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Honoring Judith Heumann’s Legacy on the Anniversary of the ADA

In July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month to commemorate the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990. It is a time to acknowledge the history, accomplishments, experiences and challenges of disability communities. This is the first year we celebrate without Judith Heumann, “the mother” of the disability rights movement, who played an important role in advocating for passage of the ADA.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Judith’s courageous efforts and advocacy during public protests, including the famous 504 Sit-in, focused attention on the rights and needs of people with disabilities. Her work and that of other disability rights activists contributed to the momentum behind the push for comprehensive civil rights legislation for people with disabilities, leading to the eventual passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

The ADA is a comprehensive civil rights law enacted to prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities and to ensure that they have equitable access and opportunities.

The ADA prohibits disability discrimination in many areas:

  • Employment: Employers cannot discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. They must provide reasonable accommodations to help employees perform their jobs.
  • State and Local Government Services: Government programs and services, including public education, health care and voting, must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • Transportation: Public transportation services must provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from their services.
  • Public Places: Business that are open to the public like restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues must be accessible to people with disabilities. Physical barriers should be removed or reduced.
  • Telecommunications: Phone companies must provide relay services for people with hearing or speech impairments.

The ADA has significantly improved the lives of millions of Americans with disabilities and fostered a more inclusive society in our nation. Judith Heumann’s leadership stood out in the crusade and victory for inclusion, as well as respect and acceptance of people with disabilities. Her voice defined what justice is and what justice means for people with disabilities.

DRM will continue to proudly celebrate Judith’s legacy and those that continue her work by presenting the Judith Heumann Champion of Justice Award to individuals who embody the values, accomplishments, and spirit that she infused into the disability rights revolution.

 

Learn more about Judith Heumann and the Disability Rights Movement.

Learn more about why and how to celebrate Disability Pride Month 2023.

 

 

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Expanded Services for Adults with Brain Injury

The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) has temporarily expanded the technical eligibility for the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver for Adults with Brain Injury (Brain Injury Waiver), which provides residential, day, supported-employment, and individual-support services to adults with neurobehavioral, cognitive, and physical deficits resulting from a brain injury. The Brain Injury Waiver typically only allows transition from just a handful of nursing facilities, but applicants may now transition from all private nursing facilities. The MDH is currently evaluating the sustainability of this expansion, which will remain in effect until November 2023.

 

Under the temporary expansion, Marylanders residing in Maryland nursing facilities, chronic hospitals, or state owned and operated facilities may be eligible for this program if:

  • They are between the ages of 22-64;
  • They have sustained an acquired brain injury that occurred after the age of 17;
  • The brain injury resulted in a cognitive, physical, behavioral, or emotional disability;
  • The individual’s income does not exceed $2,742 per month nor has assets that exceed $2,000 in value;
  • Their needs meet a nursing facility or chronic hospital level of care; and
  • Their medical issues are chronic, predictable, stable, and routine.

 

If you or someone you know is in a private nursing facility, is interested in living in the community with services via the Brain Injury Waiver and meets the above criteria, complete this interest form as soon as possible before the temporary expansion period ends in November 2023.  The form will connect you with staff from the Brain Injury Association of Maryland, who can assist with determining Waiver eligibility and the application process. The process can take a while, so the sooner you complete the interest form, the better.

 

More information is available at https://www.biamd.org/brain-injury-wavier-program.html

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Social Security & Employment

Within our Social Security Administration (SSA) funding restrictions, DRM provides information, advice and limited representation to Social Security recipients with disabilities regarding work incentives and employment barriers, including prevention of SSA over payments, criminal record engagement and access to vocational services. DRM also conducts representative payee investigations at SSA’s direction.

View documents and resources regarding Social Security and Employment.

Watch a short video about your rights to receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace

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Social Security & Employment

Within our Social Security Administration (SSA) funding restrictions, DRM provides information, advice and limited representation to Social Security recipients with disabilities regarding work incentives and employment barriers, including prevention of SSA over payments, criminal record engagement and access to vocational services. DRM also conducts representative payee investigations at SSA’s direction.

View documents and resources regarding Social Security and Employment.

Watch a short video about your rights to receive reasonable accommodations in the workplace

Read more

DRM Reports: “Segregation & Suicide at MCIW”

12/14/2018

Disability Rights Maryland hosted a Press Conference at our offices today to announce the release of our report, “Segregation and Suicide: Confinement at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (PDF). The report was completed by DRM and Munib Lohrasbi, a community fellow with the Open Society Institute of Baltimore (OSI). 

The report discloses the extreme isolation and harm, or risk of harm, to numerous women with significant disabilities housed in the segregation, infirmary, and mental health units at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW). Conditions in the units varied, but DRM observed problems with access to outdoor and indoor recreation; natural light; mattresses or bedding; insufficient treatment plans; and a lack of confidentiality for health  care services. The harm caused by segregation practices is pointedly evidenced by the suicide of a young woman with mental health issues who was incarcerated for a non-violent offense and who took her life while in segregation. 

DRM’s investigation, set forth in the Report, finds that MCIW failed to exercise reasonable standards of care during the time period surrounding her suicide. The Report offers recommendations for less harmful and safer correctional practices that conform to professional standards and comply with federal and Constitutional requirements.

DRM’s Director of Litigation, Lauren Young remarked, “The use of segregation in prison – the extreme isolation, the lack of physical and social engagement, sometimes combined with a lack of bedding, clothing, natural light or exercise, are conditions which Maryland has been shamefully slow to reject, especially as applied to individuals with serious disabilities; and compared with other states. We share this information because it is indispensable to the reforms that must come, but which will not succeed if conditions are kept from public consciousness.”

View a recording of the press conference on our Facebook page (embedded below).

 

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