On the 30th anniversary of the ADA, Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) salutes its community, partners, and friends who were instrumental in forging and implementing this landmark legislation for people with disabilities. DRM is singularly proud of its accomplishments, achieved in collaboration with its partners, in litigation, policy work and advocacy to actualize the principles of the ADA in Maryland which include:
- Closure of Rosewood, formerly Maryland’s largest institution for people with developmental disabilities, where residents endured illegal and inhumane conditions;
- Improvement in access to public transportation and quality of transportation services for over 30,000 persons with disabilities;
- Significant increase in the availability of home and community-based care and services;
- Requirement to have Braille signage and other accessibility modifications in medical centers;
- Creation of accessible aisles in retail stores to accommodate shoppers using wheelchairs;
- Requirement for flashing doorbells and smoke detectors to be in housing for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing;
- Increased access for voters with disabilities to the electoral process and polling places that include accessible voting systems;
- Inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in daycares and camps;
- Inclusion of students with disabilities in extra curricular school activities;
- Litigation resulting in the creation of thousands of units of affordable and accessible housing for people with disabilities.
Though we have come a long way, much work remains to be done. Together, in partnership with you, DRM is committed to creating a world in which people with disabilities are fully included in the workplace, neighborhoods and all aspects of community life.
Photo Credit: ADA National Network (adata.org)
