareness Day (U.K.)
July 13 - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
July 22 - Fragile X
July 23 - World Sjogren's Day
July 24 - National Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Day
July 24 - World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
In January 2021, Pope Francis announced the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to be celebrated each year on the fourth Sunday of July, coinciding with the feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary's parents and Jesus' grandparents, Saints Joachim and Anne.
July 26 - Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Awareness Day
July 28 - World Hepatitis Day
July 30 - Gastroschisis
July 30 - International Day of Friendship
July is Awareness Month for
Disability Pride Month
Fragile
National Cleft and Craniofacial 2022 Awareness and Prevention Month (NCCAPM)
Sarcoma
AUGUST
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
August 1, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in August
August 7 - Purple Heart Day
August 9 - International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
August 12 - International Youth Day
August 13 - International Left-handers Day
World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day
It can be hard to imagine that anyone would deliberately want to harm an elderly person, but unfortunately, elder abuse is a widespread problem. Some instances of elder abuse are intended to exploit the person financially; you’ve probably heard of scams targeting seniors. In other cases, it’s simple negligence: Caregivers don’t provide the basic necessities, like nutritious food, appropriate medication, safety, or assistance with hygiene. If you see something, say something.
August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
August 21 - National Senior Citizens Day
Declared in 1988 by Ronald Reagan through Proclamation 5847, Senior Citizens Day has been honoring the contributions of senior citizens and raising awareness ever since. August 21st recognizes the older generation and their achievements through social media and news outlets while others organize special gatherings and activities.
August 31 - International Overdose
August is Awareness Month for
Autoinflammatory Disorders
Cataract
Children's Eye Health and Safety
Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP)
Immunization Awareness
Neurosurgery Outreach Month
Never Leave a Child Unattended in a Car (Purple Ribbon Month)
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness
Stevens-Johnsons Syndrome
September
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
September 5, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting.
2024 Awareness Days in September
September 4 - World Cerebral Palsy Day (List of Famous People with Cerebral Palsy)
September 5 - International Day of Charity (U.N.)
September 7 - Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
September 9 - National 401(k) Day
Celebrated every year on the Friday after Labor Day, this event prompts us to check in on our nest eggs. With only 70% of Americans financially prepared for retirement, understanding what you can do to make the dream of retirement a reality is important. It is estimated that 79% of Americans work for a company that offers a 401(k) plan; however, only 41% take advantage of the benefit.
September 9 - International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
September 11 – National Grandparent’s Day
Occurring annually on the first Sunday after Labor Day, National Grandparents Day was established by Marian McQuade, a West Virginia housewife. The day was set aside to encourage families to visit their elders. After making her way through the Senate and White House, President Jimmy Carter signed National Grandparents Day into law. “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa,” recorded by a Michigan man, even compliments the day. Get more information and resources at the official Grandparents Day site.
September 11 - Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
September 12 - World First Aid Day
September 13 - Celiac Disease - List of Gluten Free Food and Drink Products
September 15 - World Lymphoma - Hodgkin's Lymphoma
September 15 - Respect the Aged Day
Respect for the Aged Day (敬老の日, Keirō no Hi) is a Japanese designated public holiday celebrated annually to honor elderly citizens. It started in 1966 as a national holiday and was held on every September 15. Since 2003, Respect for the Aged Day is held on the third Monday of September due to the Happy Monday System. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect_for_the_Aged_Day
September 17 - Still's Disease Awareness Day
September 18 - National HIV/AIDS and Aging
September 19 - Usher Syndrome (Global)
September 21 – Falls Prevention Awareness Day.
A national health campaign was observed on the first day of falls to increase awareness around falls health and injury prevention.
September 21 - Myositis
September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
September 21 - International Day of Peace
September 22 - World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Day
September 22 - National Centenarians’ Day
Celebrated annually on September 22, this day is set aside to celebrate and honor those who have reached the age of 100. The day was originally proclaimed as a time to partake in the rich history and wisdom shared by centenarians.
September 23 - Falls Prevention - (First Day of Fall)
September 23 - International Day of Sign Languages; the date The World Federation of the Deaf was established in 1951)
September 24 - Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)
September 25 - International Ataxia
September 26 - Mesothelioma
September 27 - National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS
September 29 - World Heart Day
September 30 - Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
2024 September Awareness Weeks
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
1st Week - Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week
Last Week - International Week of the Deaf (International)
September is Awareness Month for
Alopecia
Arnold-Chiari Malformation
Achalasia
Cholesterol Awareness Month
Deaf (International)
Emergency Care Month
Gynecological Cancer
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15)
Life Insurance
Lymphoma
National Guide Dog Month
National Recovery Month
Orthostatic Tremor
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Pain
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Prostate
Recovery Month
Sight Saving Month
Suicide Prevention Month
Thyroid Cancer
Tumor
World Alzheimer’s Month
An international campaign to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that persists around dementia.
Women of Achievement Month
OCTOBER
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
October 3, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in October
October 1 - International Day of Older Persons - (UN)
The international holiday was created on December 14th, 1990 by the United Nations General Assembly. Each October 1st, International Day for Older Persons is observed. The international holiday was created on December 14th, 1990 by the United Nations General Assembly. The designated day ran parallel with initiatives of the Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing, which was adopted by the 1982 World Assembly on Ageing and later endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly adopted the UN Principles for Older Persons in 1991 and in 2002, the Second World Assembly adopted the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. The plan was in response to the challenges the aging population of the 21st-century face and an effort to develop an accommodating society for all ages.
October 5 - American Veterans Disabled for Life
October 7 - International Trigeminal Neuralgia
October 7 - Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow
October 6 - World Cerebral Palsy Day
October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
October 10 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
Started in the U.K. and expanded worldwide, its goal is to improve the quality of life for people affected by serious health problems. Those that have life-limiting illnesses have the right to be cared for in the way that best suits their needs and this holiday emphasizes that.
October 10 - World Mental Health Day
October 13 - Metastatic Breast Cancer
October 15 - World Blind Day / World Sight Day
October 15 - International Day of Rural Women (UN)
October 15 - Global Hand-washing Day
October 15 - National White Cane Safety Day
October 15 - Blind Americans Equality Day
October 15 - Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
October 16 - World Food Day (UN)
October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day
October 22 - International Stuttering
October 27 - World Occupational Therapy Day
Occupational therapy (OT) is a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems.
October 27 - World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
October 29 - World Stroke Day
October is Awareness Month for
AIDS
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. This annual campaign is designed to get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds to help support life-saving research and life-changing support.
Colon Cancer
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Dental Hygiene Month
Depression Education
Down Syndrome
Physical Therapy Month
Spina Bifida
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period
AEP for short – is a set time each year for changing your Medicare coverage choices if you choose to. AEP runs from October 15 to December 7. New coverage choices go into effect on January 1.
NOVEMBER
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
November 7, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting.
2024 Awareness Days in November:
November 1 - Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
November 8 - Aicardi Syndrome
November 10 - World NET Cancer
November 10 - World Immunization Day
November 11 - Veterans Day - Remembrance Day/Armistice Day
November 12 - World Pneumonia Day
November 13 - World Pancreatic Cancer Day
November 14 - World Diabetes Day (UN)
November 15 - World Ohtahara Syndrome
November 16 - International Day for Tolerance (UN)
November 17 - International Students Day
November 17 - World Prematurity Day
November 18 - World COPD Day
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (UN)
November 30 - Self Harm
2024 November Awareness Weeks
15-22 Home Care Aide Week
This celebrates and honors home care agencies and our workers for all they do for patients around the country. It always takes place the second full week of November.
November is Awareness Month for
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
Recognizing the need for heightened awareness of this disease, President Ronald Reagan made this designation in 1983. There were fewer than two million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease at that time; today that number has increased to nearly six million nationally. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 50 million people worldwide live with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.
COPD Awareness Month
Dercum's Disease (Adiposis Dolorosa)
Diabetes Awareness Month
While almost 30 million people in the U.S. have some form of diabetes, one in four don’t realize they’re walking around with the disease. National Diabetes Month is an annual event to boost awareness about the risk factors, symptoms, and types of diabetes.
Epilepsy Month
Good Nutrition Month
Lung Cancer
National Family Caregivers Month
Each November, U.S. citizens honor National Family Caregivers Month. This national day is in association with the Caregiver Action Network (CAN), previously known as the National Family Caregivers Association. CAN is a national leading organization that works to improve the quality of life for over 90 million caregivers by providing resources, reducing accompanying stress, and creating respect and capability. The selfless family members provide care in relation to chronic conditions, disabilities, diseases, and the frailties of older age. Visit Caregiver Action Network.
National Home Care & Hospice Month
During this month, the home care and hospice community honor the millions of nurses, home care aides, therapists, and social workers who make a remarkable difference for the patients and families they serve. These heroic caregivers play a central role in our health care system and in homes across the nation. The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) calls upon all Americans to recognize and commemorate the power of caring, both at the home and in their local communities.
Native American Heritage Month
Prostate Cancer / Men's Health
Red Ribbon Month (Anti-drunk-driving)
DECEMBER
AGS Board of Advisors Meeting
December 5, 2024 - Contact us if you’d like to attend this virtual meeting
2024 Awareness Days in December
December 1 - World Aids Day (UN)
December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities (UN)
December 27 - International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (UN)
2024 December Awareness Weeks
Older Driver Safety Awareness Week
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) believes that occupational therapy practitioners have the skills to offer education, assess risk, and when required, evaluate a person's overall ability to operate a vehicle safely as a gateway to providing solutions. Visit https://www.aota.org/conference-events/older-driver-safety-awareness-week.aspx or this government site: https://www.nhtsa.gov/older-drivers/keeping-our-older-drivers-safe-road.
December is Awareness Month for
Constipation
Universal Human Rights Month