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RELEASE: Andrew D. Levy selected for the 2020 Lorraine Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on July 10, 2020

BALTIMORE, MD (July 10, 2020) — Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is pleased to announce Andrew D. Levy, partner at Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP., as the 2020 honoree of the prestigious Lorraine Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his commitment and lifelong service to people with disabilities and his embodiment of the spirit and attributes that the award celebrates. The award will be presented to Mr. Levy at the virtual 2020 Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020.

As chair of the Maryland Commission on Disabilities from 2010 to 2015, Mr. Levy’s exceptional leadership led to improved and streamlined services for people with disabilities. Acting as lead counsel for many years, he successfully grappled with and overcame community resistance to establishing group homes for persons with disabilities. The landmark Potomac Group Home case, in which Mr. Levy was lead counsel, resulted in the elimination of state and local laws that required neighbor notification and public hearings as prerequisites to the establishment of community-based homes.

Among a small select group of attorneys, Mr. Levy has been listed in Best Lawyers in America for 20 years, a reflection of the high level of respect he has earned for his abilities, professionalism, and integrity. His prolific leadership in the legal community is legendary, and the scope of his work spans both criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Levy is and has been a teacher and mentor to generations of law students.

“Like Ms. Sheehan,” DRM Executive Director Robin C. Murphy stated, “Andy is integral to the disability rights movement in Maryland. His many years of public service have brought about systemic change on the ground by instituting new policies that integrate people with disabilities into the wider community.”

DRM’s signature Breaking Barriers Awards Gala honors those individuals, law firms, and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and achievements in promoting and safeguarding the legal rights of people with disabilities in Maryland.

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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.

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RELEASE: Andrew D. Levy selected for the 2020 Lorraine Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award

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

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First Time Disability Rights Addressed