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RELEASE: DRM’s Executive Director Robin Murphy Appointed to Maryland Attorney General’s Access to Justice Task Force

Posted on June 12, 2020

BALTIMORE, MD — Robin Murphy, Executive Director of Disability Rights Maryland (DRM), has been appointed to serve on the Maryland Attorney General’s COVID-19 Access to Justice Task Force, a partnership between the Maryland Office of the Attorney General and the Maryland Access to Justice Commission. The prestigious 51- member Task Force will work to ensure Marylanders’ access to a just, fair, and equitable civil justice system as the state grapples with the fallout of COVID-19.

In a virtual press conference on June 11, 2020, Attorney General Brian E. Frosh announced the launch of the COVID-19 Access to Justice Task Force. Bringing together high-level and diverse leaders with expertise in a myriad of sectors, including the judiciary, federal and state legislative branches, health, disaster recovery, business, government, and others, the Task Force is charged with confronting the COVID-19 challenge with innovative solutions and commitment to implementation.

DRM applauds the Attorney General’s and the Access to Justice Commission’s initiative. “Maryland communities directly served by DRM,” Murphy stated, “have been disproportionately struck and suffered the effects of the pandemic. A negative impact is compounded when a disability intersects with other identities such as race. Recent events testify to the enduring impact of institutionalized and structural racism in our country.” She added, “Just as communities of color have been inordinately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, so too are Black, Hispanic, and Native American families disproportionately affected by the systemic gaps in the civil justice system. This Task Force will work to bridge those gaps and secure the stability of Maryland families in the wake of COVID-19.”

As the Task Force works to correct inequities in Maryland’s civil justice system, DRM will continue its mandate to protect the equal rights and the full inclusion of Marylanders with disabilities during the ongoing health crisis.

“I look forward to participating in the Task Force as we develop concrete steps that can be taken to ensure full inclusion and equity for all.” Murphy said.

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Governor Hogan Vetoed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Bill

Posted on May 9, 2020

The Blueprint ensures every child in Maryland gets the education they deserve

We are writing to share a disappointing, but hopefully temporary, setback: Governor Hogan has decided to veto the bipartisan Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. This historic piece of legislation passed with overwhelming majorities in both the House of Delegates (96-38) and the Senate (37-9) and had responsible safeguards put in place to protect our budget against downturns in the economy.

Now more than ever, students, families, and communities need the support and investment offered by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future bill. The Blueprint implements a series of important reforms that benefit our children’s education, health and well-being, and the state’s economy. Some of the benefits of the legislation include:

Investing in early childhood education by expanding full-day Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Transforming teaching into a high-status profession with increased preparation and benchmark salaries.
Expanding college and career pathways including career and technical education opportunities.
Fixing our regressive funding formula by providing extra support for students living in poverty and interventions for struggling students, including students with disabilities, before achievement gaps grow.
Adding a new accountability board to ensure the reforms are carried out with fidelity.

The state of Maryland must remain committed to the goal of eliminating inequities and building an education system that works for all kids, families, and educators over the long term. This virus magnified the extreme disparities that exist in Maryland, including in our schools. The Blueprint was designed to close these disparities and eliminate the achievement gap. We can’t let this veto send a message that our kids’ future is not a priority for the state of Maryland.

Legislators wisely built in a pause button into the Blueprint in the event of an extreme economic downturn. This pause button would slow implementation allowing the economy to recover before further funding ramps up. The Blueprint takes a measured, cautious fiscal approach while implementing the supports that we know all of our students need.

Now is the time for our leaders to ensure that Maryland will build the system we need not only to recover from this virus but to provide enhanced opportunities for all students, eliminate racial achievement gaps, and rebuild a strong economy for all Marylanders.

Adrienne Mallinson, Managing Attorney for the Developmental Disabilities and Healthcare team at DRM

DRM‘s Adrienne Mallinson Presents at the 2019 TASH Conference

Posted on January 8, 2020

On December 7, 2019, Adrienne Mallinson, a Managing Attorney for the Developmental Disabilities and Healthcare team at Disability Rights Maryland (DRM), presented at the 2019 TASH Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

TASH (The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps) is an international leader in disability advocacy. Founded in 1975, TASH works to advance inclusive communities through advocacy, research, professional development, policy, and information and resources for parents, families, and self-advocates. The inclusive practices TASH validates through research have been shown to improve outcomes for all people.

Ms. Mallinson summarized the contents of her white paper which describes the challenges facing individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in accessing personal assistance and personal support services in Maryland. Her presentation described the current problems with Developmental Disabilities and Community First Choice (CFC) services in Maryland and outlines the legal and policy choices facing advocates around the State.

First Time Disability Rights Addressed

Posted on December 23, 2019

During the Democratic presidential debate on December 19, 2019, Tom Steyer was asked what specific steps a president could take to integrate individuals with disabilities into the workforce and their local communities. This is one of the first times, this election cycle, that a Democratic presidential debate included a prominent question about how candidates planned to address the needs of individuals with disabilities. Mr. Steyer surmised that the issues facing individuals with disabilities could be solved through increased focus and funding.

The question was then posed to Andrew Yang. Mr. Yang discussed his experience as a father of an autistic child while reframing the issue. Candidate Yang posited that the crux of the issue is how American society conflates economic value with human value. Mr. Yang proposed a “freedom dividend” of $1,000 a month to help families and suggested that the issue of education should be a federal priority, not a local one. Disability advocates have discussed potential conflicts between the freedom dividend and existing federal benefits programs.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a former special education teacher, requested time to answer the question and proposed fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). When Congress initially passed IDEA they promised to fund 40% of the additional cost of special education. Currently, the federal government only funds approximately 14% of the extra cost. DRM staff works to ensure students in Maryland receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, a right guaranteed by the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Senator Warren also discussed her housing plan which includes provisions related to increasing housing for people with disabilities that want to live independently. Finally, Senator Warren promised to address the pay disparity between individuals without disabilities and those with disabilities in federal contracts. DRM supported efforts to pass The Ken Capone Equal Employment Act (EEA) to abolish the payment of subminimum wage to people with disabilities in Maryland by 2020.

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) was encouraged that the issue of disability rights was discussed during the Democratic presidential debate. These issues directly impact the 61 million Americans with a disability who make up approximately 23% of the electorate. DRM is committed to ensuring that the electoral process is fully accessible. During the 2018 election, Disability Rights Maryland surveyed candidates for statewide office and federal positions on issues related disabilities. DRM will be registering people to vote at a live stream of the Presidential Forum on Disability Issues an event Hosted by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and REV UP Texas.

Decriminalizing Disability: The Case for Crisis Response in Baltimore City

Posted on December 9, 2019

Luciene Parsley, DRM Director of Legal Advocacy.

Disability Rights Maryland recently co-hosted a symposium, Decriminalizing Disability: The Case for Crisis Response in Baltimore City, with Behavioral Health System Baltimore and Open Society Institute-Baltimore on November 21st and 22nd at Coppin State University in West Baltimore. Attendees represented a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives including civil rights advocates, behavioral health providers, and members of the Baltimore City Police Department.

The program was designed to review gaps in the behavioral health system and explore alternative methods of crisis response for people with disabilities instead of depending solely on law enforcement to respond during a mental health crisis. The first day of the symposium featured a series of panels with experts from around the country who discussed how to increase capacity for community-based services and to outline a vision for a comprehensive system of care for individuals with disabilities that does not rely solely on the police. The second day engaged attendees in discussions to identify priorities and practical implementation strategies. The group identified several priorities including increased housing; capacity for behavioral health services around the clock and to include youth services; reforming 911 dispatch services to allow for diversionary options; and crisis intervention education for police to recognize stigma, bias, and how police presence can cause trauma during encounters. Participants were then given the opportunity to share their ideas regarding implementation strategies with others in smaller groups.

Chelsea Swift Speaks at Decriminalizing Disability

Panelist Chelsea Swift, CAHOOTS/White Bird Clinic, speaks at the Decriminalizing Disability symposium.

The symposium offered an opportunity for advocates, stakeholders, providers, and law enforcement to share their concerns with the existing behavioral health system and begin to develop a plan that addresses the needs of the community. Disability Rights Maryland was glad to help facilitate these conversations and move towards meaningful systemic reforms that will improve the lives of individuals with disabilities living in Baltimore.

Blog

RELEASE: DRM’s Executive Director Robin Murphy Appointed to Maryland Attorney General’s Access to Justice Task Force

Governor Hogan Vetoed the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Bill

DRM‘s Adrienne Mallinson Presents at the 2019 TASH Conference

First Time Disability Rights Addressed

Decriminalizing Disability: The Case for Crisis Response in Baltimore City

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Decriminalizing Disability: The Case for Crisis Response in Baltimore City