Awareness Dates: Days - Weeks - Months

Date: 2011/04/30 (Rev. 2019/05/21)
Disabled World - www.disabled-world.com
Synopsis : List of major awareness dates and commemorative observance days weeks and months that focus on health medical and disability research or ethical causes of importance.

Key Points:

1: Awareness days, weeks and months engage the public in important health information.
2: Usually awareness dates are health related, and help raise awareness of health conditions, illnesses, cancer types etc.

Main Document

A national or international awareness day, week, or month is a date usually set by a major organization or government to commemorate a medical research or ethical cause of importance on a national or international level. Throughout the year organizations support a variety of initiatives to raise awareness and understanding for key health issues around the world.

Awareness days, weeks and months engage the public in important health information. Usually awareness dates are health related, and help raise awareness of health conditions, medical illnesses, cancer types etc. Often based around these dates many charities collect money in the form of donations and fund raising. There are also other organizations and foundations around the world that declare both national and international observances, although these are not always as widely recognized.

We hope this calendar will be of use to teachers, organizations, and persons seeking forward planning resources, launch dates, events, and charity donation campaigns, across a wide range of categories and event types.

Awareness ribbons have also become popular symbols of causes and illness conditions over recent years. Like awareness bracelets the use of various colored folded ribbons is designed to create public awareness to health, medical conditions, disability, and other issues. We currently have over 80 different ribbon colors and designs listed that denote awareness for hundreds of conditions.

List of International and Country Specific Observance Dates (Health, Medical and Disability Related)
Jump To: January February March April May June July August September October November December
Awareness Dates for January
January is Awareness Month For:
Calendar page showing days and dates. 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
Awareness Days in January:
January 1 - Global Family Day - formerly One Day of Peace and Sharing - (UN) January 2 - Personal Trainer January 1 - World Day of Peace January 4 - World Braille Day - International January 15 - Intestinal Malrotation and Volvulus January 24 - Moebius Syndrome January 27 - Family Literacy Day - ABC Life Literacy Canada January 27 - Holocaust Remembrance Day - (UN) - (International) January 28 - Young Carers (U.K.) January 30 - CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) January 31 - World Leprosy Day - (International) January 31 - Street Children's Day
Awareness Weeks in January:
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 is Awareness Month For:
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 International Mother Language Day Month
Awareness Days in February:
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 12 - International Day of Women's Health - (International) 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 (Recognized by the UN) - (International) 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
Awareness Weeks in February:
February 26 - March 4, 2017 was Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak (CSF) Awareness Week. (Planning for Leak Week 2018 is underway.) 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 is Awareness Month For:
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 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.) Trisomy Women's History Month
Awareness Days in March:
March 1 - International Wheelchair Day March 1 - Self-Injury March 5 - Multiple Personality Day March 6 - National Lymphedema March 8 - United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace - (UN) 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 - 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 - (UN) 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)
Awareness Weeks in March:
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 is Awareness Month For:
30-hour Famine - (U.S.) 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) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Limb Loss Narz - (U.S.) Oral Health Month - (U.S.) Parkinson's Disease Primary Immunodeficiency - (U.S.) Sarcoidosis Sexual Assault Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Spondylitis Stress Testicular Cancer Volunteer Appreciation Month
Awareness Days in April:
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 - (UN) 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
Awareness Weeks in April:
2nd Saturday of April - Sarcoidosis Last Saturday in April - Show Your Mettle Day - to encourage amputees to show their metal (prosthetic devices, wheel chairs, etc). April 6-13 (2019) - National Porphyria Awareness Week (NPAW) to enhance porphyria awareness in communities by spreading the word about porphyria. April 12-18 - Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. 13 - 19 - National Dental Hygiene Week; National; Canadian Dental Hygienists Association 20- 27 - National Organ Donor Awareness Week 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 is Awareness Month For:
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 Mental Health Month Mobility Older Americans Month - (U.S.) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - (Canada) Physical Fitness and Sports Month Stroke - (U.S.)
Awareness Days in May:
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 (www.fivepminus.org) May 5 - International Midwives Day May 5 - Ependymoma May 5 - National Childhood Stroke May 5 - World Asthma Day 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 - Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS) 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 - World Hepatitis Day May 19 - Schizencephaly May 20 - International Behcet's Disease Awareness Day May 20 - International Blue Cone Monochromacy May 20 - 2019 - World AiArthritis Day (AiArthritis Day) - Global - (Was: World Autoimmune Arthritis Day (WAAD)) May 21 - Global Accessibility 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 27 - World Multiple Sclerosis (MS). May 28 - World Hunger Day May 31 - World No Tobacco Day - (UN)
Awareness Weeks in May:
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 2nd Sunday of May - International Mothers' Day 2nd Week in May - Williams Syndrome Awareness Week
Awareness Dates for June
June is Awareness Month For:
Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) Audiobook Month Chronic Venous Insufficiency Migraine and Headache Hemiplegic Migraine Men's Health Month National Hunger PTSD
Awareness Days in June:
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 8 - World Brain Tumor Day June 11 - Neuropathy Action June 13 - Young Carers (U.K.) June 13 - International Albinism June 14 - World Blood Donor Day - (UN) June 15 - World Elder Abuse (WEAAD) 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 - 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 is Awareness Month For:
Disability Pride Month (NY) Fragile X (FXS) National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month (NCCAPM) Sarcoma - (U.S.)
Awareness Days in July:
July 1 - Doctor's Day - Bidhan Chandra Roy Birthday July 2 - National Corpus Callosum (Australia) July 5 2015 - International Day of Cooperatives (Recognized by the UN first Saturday in July) July 6 - International Kissing 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 16 - Disability (ADA) Awareness 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 28 - World Hepatitis Day July 30 - Gastroschisis July 30 - International Day of Friendship
Awareness Weeks in July:
Last Friday of July - System Administrator Appreciation Day
Awareness Dates for August
August is Awareness Month For:
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) Studious Behavior Awareness
Awareness Days in August:
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 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 is Awareness Month For:
Alopecia - (U.S.) Arnold-Chiari Malformation Achalasia - achalasiaawareness.org 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.) Thyroid Cancer Tumor - (U.S.) Wilderness Month - (U.S.) World Alzheimer's Disease Month Women of Achievement Month
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 8 - National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day 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.) September 12 - World First Aid Day (2015) 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 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 23 - Falls Prevention - (First Day of Fall) September 24 - Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) September 25 - International Ataxia September 26 - Mesothelioma September 27 - National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS (NGMHAAD) September 29 - World Heart Day September 28 - World Rabies Day September 30 - Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy
Awareness Weeks in September:
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week - (Actual Date Subject to Change Each Year) Idiopathic Hypersomnia Awareness Week - First week of September - (4th - 10th Sept, 2017) Last week of September - International Week of the Deaf (International)
Awareness Dates for October
October is Awareness Month For:
AIDS - (U.S.) Black History Month - (U.K.) Breast Cancer Bullying Prevention Month - (U.S.) Breast Cancer Awareness Month - (U.S.) Collegiate Alcohol - (U.S.) Colon Cancer Dental Hygiene Month - (U.S.) Depression Education - (U.S.) Disability Employment Diversity Diarrhea Domestic Violence Down Syndrome - (U.S.) Dwarfism Dysautonomia (www.dysautonomiainternational.org) Eczema Emotional Intelligence - (www.e-ii.org) 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 Spina bifida awareness month Work and Family Month - (U.S.) Vaccine Injury - (U.S.) Vegetarian - (U.S.)
Awareness Days in October:
October 1 - International Day of Older Persons - (UN) October 1 - World Vegetarian Day October 2 - World Cerebral Palsy Day October 5 - World Day of Bullying Prevention October 5 - American Veterans Disabled for Life October 7 - International Trigeminal Neuralgia October 7 - Team Margot Stem Cell and Bone Marrow October 7 - World Cerebral Palsy October 8 - World Humanitarian Action Day October 9 - PANDAS / PANS October 10 - World Hospice and Palliative Care Day October 10 - World Mental Health Day October 10 - World Day Against Death Penalty, recognized by the WCADP October 11 - International Day of the Girl Child October 13 - Metastatic Breast Cancer October 14 - Global Food Protein Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) Day 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 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 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 Day for Audiovisual Heritage October 29 - World Stroke Day
Awareness Dates for November
November is Awareness Month For:
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
Awareness Days in November:
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 - Universal Children's Day - (UN) November 24 - N24 November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women - (UN) November 30 - Self Harm
Awareness Weeks in November:
National Radiologic Technology Week 5th-11th November - Vulval cancer awareness week (UK)
Awareness Dates for December
December is Awareness Month For:
AIDS Constipation Universal Human Rights Month
Awareness Days in December:
December 1 - World Aids Day - (UN) 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)
Awareness Weeks in December:
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.

Also See:

Awareness Ribbons Chart: Color and Meaning of Awareness Ribbon Causes - List of awareness ribbon colors and associated causes regarding health and disability - Includes printable awareness ribbon chart.
Cancer Awareness: Color Chart of Ribbon Colors for Cancers - List, table and printable chart outlining the colors of awareness ribbons that represent different types of cancer and their causes.
U.N. International Awareness and Commemorative Dates - List of International days of observance established by the United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
List of U.S. Presidential Proclamation Dates - List of annual awareness and observance dates including days, weeks and months, as recognized by U.S. presidential proclamation.
Notable LGBT Awareness Dates and Events - List of important LGBT+ community awareness remembrance dates and coming events in respect to sexual orientation, gender identity, transgenderism, transsexualism, and intersexuality.