September 01, 2026
WHEREAS, the Children’s Craniofacial Association (CCA) began celebrating Craniofacial Acceptance Month in 2005 to bring awareness to the thousands of children born each year in the United States who are either born with or develop a craniofacial difference, which is a structural or physical anomaly of the head and/or face. The most well-known and common facial difference is Cleft Lip/Palate, which is seen in 1 in 750 births a year worldwide. Facial differences like craniosynostosis are common, seen in 1 in 2500 births annually. Still, many more children are born with dozens of additional facial differences including Apert syndrome, Treacher Collins syndrome, microtia, facial palsy, and more, which occur in over 1,500 births a year in the United States alone; and,
WHEREAS, individuals with craniofacial differences and their families often struggle to understand the diagnosis they are facing and how to move forward in their early stages of life; Families are often under emotional and financial strain due to demands resulting from ongoing and expensive medical treatment; and,
WHEREAS, due to the complexity of craniofacial syndromes, the majority of affected individuals will often endure multiple surgeries before they reach adulthood; and,
WHEREAS, there is a lack of public education and information disseminated to the general public about individuals with facial differences and children with facial differences face bullying on average 30% more often than children without differences; and,
WHEREAS, organizations such as Children’s Craniofacial Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, serves populations affected by craniofacial differences and the professions who care for them; In order to support and inspire individuals and families affected by these facial differences, while working towards the vision of a world where all people are accepted for who they are, not how they look; and,
WHEREAS, Children’s Craniofacial Association has designated September of 2026 as the 22nd year of “Craniofacial Acceptance Month,”
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim September as Craniofacial Acceptance Month in the State of Michigan, and urge all citizens to support individuals with Craniofacial Disorders, their families, and organizations working to aid those affected by craniofacial conditions.
