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Mother’s Day Message

May 11th, 2018
This month one of DRM’s attorneys, Leslie Margolis, was invited to attend the high school graduation of a young man, Nick, who she provided legal advice and assistance from the time he entered middle school. Nick’s mother wrote to Leslie: “Nick and I would like to invite you to his graduation in June…We would like to thank you for all you did for him. We could have not done it without you.”
 
Leslie helped Nick, with autism, and his mother advocate for him to be in a general education program on a diploma track. In middle school, Nick had written a letter asking to be back in general education; he played football in the community, ate lunch with the school football players every day, participated actively in a Boy Scout troop, and really wanted to be with his nondisabled peers. Leslie advised Nick’s parents and represented him through his transition into high school until a couple of years ago when he was participating actively on the yearbook committee, doing well academically, and truly a member of his high school community.
 
Leslie, has been making a difference in the lives of hundreds of families by advocating for the rights of students with disabilities at DRM for over 30 years.
 
As Mother’s Day approaches I want to remind DRM’s past and current staff, board of directors and all our of other many wonderful supporters, over the past 40 years, how Disability Rights Maryland has touched the lives of so many parents of children with disabilities by helping them advocate for their children to participate fully in their communities over the past 40 years.
 
Helping a parent help their child is an invaluable and wonderful gift!
 
THANK YOU!
 
With gratitude,
 
Robin C. Murphy
Executive Director, Disability Rights Maryland
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Pushing Back on School Pushout in MD

April 26th, 2018 was the Pro Bono Resource Center’s 20th Annual Maryland Partners for Justice Conference! This conference is Maryland’s only statewide legal services conference for advocates, community members, elected officials, and judges. DRM was excited to be a part of this wonderful event and staff attorney, Amanda White, presented on panel entitled “Pushing Back on School Pushout in Maryland.” This panel also featured Professor Michael Pinard (University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law), Renuka Rege (Public Justice Center) and Neeta Pal (Maryland Office of the Public Defender). Panelists discussed representing students in their school disciplinary hearings, with Amanda sharing her expertise in representing students with disabilities. Audience members were also introduced to the Maryland Suspension Representation Project (MSRP), which was launched recently both to expand legal representation and advocacy on behalf of children pushed out of school. DRM is proud to a be a member of MSRP, alongside the other organizations represented on the panel. If you would like more information about MSRP, please visit: www.mdsuspensionrep.org.

Door sign for "Pushing Back on School Pushout in Maryland" panel discussion

Photo of panelist at the Pro Bono Resource Center's 20th Annual Maryland Partners for Justice Conference

 

 

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UPDATED: Maryland Medicaid to Cover Hearing Aids & Cochlear Implants for Adults in July

*Updated October 24, 2018:

Since July 1, Maryland Medicaid now covers hearing aids and cochlear implants for adults, which were previously only provided under Medicaid to children (under 21 years old).

On October 12, Maryland finalized the regulation governing how these items will be covered (available in the Maryland Register here). In contrast to the proposed regulation, people for whom it is medically necessary may receive bilateral hearing aids, cochlear implants, and auditory osseointegrated devices (also known as bone-anchored hearing aids, or BAHAs) – one for each ear. The clinical coverage policy provides more guidance on what it means for these items to be medically necessary, but it factors in your need to use a hearing aid in school, work, or community settings. The Provider Manual will also assist medical providers and Medicaid beneficiaries in obtaining these crucial hearing devices. 

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) has been working with a team of pro bono attorneys at Sidley Austin on this issue for several years, as we believe that covering these items only for children was discriminatory. 

We are hopeful that covering hearing aids and cochlear implants for adults on Medicaid will help thousands of Marylanders who desire these hearing devices in pursuing employment opportunities and engaging with their families and communities in a manner they choose.

The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing deserves appreciation for its efforts in support of this change, as do our pro bono partners at Sidley Austin. We congratulate the state in moving forward to provide these crucial opportunities for hearing services. 



Original post – March 15, 2018:

DID YOU KNOW?

In Maryland, adults on Medicaid do not receive coverage for hearing aids or cochlear implants even when these devices are medically necessary for communication.

THE CHALLENGE:

Several years ago, Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) learned that Maryland Medicaid provides hearing aids and cochlear implants only to children through age 20. What happens when they grow up? And what about adults who want and need such devices for hearing loss occurring after age 21?

We learned about this issue from a new father who wanted to hear his newborn child. We learned how employment can be compromised by lack of communications. We heard from people who were frustrated at being denied a critical health care benefit.

We have been working with a team of lawyers at Sidley Austin LLP to advocate for Maryland to cover expanded hearing services for adults. Believing it legally required to cover and discriminatory to deny such services, DRM and Sidley Austin settled a case enabling an adult client to receive coverage for a cochlear implant and related services through Medicaid. We continued to advocate for others.

THE NEWS:

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has announced that starting in July 2018, Medicaid will cover medically necessary cochlear implants and hearing aids for adults. The Department has stated that it is working on regulations to implement these changes. The Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing deserves appreciation for its efforts in support of this change, as do our pro bono partners at Sidley Austin.

NEXT STEPS:

MDH will issue proposed regulations – with a 30-day public comment period – that will determine how these devices are covered and how people may obtain them. Watch this page or review the Maryland Register to see when proposed regulations are issued. Your voice can matter on how Maryland covers these essential services.

We are hopeful that covering hearing aids and cochlear implants for adults on Medicaid will help thousands of Marylanders in pursuing employment opportunities and engaging with their families and communities in a manner they choose.

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NFB-MD Urges Increase Use of ExpressVote in 2018

On December 7, 2017 Sharon Maneki, President of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (NFB-MD), delivered the resolution passed by NFB-MD during their convention in November to the Maryland State Board of Elections. The resolution calls for increased usage of the accessible voting system in Maryland: ExpressVote Ballot Marking Device (BMD). 

View or Download – Maryland State Board of Elections Resolution 2017

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DRM Reports: Beyond Incarceration

Disability Rights Maryland has released it’s detailed report of findings related to segregation and its negative impacts, particularly for persons with disabilities. DRM’s report exposes the harm and misuse of segregation, legal violations and offers recommendations; including references to better and safer alternatives. 

Download Beyond Incarceration: Lock Down for Persons with Disabilities (PDF)

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