February 16, 2023 By CDHD Fred Riggers Disability Awareness Day at the Capitol Fred Riggers Disability Awareness Day 2023 is on February 21, 2023 at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise! Presented by the Consortium for Idahoans with Disabilities (CID), this annual event is a chance to get together and advocate for and with Idaho’s disability community. The event starts at 9 am MT and runs until 1 pm MT. Gather at the First Floor of the Capitol Rotunda to learn more about issues concerning people with disabilities. This includes discussion on Idaho’s direct care workforce, housing issues, voting rights and more. The CID will also hold an award ceremony to recognize and celebrate this year’s Fred Riggers Disability Day Award winners. This ceremony will take place at noon. Remembering Fred Riggers Fred Riggers Disability Awareness Day is officially on February 2 each year. It’s a day of recognition in Idaho to celebrate the life and work of disability advocate Fred Riggers. Fred grew up in North Idaho. He spent much of his life farming; however, by the age of 56, he became legally blind. While the diagnosis halted his farming career, it inspired a new path for Fred. He relocated to Boise and began his advocacy work. He spent his time at the Capitol, attending legislative hearings and debates. It wasn’t long before he began participating, speaking to lawmakers on issues that were important to him. This included disability rights. He fast became a fixture at the Capitol known by almost everyone there, including lawmakers. Over the course of the next 17 years, Fred attended every legislation session he could. He also served as an appointee advocate for the Library for the Blind in Washington DC. His hard work and tenacity helped the disability community, and his legacy continues to inspire advocates here at home and beyond.