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PRESS RELEASE: DRM and Partners Reach Agreement with Baltimore City to Improve Sidewalks and Ramps for People with Mobility Disabilities​

December 18, 2024—Baltimore, MD— Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) and their legal partners Disability Rights Advocates, Fox & Robertson, and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho, on behalf of a class of pedestrians with mobility disabilities, have reached a partial agreement with the City of Baltimore to make sidewalks and curb ramps more accessible for people with mobility disabilities. This is part of a class-action lawsuit called Goodlaxson, et al. v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore (Case No. 1:21-cv-01454-JKB). 

In 2021, DRM and their legal partners filed the lawsuit on behalf of several individuals and organizations, including Susan Goodlaxson, Janice Jackson, Keyonna Mayo, and the IMAGE Center of Maryland. We argued that Baltimore City failed to follow federal disability laws because many of its sidewalks and curb ramps were not built or maintained to be accessible, making it harder for people with disabilities to safely travel around Baltimore and take part in community life. 

Baltimore City’s own data shows the issue is widespread. A 2019 review found that only about 1.3% of surveyed curb ramps met ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. Many sidewalks were also damaged or too narrow for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, forcing people with disabilities to use the street alongside traffic, which is dangerous. 

This lawsuit aimed to help everyone with mobility disabilities who has had trouble using Baltimore’s sidewalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian pathways because they were too steep, narrow, or damaged. The agreement, known as a partial consent decree, is a step toward fixing these issues. Starting in the third year of the agreement, the parties will work on a long-term plan to make all sidewalks and ramps accessible. 

What Baltimore City Has Agreed to Do: 

  1. Spend $44–50 Million Over Four Years 
    The City will repair or build thousands of curb ramps and fix tens of thousands of square feet of sidewalks. 
  2. Focus on Key Areas First 
    Improvements will start in important places like government offices, transportation hubs, hospitals, and business areas, especially in high-need neighborhoods. 
  3. Improve the 3-1-1 System 
    People with mobility disabilities can use the City’s 3-1-1 system to report broken sidewalks or ramps. Baltimore City will: 
      • Investigate issues within 60 days. 
      • Provide a timeline for fixing the issue within 10 days after the investigation.
      • Aim to fix the problem within nine months. 
      • Quickly respond to complaints about puddles forming on ramps. 
  4. Hire ADA Coordinators 
    Baltimore will appoint coordinators to ensure the repairs meet ADA standards.
  5. Raise Awareness
    The City will educate the public about keeping sidewalks and ramps clear of snow and debris, especially near bus stops and public transportation.
  6. Create a Public Database 

Baltimore City will maintain an online system to track the conditions of sidewalks and curb ramps. 

Why This Matters 

This agreement is a big step toward making Baltimore a more accessible city for everyone. It addresses the immediate needs of the plaintiffs and sets an example for improving accessibility. Residents with mobility disabilities, and all residents, are encouraged to use 3-1-1 to report sidewalk and ramp problems. You can mention your mobility disability when reporting so repairs can be prioritized. You can report issues by calling 3-1-1 or using the website

The Court has scheduled a Fairness Hearing for March 27, 2025  at 11:00 a.m. It will be held in person at:

United States District Court
District of Maryland, Courtroom 5A
101 West Lombard Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Read the Class Notice.

You have a right to object to this Agreement. Information on how to object is in the Class Notice. Read it in English (Word/ PDF), Spanish (Word/ PDF), and Korean (Word/ PDF).

The Agreement will not become effective unless the Court approves it.

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Tim Scott’s Journey: From Cross-Country Cyclist to Pro Bono Attorney

Photo of Tim Scott a young White man with short dark hair wearing a black suit, white collared shirt and orange tie.

What inspired you to volunteer as a pro bono attorney with DRM?
My inspiration to volunteer goes back to when I rode my bike from Seattle to Washington, D.C. to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities. That journey, covering almost 4,300 miles in 73 days, was the best and most rewarding experience of my life. Along our route, we visited organizations that serve people with disabilities, like The Arc. I met so many incredible people. It was life-changing and motivated me to continue giving back.

 

Can you tell me about the case you’re working on?
I’m helping a client get the support he needs to be successful at school. I work closely with his mom and behavioral health counselor. My role involves reviewing the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and the accommodations provided by the school system. I consult with my client, his  mom and his behavioral counselor about additional needs, and I attend Zoom meetings with the school.

 

How do you feel your work has made a difference in your client’s life?
The impact is substantial. There’s a large, often overlooked population dealing with serious issues. When a lawyer steps in, the school systems that might otherwise ignore these families start to take them seriously. My presence brings accountability. My client’s mom and counselor are already great advocates, but having a lawyer there ensures they are taken seriously. It’s not a huge time commitment for the lawyer but makes a world of difference for the families.

 

How has your pro bono work impacted you personally and professionally?
Personally, it’s incredibly rewarding and beneficial for my mental health. Professionally, pro bono work fulfills an ethical duty that we all have in the legal profession. Additionally, potential clients consider a lawyer’s commitment to giving back when deciding whether to work with them. It’s rewarding on all fronts.

 

What would you say to other attorneys considering volunteering?
I want other lawyers to know that the process isn’t as daunting as it might seem. There’s a strong support system, and even without a background in education law, you can make a significant impact. Quit thinking about pro bono and just do it. You won’t regret it.

 

About Tim
Tim Scott specializes in defending clients against claims arising from general liability, insurance coverage, medical malpractice, complex tort and product liability matters. Tim has experience in all aspects of litigation, from inception through resolution by settlement, dispositive motions, mediations and trial. Tim takes and defends depositions, conducts motions practice, and has obtained multiple defense verdicts in Maryland Courts.

Learn more about Tim on the Wilson Elser website (link opens to external webpage).

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Jim Rocap: Why Pro Bono Work is Essential

Photo of Jim Rocap, a White man with short grey hair wearing a white collared shirt, grey suit and red striped tie.

Did you have pro bono experience before volunteering with Disability Rights Maryland (DRM)?

My pro bono work began in 1982. I represented a Black man on death row in Mississippi for over twenty years. Ultimately, he was removed from death row because he had a significant intellectual disability. In 2004, I represented a second death row inmate, this time in Virginia, until her execution in 2010. In the early 1990s, I began volunteering with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless (WLCH), a nonprofit that addresses the deficiency in legal resources in Washington D.C. for persons experiencing homelessness. I still provide legal representation to persons experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness, as a volunteer attorney with WLCH.

 

Why did you choose to volunteer with DRM?

In my work with WLCH, I had handled several Social Security Administration (SSA) disability cases, including at least one overpayment. When Steptoe’s Pro Bono Counsel advised that DRM was searching for volunteer attorneys, I happily agreed to take the case, along with my colleague Emily Tifft.

 

Can you share a memorable experience from your pro bono work with DRM that had a significant impact on you or your client?

While Emily and I believed we had strong grounds to reverse the overpayment decision, after the hearing, we were concerned that we might receive another negative decision from the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), which we would then need to appeal. I was in the office on a Sunday in April 2024 for other reasons and found the ALJ’s “fully favorable” decision in my mail slot. I immediately called the client, shared the news, and shared her joy in having a huge burden lifted from her after having fought the overpayment decision for almost 9 years, first with the assistance of DRM and later Steptoe. Our client was committed and strong throughout this ordeal. She fought for justice and was rewarded.

 

How do you feel your pro bono work has made a difference?

Assisting our pro bono clients to stand strong, push back against injustice, and insist on their rights is immensely important, not only to the clients, but to our system of justice and the rule of law. Pro Bono representation will often have an immeasurable impact on the clients’ daily lives, but equally important, it also supports stability in our communities, both local and national, and respect for the rule of law.

 

What would you say to others who are considering volunteering with or supporting DRM?

Pro bono work is not an option. It should be on the agenda of every attorney. It is our commitment to our community, to the profession that we serve, and to the rule of law in our country. Attorneys are critical components of our system of justice, writ large, and we must function for all members of the community, including those without resources to afford an attorney.

 

More about James’s legal background

I graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1975. After clerking on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, I joined Miller, Cassidy, Larroca & Lewin, a boutique law firm in Washington, D.C., specializing in high-profile white-collar criminal and civil litigation. In 2001, MCLL became part of Baker Botts, LLP. In April 2004, I moved to Steptoe & Johnson LLP (now Steptoe LLP). My career has focused at different times on white-collar defense and major civil litigation, particularly major insurance coverage litigation. I no longer do billable work but remain at Steptoe as a Senior Counsel. My time is now fully devoted to pro bono cases and to my Board work. I serve as Board president for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless (WLCH), Secretary of the DC Access to Justice Foundation, and president of the Historical Society of the D.C. Circuit.

 

Learn more on Steptoe’s website (link opens to external webpage).

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Why Legislative Advocacy is Important

Banner reads: Chrys is one of the first people benefitting from the Trans Health Equity Act. There is a photo of Chrys who is a young person with short purple/ blue hair and a black and white button down collared shirt.

The laws and policies enacted each year during the Maryland legislative session heavily impact our daily lives. Last year, DRM and Chrys, as members of the Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition, successfully advocated for the passing of the Trans Health Equity Act, a law requiring Medicaid to cover gender affirming care.

Chrys is one of the first people benefitting from the new law. We sat down with Chrys to hear what motivated them to advocate for the bill and how their life has changed since it passed. Here is their story.

Chrys is a college student with a passion for the humanities. They’ve always been deeply interested in understanding why people think and act the way they do. A non-binary, gender-fluid person, Chrys is heavily involved in legislative advocacy around trans rights and community building, such as hosting picnics for trans people in the Baltimore area.

Before sharing with their older brother, “I think I might be trans”, Chrys was closeted and people assumed they were a man. In their mid-twenties they found themself increasingly questioning their gender. Chrys thought, “Maybe it’s not normal that I hate all of these things about myself that define what a man is supposed to be.”

Days when their ADHD doesn’t allow them to shave, they are misgendered and often met with discrimination and harassment. “There’s a big disconnect between who I see in the mirror and who I want to be. It’s very jarring especially because I still need to shave every day.” Experiencing gender dysphoria is a barrier to enjoying life to the fullest and connecting with those around us. This is one reason why many transgender people need gender affirming healthcare.

To align their physical appearance with their true identity, Chrys needed gender affirming care, but it was not all covered through their Medicaid insurance at the time. They used loans and savings to pay roughly $3,000 for partial treatment.

Without gender affirming care, trans people are at a higher risk for anxiety, depression, suicide and violence. In a national survey on LGBTQ youth mental health, 54 percent of young people who identified as transgender or nonbinary reported having seriously considered suicide in the last year, and 29 percent had tried to end their lives (Gender Affirming Care, 2020). Many studies have shown that gender affirming care reduces these risks (Mental Health Outcomes, 2022).

To fight for equitable access to gender affirming care, Chrys joined the Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition, a group of advocates including DRM attorney, Sam Williamson. Chrys, alongside other members of the coalition, created one of the most comprehensive reviews of Medicaid policies on trans services across the United States. This research formed the backbone of the campaign for the Trans Health Equity Act.  From coalition meetings, press conferences, testimonies, bill drafting, lobbying, and more, the Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition led the campaign for the passage of the Trans Health Equity Act in 2023. In January 2024, Governor Moore signed it into Maryland law.

Chrys is one of the first people benefiting from the Trans Health Equity Act. They will get facial feminization surgery and more hair removal newly covered by their Medicaid insurance. Chrys is relieved they won’t have to take out more loans. They are hopeful that after the procedures people won’t call them a man, discriminate against them, nor harass them for wearing a dress while having chin stubble. They look forward to waking up and smiling in the mirror and eagerly taking photos with friends.

Chrys’ story highlights why legislative advocacy is important in creating a more equitable Maryland for all.

DRM can only continue this work with your support. Give today!

 

 

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Celebrating PADD Programming

Four girls posing after doing yoga

We are excited to celebrate the anniversary of the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) Program. 

What is the PADD Program? 

Congress established the PADD program in 1975 as the first Protection and Advocacy (P&A) program to protect the human and civil rights of people with developmental disabilities. The PADD program was a part of Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1975 in response to the horrific conditions that were exposed at Willowbrook State School. An investigation of Willowbrook, a New York state institution for people with intellectual disabilities, revealed widespread abuse and neglect and sparked a national movement to protect the rights of people with disabilities. 

How does PADD Impact the Community? 

The PADD program is designed to provide a safety net for people with developmental disabilities and to ensure they have access to the services and supports they need. This includes investigating allegations of abuse and neglect, advocating for the rights of people with developmental disabilities in legal and administrative proceedings, providing information and referral services, and educating the public about the rights of people with developmental disabilities. 

For example, DRM’s PADD program has helped draft and advocate for the End the Wait Act, which passed in 2022. Several of Maryland Medicaid’s home and community-based services programs have extensive waitlists, with some applicants waiting up to 10 years to access services. In 2021 there were 3,694 people on the waiting list for Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) services, 6,221 children with autism on the Autism Waiver Registry, and over 20,000 people on the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver waitlist (despite there being approximately 1,100 unused slots). The End the Wait Act requires the state to develop a plan to cut the Medicaid waitlists in half by fiscal year 2024. 

Additionally, DRM has assisted people with developmental disabilities by helping to shut down an unsafe public residential institution, abolishing the payment of subminimum wage to individuals with disabilities working in the state of Maryland, ensuring that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to vaccines, and spearheading the passage of a Supported-Decision Making bill. 

Together with our partners – the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities – DRM continues to work every day to create a more independent, inclusive and just society for people with developmental disabilities. 

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