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Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Need a Diversity Calendar for 2025? Get complete DEI and inclusion events, religious observances, awareness months 2025, and more
In 2025, the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion continues to be a central theme in our global conversation. While we have made strides in creating more inclusive environments, there is always room for growth and improvement. A truly thriving society depends on recognizing and celebrating our differences.
Organizations are increasingly focused on developing DEI initiatives that ensure every employee feels valued and included. One effective tool to support these efforts is our Diversity Calendar, which highlights DEI holidays and significant cultural events throughout the year. This calendar serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusion in our daily lives and workplaces.
Below, you’ll find a sample of our diversity and inclusion calendar for 2025, featuring religious holidays, awareness months, and monthly diversity themes. This selection is designed to help you celebrate and integrate these important dates into your personal and professional life.
If a holiday begins the evening before, we will mark it with an asterisk (*) below.
January is a month to celebrate the diverse ways in which we communicate and connect with each other. From recognizing the importance of Braille for the visually impaired to honoring cultural and religious celebrations, this month is about understanding and appreciating the various forms of expression that enrich our world.
January 4 – UN: World Braille Day
Celebrates the importance of Braille for the visually impaired.
January 7 – Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christian: Christmas
Marks the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar.
January 14 – Buddhist: Mahayana New Year
Celebrates the Buddhist New Year in Mahayana traditions.
January 20 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Honors the civil rights leader and his contributions to equality.
January 27 – International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust
Remembers the victims of the Holocaust and promotes Holocaust education.
Learn more about January diversity days with our web-based DEI Calendar suite. Make sure to also check out our Heritage Months 2025 highlights.
February is dedicated to celebrating Black History Month, a time to honor the contributions, achievements, and rich history of Black Americans. This month also includes significant events that promote harmony and awareness across various cultural and health-related spectrums.
February 1 – UN: World Interfaith Harmony Week
Promotes harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
February 2 – Pagan and Wiccan: Imbolc
Celebrates the beginning of spring and the goddess Brigid.
February 4 – World Cancer Day
Raises awareness of cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.
February 17 – Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day)
Honors the birthday of George Washington, the first U.S. President.
February 26 – Hindu: Maha Shivaratri
A major Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva.
Read more about February awareness days to celebrate with our February Diversity Calendar 2025, and check out our National Awareness Months 2025 blog post.
March is dedicated to celebrating Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. This month also features important observances across different faiths and cultures, emphasizing the importance of equality and diversity.
March 1 – Islamic: Ramadan
A holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims.
March 5 – Christian: Ash Wednesday
Marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.
March 8 – International Women’s Day
Celebrates the achievements of women and calls for gender equality.
March 14 – Hindu: Holi
The festival of colors, celebrating the arrival of spring.
March 14 – Sikh: Hola Mohalla
A Sikh festival featuring martial arts, poetry, and community gatherings.
Discover more March religious holidays to celebrate with our Interfaith Calendar 2025.
April is dedicated to World Autism Month, raising awareness and promoting understanding and acceptance of people with autism. This month also includes diverse religious and cultural celebrations, highlighting the rich tapestry of global traditions.
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
Promotes understanding and acceptance of people with autism.
April 12 – Jehovah’s Witnesses: The Memorial of Jesus’ Death
Commemorates the death of Jesus Christ.
April 13-20 – Jewish: Passover*
Celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.
April 14 – Sikh, Hindu: Vaisakhi
Marks the Sikh New Year and celebrates the spring harvest.
April 20 – Christian: Easter
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Learn about more April diversity events with our April Diversity Calendar 2025.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to promote mental well-being and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues. This month also includes events that recognize diverse cultural, religious, and social contributions to our global community.
May 12 – Buddhist: Vesak (Buddha Day)
Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.
May 15 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
Promotes digital accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
May 17 – LGBTQ+: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
Raises awareness of discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals.
May 17 – Veterans: Armed Forces Day
Honors the men and women who serve in the military.
May 28 – Baha’i: Ascension of Baha’u’llah*
Commemorates the passing of the founder of the Baha’i Faith.
Discover more May religious holidays or May heritage events with our May Diversity Calendar 2025. Make sure to celebrate diversity months 2025.
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month, celebrating the diversity, history, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. This month also includes events emphasizing love, acceptance, and the importance of countering hate speech.
June 2-3 – Jewish: Shavuot*
Celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
June 7-10 – Islamic: Eid al-Adha*
A major Islamic festival commemorating the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son.
June 12 – US: Loving Day
Celebrates the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that struck down laws banning interracial marriage.
June 18 – UN: International Day of Countering Hate Speech
Promotes efforts to combat hate speech worldwide.
June 19 – US: Juneteenth
Commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
Learn more about different June religious holidays and June awareness days with our June Diversity Calendar 2025.
July is Disability Pride Month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of people with disabilities. This month also includes significant cultural and national observances that promote equality and inclusion.
July 4 – US: Independence Day
Celebrates the independence of the United States.
July 9 – Baha’i: Martyrdom of the Bab*
Commemorates the execution of the Baha’i co-founder.
July 14 – LGBTQ+: International Non-Binary People’s Day
Raises awareness of non-binary gender identities.
July 18 – UN: Nelson Mandela International Day
Honors the legacy of Nelson Mandela and promotes global peace.
July 24 – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Pioneer Day
Commemorates the arrival of the first Mormon pioneers in Utah.
Visit the July Diversity Calendar 2025 to learn more about all of the important July religious holidays and July heritage events.
August is Intersectionality Awareness Month, highlighting the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender. This month features events that promote understanding and advocacy for diverse and intersecting identities.
August 9 – UN: International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
Celebrates the cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
August 19 – UN: World Humanitarian Day
Honors humanitarian workers and advocates for those affected by crises.
August 21 – Jain: Paryushana begins
Marks the beginning of an important Jain festival focused on fasting and forgiveness.
August 26 – US: Women’s Equality Day
Commemorates the certification of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote.
August 27 – Hindu: Ganesh Chaturthi
Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha.
Explore more August diversity days and August awareness days with our August Diversity Calendar 2025.
September celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. This month also includes observances that promote mental health, safety, and equality.
September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
Raises awareness about suicide prevention.
September 11 – US: Patriot Day
Remembers the victims of the September 11 attacks.
September 15 – World Afro Day
Celebrates Afro hair and the cultural significance behind it.
September 18 – UN: International Equal Pay Day
Promotes the fight for equal pay for equal work.
September 23 – UN: International Day of Sign Languages
Celebrates sign languages and their importance for deaf communities.
Learn more about important September awareness days and September religious holidays on our September Diversity Calendar 2025.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness and promoting research for breast cancer. This month also features diverse cultural and religious events that foster inclusion and understanding.
October 1 – UN: International Day for Older Persons
Promotes the rights and well-being of older persons worldwide.
October 2 – Jewish: Yom Kippur*
The holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to atonement and repentance.
October 10 – World Inclusion Day
Encourages inclusive practices and environments for all.
October 15 – LGBTQ+: International Pronouns Day
Raises awareness about respecting and using correct pronouns.
October 20 – Hindu: Diwali
The festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness.
Explore more October heritage months and October awareness days with our October Diversity Calendar 2025.
November is Native American Heritage Month, celebrating the cultures, traditions, and histories of Native Americans. This month also includes observances that honor veterans and promote gender equality and remembrance.
November 11 – US: Veterans Day
Honors military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
November 19 – International Men’s Day
Highlights positive male role models and issues facing men globally.
November 20 – LGBTQ+: Transgender Day of Remembrance
Memorializes those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender violence.
November 27 – US: Thanksgiving Day
A national holiday for giving thanks and spending time with family and friends.
Visit here to read more about November diversity days with our November Diversity Calendar 2025.
December is Universal Human Rights Month, promoting the protection and advocacy of human rights for all. This month also includes diverse religious and cultural celebrations that encourage unity and peace.
December 3 – UN: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Promotes the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
December 10 – UN: International Human Rights Day
Celebrates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 21 – Pagan and Wiccan: Yule*
Celebrates the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun.
December 25 – Christmas
Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 26-January 1 – US: Kwanzaa
A week-long celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture.
Discover even more insightful and interesting diversity days that you can celebrate during December with our Diversity Calendar Suite. You can also explore more inclusion opportunities with our Interfaith Calendar 2025.
We hope you’ve found this Diversity Calendar 2025 Highlights useful in your quest for DEI and learning more about DEI holidays 2025. Try out the full Online Diversity Calendar for all 1,000+ DEI events, religious holidays, and observances.
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
Diversity Resources is the leading provider of
inclusion training + daily belonging tools
If you’re struggling to teach a special needs child, I want you to hear Sarah and Bella’s story.
Sarah is the mother of 9-year-old Bella, a fourth-grader with Down syndrome. Sarah found that Bella “didn’t understand math because no one at school really sits down to help her.”
She knew Bella needed some extra help, but she wasn’t finding much success.
“[I tried] a tutor and workbooks, but I couldn’t keep a tutor.” On top of that, Sarah also had feelings of teaching inadequacy. “I didn’t have the time or patience that Bella needed from me.”
It takes courage for parents like Sarah to recognize their limitations. If your situation sounds like Sarah’s, I hope these insights can help you feel less alone.
“Between 2018 and 2019, there were 7.1 million students (ages 3-21) who received special education services,” according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
That’s 14 percent of all public school students.
“Among students receiving special education services, 33 percent had specific learning disabilities.” The same data show six percent had an “intellectual disability,” a category in which Down syndrome falls.
“About 95 percent” of special education students “were enrolled in regular schools. Less than 1 percent were homeschooled.”
But now, in light of COVID-19 restrictions, most parents are attempting some version of homeschooling.
If your child was one of the 95 percent who attended in-person schools before COVID hit, then you are likely trying to handle their special needs in a full-time teaching capacity for the first time.
That’s the predicament Sarah found herself in.
When it comes to understanding Down syndrome learners, there are still conflicting studies and uncharted topics that leave scientists continuing to search for definitive answers.
There’s yet to be consensus on why children with Down syndrome struggle with math.
A 2007 article published by the International Journal of Special Education cited a study that “children with Down syndrome’s difficulty in acquiring number strings may be due to deficit in their expressive language, deficit in their auditory short-term memory, and difficulty in using rehearsal strategy and the limitation in their short-term memory span.”
To summarize that hypothesis, it means that Down syndrome learners may experience difficulty in counting because of a deficit in language and memory (we’ll discuss this further).
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t effective tools out there to teach math.
In fact, many researchers agree that visual learning tools are an important part — if not critical — in teaching Down syndrome children.
Remember that reference to language and memory in Down syndrome students?
Marla Folden, a speech-language pathologist at the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation, describes the strengths and weaknesses of Down syndrome students in her video presentation.
She also breaks down why and how visuals work in teaching students with Down syndrome. Her key points are summarized below.
Hearing loss is common in Down syndrome students, which makes auditory information processing harder.
Their speech may be delayed because it requires a degree of coordination and accuracy with the mouth. But, their hand coordination and accuracy is typically better.
Based on their brain functionality, Down syndrome students also need more repetition in their learning process.
This leaves their vision as a key asset in their learning.
Vision issues are more easily corrected with glasses. That makes visual information processing easier and thus one of the strengths of a Down syndrome student.
In light of these facts, visual teaching tools are effective for Down syndrome students because they:
A 2015 New York Times story written by a mom teaching her son with Down syndrome illuminates many of these points.
Here’s just one lesson she learned:
“I learned our son needed more time to respond. I was so quick to jump into his silence I didn’t realize he simply needed time to answer. Once I figured that out I would count in my head 20 seconds, 30 seconds and sometimes 40 seconds. He would come to the correct answer. That time was not dead space but processing time.”
Bella was also likely missing that extra processing time in her traditional classroom. Her workbooks weren’t letting her use her hands to problem-solve. And if the tutor was repeating themselves a lot, that likely led Bella to some feelings of stress and anxiety.
But Elephant Learning changed Bella’s feelings toward math.
Elephant Learning is a math games app that makes students manipulate attractive and familiar animations to solve problems. Age-appropriate objects and animals found in daily life are incorporated to keep kids interested.
Sarah could tell immediately that Elephant Learning was engaging Bella. “She likes the icons the best, especially the little turtle.”
Elephant Learning gave Bella the visual tools she needed to process the game’s information, repeatedly look at the game’s features with plenty of time, and use her hands to manipulate the game’s images.
And, she could use Elephant Learning consistently throughout her week no matter where she was (in bed, at the kitchen table, etc.).
Sarah could immediately see the impact Elephant Learning was having on Bella.
“I help explain what she needs to do, but when she catches on, you cannot believe the smiles.”
Boosting a child’s confidence with math is important. For Bella, it’s even more powerful.
That’s because children with Down syndrome often avoid new learning situations out of a fear of failure. That fear isn’t unique to Down syndrome students, but it does hold a powerful sway on them.
Related: Answers to Your Top Questions about Math Anxiety
A 2001 study by Jennifer Wishart discusses that fear of failure, and stresses that “we should give children with Down syndrome suitable reinforcement and appropriate support without making the child dependent on others.”
Elephant Learning addresses those fears through positive reinforcement.
First, it assesses your child’s existing math skills through some basic games.
Since these are games, there aren’t obvious cues that a child has gotten something wrong.
The Elephant Learning app stores that data about your child and uses it to structure the gameplay.
It presents them with games they can easily play and introduces more challenging content over an extended period of time.
This approach keeps kids from seeing their failures and simply encourages them to keep playing. Removing that fear-of-failure barrier keeps them motivated.
“Motivation plays a key role in the learning and development of these children, especially when they acquire new skills,” adds Wishart.
Bella has found substantial motivation to learn new skills through the Elephant Learning app.
She plays for 20 minutes a day, five days a week.
When she began playing on the app, her math abilities were equivalent to a five-year-old’s. After six months, she’s learned almost three years’ worth of math — with signs of continual improvement.
For Sarah, “it makes it a little easier to get her to do math,” too.
Making life with a nine-year-old easier is always a happy feat!
Your child will learn at least 1 year of mathematics over the course of the next 3 months using our system just 10 minutes/day, 3 days per week or we will provide you a full refund.