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
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)
As of September 19, 2017, Maryland Medicaid will now cover adaptive car seats when medically necessary for Medicaid enrollees. These seats can enable people who need more or different support than non-specialized, off-the-shelf car seats provide — or who have outgrown such car seats and require specialized seating — to ride safely in cars and thus participate more fully in the community. Disability Rights Maryland is available to consult with your doctor or physical therapist if he or she has any questions about how to apply for an adaptive car seat for you or your family member. Please contact us at (410) 727-6352.
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development released an important pilot study which revealed that persons living with mental illness, intellectual or other developmental disability continue to face significant discrimination in the rental housing market.
Among the findings, persons with mental disabilities received fewer responses to rental inquiries, were informed of fewer available units and were less likely to be invited to contact the housing provider.
Read the study: Rental Housing Discrimination on the Basis of Mental Disabilities: Results of Pilot Testing
With the passage of HB425/SB651 suspensions and expulsions for Pre-K through second grade students will be limited except in extreme circumstances. Schools must strengthen and implement currently used student support strategies such as creating behavioral intervention plans which are designed to foster peer-to-peer, student-teacher, and teacher-parent relationships. In addition, the Maryland General Assembly passed HB1287 which creates a Commission on the School-to-Prison Pipeline to study the link between discipline and student arrests, and the use of restorative practices.
According to the Maryland State Department of Education, 2,363 students in Pre-K through second grade were suspended during the 2015-16 school year. Of those, 82 were in Pre-K. DRM has been working on legislation to eliminate the practice of suspension for young students. HB425/SB 651 would require schools to utilize positive interventions and supports and authorizes restorative practices. Advocates hope that this will motivate educators to deal with the reasons children act out, instead of simply removing students from school. DRM has been featured in media reports regarding this bill:
“Maryland bill limits school suspensions for its youngest students” – WUSA 9
Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization advocating to improve the lives of Marylanders with disabilities. Combined Federal Campaign #76352; United Way/Maryland Charities Campaign #5178.
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