Health and Disability Awareness Days Calendar by Month

Author: Ian C. Langtree - View Credentials
Published: 30 Apr 2011 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Awareness, Appreciation

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information is a month by month calendar of health and disability awareness months, days and weeks, from World Braille Day in January to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December. International days recognized by the United Nations and global public health days run by the World Health Organization are labeled, so readers can tell official observances from those promoted by national groups and charities, and observances that move each year are listed by their rule, such as the second Thursday of October. Teachers, health workers, disability organizations, charities and anyone planning an event, a fundraiser or a social media campaign can use it to find relevant dates and to link to more information on each condition.

At a Glance

1 - World Cerebral Palsy Day is held on October 6.
2 - World Hearing Day, run by the World Health Organization, falls on March 3.
3 - Rare Disease Day falls on the last day of February, which is February 29 in leap years.
4 - The UN International Day of Deafblindness on June 27 marks the birthday of Helen Keller.

Topic Definition

Awareness Day: An awareness day is a date set aside each year to draw public attention to a health condition, disability, social issue or cause, usually with campaigns, events, fundraising and information sharing. Awareness days can be proclaimed by the United Nations or the World Health Organization, by national governments, or by charities and advocacy groups, and many are part of longer awareness weeks or months. Some fall on a fixed date, while others follow a rule such as the first Tuesday of a month.

Overview

An awareness day, week or month is a date set aside to draw public attention to a health condition, a disability or a social cause. Some are proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly or the World Health Organization, some by national governments, and many more by charities, patient groups and medical societies. Because there is no single global authority, the same condition can have different dates in different countries.

Many observances fall on a set weekday rather than a fixed date, such as World Sight Day on the second Thursday of October or Global Accessibility Awareness Day on the third Thursday of May, so the calendar date changes from year to year [International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, n.d.; Global Accessibility Awareness Day, 2026]. Check the organizer's website for the current year before planning an event.

Awareness ribbons are widely used to show support for these causes, and many observances have their own ribbon color.

How to Use This Calendar

The calendar lists health and disability awareness months, days and weeks month by month. Entries marked (UN) are international days listed by the United Nations, and entries marked (WHO) are global public health days run by the World Health Organization [United Nations, n.d.; World Health Organization, n.d.]. Other entries are organized by national bodies or charities, and the country is shown where the observance is mainly national. Dates for observances set by individual organizations can change, so confirm them with the organizer.

Jump to a month:

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Awareness Dates for January

January Awareness Months

Alzheimer's - (Canada - Alzheimer Society)
Celebration of Life Month
Co-dependency - (U.S.)
Constipation - (U.S.)
Glaucoma - (U.S.)
National Mentoring Month - (U.S.)
Ontario March of Dimes Month - (Canada)
Poverty in America - (U.S.)
Radon Action Month
Self-Help Group
Stalking - (U.S.)
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month - (U.S.)
Volunteer Blood Donor Month - (U.S.)
Weight Loss

January Awareness Days

January 1 - Global Family Day - formerly One Day of Peace and Sharing
January 1 - World Day of Peace
January 4 - World Braille Day - (UN)
January 15 - Intestinal Malrotation and Volvulus
January 24 - Moebius Syndrome
January 27 - Family Literacy Day - ABC Life Literacy Canada
January 27 - International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust - (UN)
January 28 - Young Carers (U.K.)
January 30 - World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day - (WHO)
January 30 - World Leprosy Day - (WHO)
January 30 - CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy)
January 31 - Street Children's Day

January Awareness Weeks

5th-11th January - Lichen Sclerosus Awareness week (UK)
3rd Wk - National Non-Smoking Week - Canada - Canadian Council on Smoking and Health
3rd Wed - Weedless Wednesday - Canada - Canadian Council on Smoking and Health

Awareness Dates for February

February Awareness Months

Black History Month - (U.S. and Canada)
Boost-Your-Self-Esteem Month - (U.S.)
Children's Dental Health Month - (U.S.)
Heart and Stroke Month - (U.S.) - Heart and Stroke Foundation
Human Relations Month

February Awareness Days

February 2 - Rheumatoid Arthritis
February 4 - World Cancer Day
February 6 - International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation - (International)
February 11 - World Day of the Sick - (International)
February 12 - Sexual and Reproductive Health
February 13 - Breast Implant Illness
February 14 - Congenital Heart Defect - (Canada)
February 15 - International Childhood Cancer Day - (International)
February 20 - World Day of Social Justice - (UN)
February 21 - International Mother Language Day - (UN) - (International)
February 22 - National Heart Valve Disease (U.S.)
February 27 - Anosmia
February 28 (29th in leap year) - Rare Disease Day

February Awareness Weeks

Late February - Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Awareness Week
1st Wk - Eating Disorder Awareness Week; National; National Eating Disorder Information Center
1st Wk - International Development Week; National; CIDA
1st Wk - National Therapeutic Recreation Week
1st Wk - White Cane Week; National; Canadian Council of the Blind
2nd Wk - World Orphan Week; International; SOS Children's Villages Canada
Last Wed - Pink Shirt Day (Anti-bullying) - Canada - Pink Shirt Day

Awareness Dates for March

March Awareness Months

American Red Cross Month - (U.S.)
Cerebral Palsy - (U.S.)
Color Therapy Month - (U.S.)
Caffeine - (U.S.)
Colorectal Cancer
DVT - (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Prevention
Developmental Disabilities Month
Endometriosis
Epilepsy - (Epilepsy Canada)
Easter Seals Month - (Ontario, Canada)
Essential Tremor - (U.S.)
Foot Health Month
Help Fight Liver Disease Month
International Long COVID Awareness
Juvenile Arthritis - (Canada)
Kidney Month - (Kidney Foundation of Canada)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - (U.S.)
Music in Our Schools Month
National Athletic Training Month (U.S.)
Nutrition Month - (U.S.)
Polio - (Polio Canada)
Red Cross Month - (Canadian Red Cross)
Reading - (U.S.)
Self-Injury - (U.S.)
Social Workers Month - (U.S.)
Suddenly Sleepy Saturday - Narcolepsy Awareness
Trisomy
Women's History Month

March Awareness Days

March 1 - International Wheelchair Day
March 1 - Self-Injury
March 3 - World Hearing Day - (WHO)
March 5 - Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day / Multiple Personality Awareness Day
March 5 - U.S. Social Security National Slam the Scam Day
March 6 - World Lymphedema Day
March 8 - International Women's Day - (UN)
March 10 - National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS
March 12 - World Glaucoma Day
March 14 - International Day of Action for Rivers
March 15 - International Long Covid Awareness Day
March 15 - National Agriculture Day (US)
March 16 - Brain Injury (Global)
March 18 - National Trisomy 18 Awareness Day
March 20 - International Day of Happiness
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day
March 21 - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21 - World Poetry Day - (UN - UNESCO)
March 21 - International Day of Nowruz
March 24 - International Day for Achievers
March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day - (WHO)
March 25 - U.S. National Cerebral Palsy
March 26 - Purple Day for Epilepsy
March 27 - AFE - An international day uniting those affected by Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE)

March Awareness Weeks

1st Wk - Pharmacy Awareness Week - Canadian Pharmacists Association
1st Wk - Lymphedema Awareness Week - BC Lymphedema Association
1st Wk - World Glaucoma Awareness Week - World Glaucoma Week
2nd Wk - Canadian Agricultural Safety Week - Canadian Federation of Agriculture
2nd Wk - National Social Work Week - Canadian Association of Social Workers
3rd Wk - Crisis Line Awareness Week - BC Crisis Line Association

Awareness Dates for April

April Awareness Months

Alcohol
American Cancer Society Month - (U.S.)
Autism - (Canada and U.S.)
Child Abuse Prevention Month - (U.S.)
Community Service Month
Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) Awareness Month
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Limb Loss
Oral Health Month - (U.S.)
Parkinson's Disease
Primary Immunodeficiency - (U.S.)
Sarcoidosis
Sexual Assault
Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
Spondylitis
Stress
Testicular Cancer
U.S. National Social Security Month
Volunteer Appreciation Month

April Awareness Days

April 1 - Youth Homelessness Matters Day
April 2 - World Autism Awareness Day - (UN)
April 4 - Auditory Processing Disorder
April 6 - Bohring-Opitz Syndrome (International)
April 7 - World Health Day - (WHO)
April 7 - Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide
April 7 - National Making The First Move Day
April 8 - National Gifted Education in Ireland
April 8 - Cushing Disease/Syndrome
April 9 - National Alcohol Screening Day - (NASD)
April 10 - National Youth HIV and AIDS
April 11 - Parkinson's Disease International.
April 12 - International Day for Street Children
April 13 - Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (International)
April 16 - National Stress
April 17 - World Hemophilia Day - (UN)
April 19 - Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Action Day
April 22 - Earth Day
April 23 - Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)
April 25 - World Meningitis Day
April 25 - World Malaria Day - (WHO)
April 25 - Parental Alienation - (PAAD)
April 28 - International Workers Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day - (ICD)
April 29 - Make-A-Wish Day (International)
April 29 - Day of Remembrance of Victims of Chemical Warfare
April 29 - World Primary Immunodeficiency Day (Canada)
April 29 - International Noise
April 30 - National Assistive Technology Awareness Day (U.S.)

April Awareness Weeks

1st Week of April - International Pooper Scooper Week - April 1-7, Annually
2nd Saturday of April - Sarcoidosis
Last Saturday in April - Show Your Mettle Day - to encourage amputees to show their metal (prosthetic devices, wheelchairs, etc.).
Mid-April - National Porphyria Awareness Week (NPAW) to enhance porphyria awareness in communities by spreading the word about porphyria.
Mid-April - Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week.
Mid-April - National Dental Hygiene Week; National; Canadian Dental Hygienists Association
Late April - National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week (Canada)
April 24-30 - World Immunization Week - (WHO)
2nd Wk - World Homeopathy Awareness Week
3rd Wk - National Medical Laboratory Week; National
3rd Wk - National Volunteer Week; National; Volunteer Canada

Awareness Dates for May

May Awareness Months

ALS - (U.S.)
Asthma
Arthritis Month
Allergy/Asthma
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Borderline Personality Disorder
Brain Tumor
Cystic fibrosis (Australia and U.S.)
Celiac Awareness Month
Correct Posture Month
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)
Fibromyalgia Awareness
Foot Health Month
Foster Care Month - (U.S.)
Guide Dog Month - (U.S.)
Haitian Heritage Month
Hepatitis
High Blood Pressure Month - (U.S.)
Huntington's Disease - (U.S.)
Lupus
Lyme Disease
ME Awareness Month
Mental Health Month
Mobility
National Tourette Syndrome Awareness Month - May 15 to June 15
Older Americans Month - (U.S.)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - (Canada)
Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Stroke - (U.S.)

May Awareness Days

Misophonia falls on the first Monday in May, and is known as Misophonia Monday
May 1 - Global Mesh
May 2 - International Scurvy
May 3 - Start of Brain Tumor Action Week
May 5 - Cri du Chat Syndrome Day.
May 5 - International Midwives Day
May 5 - World Hand Hygiene Day - (WHO)
May 5 - Ependymoma
May 5 - National Childhood Stroke
May 6 - World Moyamoya Day
May 7 - National Children's Mental Health
May 6 - International Awareness Day for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones)
May 7 - Bladder Cancer
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 Nurses Day
May 12 - International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND)
May 14 - Childhood Speech Apraxia
May 15 - International Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS)
May 15 - International Day of Families - (UN)
May 17 - Worldwide Neurofibromatosis (NF)
May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
May 18 - International AIDS Vaccine Day
May 18 - International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
May 19 - Schizencephaly
May 20 - International BehAet's disease Awareness Day
May 20 - International Blue Cone Monochromacy
May 20 - World AiArthritis Day (AiArthritis Day) - Global - Annually - (Was: World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (WAAD))
May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity - (UN)
May 23 - International Day to End Obstetric Fistula
May 24 - Schizophrenia (Canada)
May 25 - World Thyroid Day (WTD)
May 30 - World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day
May 28 - World Hunger Day
May 31 - World No Tobacco Day - (WHO)

May Awareness Weeks

ME/CFS Awareness Week - week surrounding May 12
U.K. Deaf Awareness Week (DAW) - (Dates Vary)
Week surrounding May 5 - International Cri du Chat Syndrome Awareness Week
1st Saturday in May each year is World Ankylosing Spondylitis Day
1st Tuesday of May - World Asthma Day - (Global Initiative for Asthma)
2nd Sunday of May - International Mother's Day
2nd Week in May - Williams Syndrome Awareness Week
3rd Thursday of May - Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)

Awareness Dates for June

June Awareness Months

Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS)
Apert Syndrome (South Carolina declared the month of June, Apert Syndrome awareness month)
Audiobook Month
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Migraine and Headache
Hemiplegic Migraine
Men's Health Month
National Hunger
PTSD

June Awareness Days

June 1 - International Children's Day
June 1 - World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness
June 2 - National Gun Violence
June 3 - Telehealthcare
June 4 - International Day of Innocent Children, Victims of Aggression
June 5 - National HIV/AIDS Long-Term Survivors
June 6 - Hunger Day
June 7 - National Cancer Survivors Day
June 7 - World Food Safety Day - (UN)
June 8 - World Brain Tumor Day
June 11 - Neuropathy Action
June 13 - Young Carers (U.K.)
June 13 - International Albinism Awareness Day - (UN)
June 14 - World Blood Donor Day - (WHO)
June 15 - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) - (UN)
June 16 -A World EHS Day - Raising Awareness of Electrosensitivity
June 17 - CDKL5, Worldwide
June 18 - Autistic Pride Day
June 19 - World Sickle Cell Day - (UN)
June 20 - World Refugee Day - (UN)
June 21 - Global day of recognition of ALS/MND
June 23 - Dravet Syndrome.
June 25 - World Vitiligo
June 26 - International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking - (UN)
June 27 - International Day of Deafblindness - (UN)
June 27 - U.S. National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Day
June 29 - Chronic Migraine
June 29 - World Scleroderma
June 30 - Arthrogryposis

Awareness Dates for July

July Awareness Months

Disability Pride Month (NY)
Fragile X (FXS)
National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month (NCCAPM)
Sarcoma - (U.S.)

July Awareness Days

July 1 - Doctor's Day - Bidhan Chandra Roy Birthday
July 2 - National Corpus Callosum (Australia)
1st Saturday of July - International Day of Cooperatives - (UN)
July 6 - International Kissing Day
July 9 -A World Misophonia Awareness Day
July 11 - World Population Day
July 12 - Disability Awareness Day (DAD) (U.K.)
July 12 - Heterochromia
July 13 - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
July 15 - World Youth Skills Day
July 17 - World Day for International Justice
July 18 - Nelson Mandela International Day
July 21 - National Farm Safety
July 22 - Fragile X (FXS)
July 23 - World Sjogren's Day
July 24 - National Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Day
July 25 - World Drowning Prevention Day - (WHO)
July 26 - Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Awareness Day
July 28 - World Hepatitis Day - (WHO)
July 30 - Gastroschisis
July 30 - International Day of Friendship

July Awareness Weeks

None listed at present

Awareness Dates for August

August Awareness Months

Autoinflammatory Disorders Awareness
Cataract
Children's Eye Health and Safety
Children's Vision and Learning
Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP)
Don't be a Bully Month
Immunization Awareness
Neurosurgery Outreach Month
Never Leave a Child Unattended in a Car, Purple Ribbon Month
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)

August Awareness Days

August 1 - Clergy Sexual Abuse US and International
August 6 - National Fresh Breath Day
August 6 - National Wiggle Your Toes Day
August 7 - Purple Heart Day
August 8 - Happiness Happens Day
August 8 - Severe ME Awareness Day (Severe and Very Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis)
August 9 - International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
August 12 - International Youth Day
August 13 - International Left-handers Day
August 19 - World Humanitarian Day
August 20 - National Honey Bee Day
August 21 - National Senior Citizens Day
August 30 - International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
August 31 - International Overdose

Awareness Dates for September

September Awareness Months

Alopecia - (U.S.)
Arnold-Chiari Malformation
Achalasia
Baby Safety Month - (U.S.)
Childhood Cancer - (U.S.)
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month - (U.S.)
Chiari
Cholesterol Awareness Month - (U.S.)
Deaf (International)
Emergency Care Month
Gynecological Cancer - (U.S.)
Hispanic Heritage Month - (U.S. - Sept. 15 to Oct. 15)
Life Insurance - (U.S.)
Lymphoma
National Guide Dog Month - (U.S.)
National Recovery Month - (U.S.)
National Hydrocephalus - (U.S.)
National Honey Month - (U.S.)
National Preparedness Month - (U.S.)
Orthostatic Tremor
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month - (U.S.)
Pain
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Prostate
Recovery Month - (U.S.)
Sight Saving Month - (U.S.)
Suicide Prevention Month - (U.S.)
Spinal Cord Injury - (U.S.)
Superficial Siderosis Awareness Month
Thyroid Cancer
Tumor - (U.S.)
Wilderness Month - (U.S.)
World Alzheimer's Disease Month
Women of Achievement Month

September Awareness Days

September 5 - International Day of Charity - (U.N.)
September 7 - Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
September 8 - National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day
September 9 - 9p Minus Awareness Day (9/9)
September 9 - International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Children)
September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
September 11 - Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance (U.S.)
2nd Saturday of September - World First Aid Day
September 13 - Celiac Disease - List of Gluten-Free Food and Drink Products
September 15 - Pension (U.K.)
September 15 - World Lymphoma - Hodgkin's Lymphoma
September 16 - National School Backpack
September 17 - Still's Disease Awareness Day (globally) (International Foundation for Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Arthritis (AiArthritis)
September 17 - World Patient Safety Day - (WHO)
September 18 - National HIV/AIDS and Aging
September 19 - Aortic Dissection
September 19 - Usher Syndrome (Global)
September 21 - Myositis - Designated by U.S. Congress
September 21 - World Alzheimer's Day
September 21 - International Day of Peace
September 22 - World Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Day
September 22 - World Narcolepsy Day
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 (NGMHAAD)
September 28 - World Rabies Day - (WHO)
September 29 - World Heart Day
September 30 - Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy

September Awareness Weeks

National Rehabilitation Awareness Week - (Actual Date Subject to Change Each Year)
Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week - First week of September
Last week of September - International Week of the Deaf (International)

Awareness Dates for October

October Awareness Months

AIDS - (U.S.)
Black History Month - (U.K.)
Bullying Prevention Month - (U.S.)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month - (U.S.)
Collegiate Alcohol - (U.S.)
Colon Cancer
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) / Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) awareness month.
Dental Hygiene Month - (U.S.)
Depression Education - (U.S.)
Disability Employment
Diversity
Diarrhea
Domestic Violence
Down Syndrome - (U.S.)
Dwarfism
Dysautonomia
Eczema
Emotional Intelligence
Fire Prevention Month - (U.S.)
Health Care Food Service Month - (U.S.)
Hunger
International Walk to School Month - (Canada)
Infant Loss and Miscarriage - (U.S.)
Information Literacy - (U.S.)
Lupus
Pharmacy Month - (U.S.)
Physical Therapy Month - (U.S.)
Pregnancy and Infant Loss - (U.S.)
Raynaud's
Rett Syndrome
Selective Mutism
Spina bifida awareness month
Work and Family Month - (U.S.)
Vaccine Injury - (U.S.)
Vegetarian - (U.S.)

October Awareness Days

October 1 - International Day of Older Persons - (UN)
October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
October 5 - World Day of Bullying Prevention
October 5 - American Veterans Disabled for Life
October 6 - World Cerebral Palsy Day (see our List of Famous People with Cerebral Palsy)
October 7 - International Trigeminal Neuralgia
October 7 - Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow
October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day
October 9 - PANDAS / PANS
October 10 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
October 10 - World Mental Health Day - (WHO)
October 10 - World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP
October 11 - International Day of the Girl Child
October 13 - Metastatic Breast Cancer
2nd Thursday of October - World Sight Day - (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness)
October 14 - Global Food Protein Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) 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 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - (UN)
October 18 - World Vasectomy Day
October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day
October 21 - Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day
October 22 - Phelan-McDermid Syndrome - International Day of Awareness
October 22 - International Stuttering Awareness Day
October 23 - Kabuki Syndrome
October 24 - World Development Information Day
October 24 - United Nations Day
October 25 - Spina Bifida
October 25 - Hydrocephalus Day
October 25 - 31 - International Epidermolysis Bullosa Awareness Week
October 26 - Intersex
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

Awareness Dates for November

November Awareness Months

Adoption - (U.S.)
COPD Awareness Month
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Alzheimer's
Dercum's Disease (Adiposis Dolorosa)
Diabetes
Epilepsy Month
Good Nutrition Month
Hospice Month
Lung Cancer
Native American Heritage Month
Prematurity
Prostate Cancer / Men's Health
Red Ribbon Month (Anti-drunk-driving)
RSD/CRPS
Vegan

November Awareness Days

November 1 - World Vegan Day
November 1 - Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
November 4 - National Stress (NSAD) (U.K.)
November 7 - Cancer (India)
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 19 - International Men's Day (IMD)
November 20 - World Children's Day - (UN)
November 24 - N24
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - (UN)
November 30 - Self Harm

November Awareness Weeks

Purple Tuesday (U.K.) - held on a Tuesday each November. Serves as a catalyst for the promotion of inclusivity and equality for disabled consumers, encouraging companies to make long-lasting changes that improve accessibility.
National Radiologic Technology Week
5th-11th November - Vulval cancer awareness week (UK)
November 18-24 - World AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance) Awareness Week - (WHO)

Awareness Dates for December

December Awareness Months

AIDS
Constipation
Universal Human Rights Month

December Awareness Days

December 1 - World AIDS Day - (WHO)
December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities - (UN)
December 5 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)
December 10 - Human Rights Day - (UN)
December 12 - Universal Health Coverage Day - (WHO)
December 27 - International Day of Epidemic Preparedness (U.N.)

December Awareness Weeks

5th-11th December - Vaginal Atrophy Awareness week (UK)

Note: If you know of a discrepancy, or other recognized awareness programs and dates you would like to see added to the list, please Contact us with as many details as you can provide, so we can list the date(s) in our observance calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I start a new awareness day?

Most new observances are launched by a charity or advocacy group, which picks a date, builds partnerships and promotes it. Official UN days require a resolution of the General Assembly, and national days usually need a government proclamation or law.

What is the difference between a UN day and a WHO day?

UN international days are proclaimed by the UN General Assembly or its agencies on a wide range of topics. WHO days are global public health campaigns that the World Health Organization leads each year.

Can schools use awareness days in lessons?

Yes. Many organizers publish free lesson plans, posters and activity ideas for teachers, and awareness days can help students learn about disability, health and inclusion.

How do I make an awareness event accessible?

Choose a step-free venue, provide captions or sign language interpretation, share materials in large print and plain language, and ask attendees in advance about any access needs.

Are awareness months the same in every country?

No. For example, the United States and Canada mark Black History Month in February, while the United Kingdom marks it in October.

How can businesses take part in awareness days?

Businesses can share accurate information, support staff who want to volunteer, donate to related charities and review their own services and workplaces for accessibility.

Do awareness days actually make a difference?

They can increase media coverage, online searches and donations around the date. The lasting effect depends on whether the attention leads to action such as screening, policy change or better services.

Where can I find the theme for this year?

Most organizers announce a yearly theme on their official website a few weeks or months before the date, along with campaign materials.

References

Global Accessibility Awareness Day. (2026). Global Accessibility Awareness Day.
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. (n.d.). World Sight Day.
United Nations. (n.d.). List of international days and weeks.
World Health Organization. (n.d.). World health days and campaigns.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Awareness dates work best when they lead to something beyond a hashtag. The most effective campaigns pair the date with clear information, a practical ask such as screening, donating blood or checking a building for accessibility, and the voices of people who live with the condition. For disability causes in particular, the people most affected should help decide how a day is marked, so that the message moves away from pity and toward rights, inclusion and access. Because a crowded calendar can dilute attention, organizations planning events may get more impact by choosing a few dates that closely fit their work and building activity around them over several weeks.

Author Credentials: Ian C. Langtree is a writer, editor, and the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, which he established in 2004 as one of the longest-running independent resources for disability news and information. Over more than two decades, he has written and edited thousands of articles on disability rights, health, accessibility, and assistive technology. Drawing on a global perspective shaped by extensive travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed advocate of the Social Model of Disability, the framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that focuses on removing societal barriers rather than on individual impairments. His writing is grounded in that framework and in a lasting commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.