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Mitchell Mirviss to Receive Lorraine Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award

Eli Meir Kaplan

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is pleased to announce that Mitchell Mirviss (Mitch), Partner at Venable LLP, will be honored as the recipient of DRM’s Lorraine Sheehan Lifetime Achievement Award. He will receive the award at DRM’s 2023 Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 20, at the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore, Maryland.

This award, established in 2010, recognizes Lorraine Sheehan’s extraordinary and historic achievements on behalf of people with disabilities. Inspired by a desire to see her son, John Sheehan, included in every aspect of life, Lorraine was by many accounts the heart, soul and mastermind of the disability rights movement in Maryland.

Mitch’s unwavering dedication to protecting and advancing children’s rights, civil rights and disability rights for more than 35 years has made a tremendous impact on the lives of Marylanders and helped to create a more integrated and just society.

For instance, he has represented thousands of foster children from Baltimore City in a federal class action since 1988 and has provided important reforms in health, behavioral health and other vital areas. Additionally, he and DRM successfully negotiated a comprehensive system to prevent and investigate sexual assaults in state hospitals, state residential centers for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and residential treatment centers for youth. Moreover, he played a key role in establishing the rights of property guardians to gather evidence and investigate potential misconduct by attorneys representing severely disabled children in medical malpractice cases.

Mitch played a key role in creating significant changes through new laws in several areas. For example, one law requires the state to stop reimbursing itself and instead save a significant portion of the federal benefits received by foster youth with disabilities. Another law requires the state to continue providing services to foster youth with disabilities after they age out of foster care. This particular law was inspired by a landmark case that Mitch successfully argued in the Supreme Court of Maryland.

Recently, Mitch joined DRM to file a lawsuit called T.G., et.al. v. Maryland Department of Human Services, et.al. The lawsuit aims to improve the services and options available in communities for children with disabilities, and to stop the practice of “hospital overstays,” which refers to keeping children in hospitals even when there’s no medical need for it. According to Leslie Seid Margolis, who is the managing attorney and policy counsel at DRM, as well as one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, she states:

 “Mitch and I met as new attorneys representing children in juvenile court more than three decades ago, and his continued dedication to children, to DRM’s work and to systems change is inspiring. Mitch is a brilliant, dedicated attorney and a truly wonderful human being; We are honored to co-counsel the T.G. case with him and thrilled that DRM is recognizing him with our award named to honor the memory of another wonderful human being and outstanding systems change advocate, Lorraine Sheehan.”

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

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About Mitch Mirviss:

Mitch Mirviss is a co-chair of Venable’s Appellate Litigation Group. Mitch handles appellate and commercial litigation, tackling a wide array of complex legal issues in both federal and state courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, federal appellate courts, Maryland appellate courts, and state and federal trial courts. He represents clients in complex litigation matters, focusing on commercial torts and punitive damages, complex financial transactions and other commercial matters, product liability, constitutional law and civil rights, intellectual property, children’s rights, and disability issues.

With 3½ decades of appellate experience, including more than 60 cases in the Maryland appellate courts, Mitch has prevailed in matters at every level of appellate practice: the U.S. Supreme Court, federal circuit courts of appeal, and the Maryland Supreme Court and Appellate Court. He has successfully served as lead appellate attorney in numerous product liability, commercial tort, children’s rights, and disability rights cases, and has written winning briefs in these and many other areas.

In addition to his commercial work, Mitch is well known for his pro bono work and involvement in community affairs and children’s causes. He has represented thousands of Baltimore City foster children in a long-standing federal class action since 1988 and is co-counsel for plaintiffs in another federal class action involving foster children in other Maryland counties. Mitch also recently argued in the Alaska Supreme Court on behalf of a coalition of national children’s organizations and Alaska foster children seeking to protect the federal benefits of foster children with disabilities, and he successfully litigated a statewide constitutional right to legal representation at all bail proceedings.

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Senator Mary Washington to Receive a Public Policy Leadership Award

Mary Washington, Headshot

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is pleased to announce that Maryland Senator Mary Washington will be honored as a recipient of DRM’s Public Policy Leadership Award. Senator Washington will receive the award at DRM’s 2023 Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 20, at the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore, Maryland.

This award recognizes leaders who have shown outstanding commitment, dedication and creativity in shaping and advancing legislation that helps create a more inclusive and just world for people with disabilities.

For over twelve years in the Maryland legislature, Senator Washington’s service and leadership in addressing health equity concerns has benefitted numerous Marylanders with disabilities.

In the 2023 legislative session, Senator Washington’s sponsorship of ground-breaking legislation, the Trans Health Equity Act, ensures transgender Marylanders with Medicaid, many of whom have a disability, will receive medically necessary, life-saving care. This a milestone in promoting equity and access to healthcare for all.

Sam Williamson, attorney with Disability Rights Maryland, who advocated in coalition for the passage of the Trans Health Equity Act, said:

“Senator Washington is a strong leader who centers the voices of Maryland’s marginalized communities. We appreciate her steadfast commitment to creating equity in healthcare for all Marylanders.”

Currently, she is a member of Women Legislators of Maryland, holds a leadership position in the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, is an Associate Member of the Latino Legislative Caucus, serves as Chair of the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review Committee, and serves on the Education, Energy, and Environment Committee after serving on the Judicial Proceedings Committee in the Senate.

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

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About Senator Mary Washington:

Senator Mary Washington, born in Philadelphia to two healthcare professionals, has built her life on the principles of hard work and community. After earning her bachelor’s degree from Antioch University, she embarked on a teaching career at a Catholic elementary school. Her dedication to serving at-risk students and her drive to understand the needs of urban communities brought her to Baltimore to study sociology at The Johns Hopkins University where she earned her PhD in 1997.

Senator Washington returned to Pennsylvania for a teaching position at Lehigh University and a post-doctoral fellowship at the Population Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Ultimately, Baltimore called her back and has been her chosen home for nearly two decades where she served her city and community in various positions from the Director of the Housing Stat Office at the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, to the Associate Director at the Parks & People Foundation.

In 2010, she made history as Maryland’s first openly LGBTQ+ African-American elected official and the second in the country, when she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates.

Senator Washington was elected to the Maryland State Senate in 2018 and has spent over 20 years working for Maryland’s 43rd District as a legislator, advocate, and a student of public policy. In nearly a decade as Delegate and Senator, she has distinguished herself as a leader by fighting for affordable access to water, protecting families at risk of losing their homes to unfair tax sales and foreclosures, making sure Baltimore City schools get the fair and equitable funding they deserve, and helping unaccompanied homeless youths get the services and support they need to succeed. From 2015 – 16, she served as the Deputy Majority Whip. She continued her fight to pass the Water Taxpayer Protection Act, putting an end to the practice of selling homes due to unaffordable and incorrect water bills, in 2019.

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Theodore A. Howard (Ted) to Receive Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is pleased to announce that Theodore A. Howard, Pro Bono Partner at Wiley Rein LLP, will be honored with the Outstanding Legal Advocacy Award at DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) in Baltimore, Maryland.

This prestigious award recognizes attorneys and law firms who have shown exceptional dedication to advancing disability rights and promoting equal access to justice through pro bono work.

For two years, Ted Howard donated his time and expertise to representing DRM in a lawsuit against Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). The court ruled in favor of DRM this March, affirming DRM’s right to access contact information for parents and guardians of students with disabilities who may have faced educational neglect and disproportionate exclusionary discipline based on disability and race.

DRM’s Legal Director, Megan Berger, said: “DRM was tremendously fortunate to work with Ted Howard on this case. His wise counsel, unparalleled expertise, collegiality and dedication to the cause were exceptional and indispensable to securing this important victory.”  

Thanks to Ted’s commitment to this case, DRM is able investigate whether students of color with disabilities were subject to educational neglect and illegally received harmful and unequal disciplinary actions. Additionally, the decision establishes a powerful precedent, supporting the nationwide network of Protection & Advocacy organizations to access public school student and parent/guardian contact information in certain circumstances to investigate abuse and neglect and identify cases of discriminatory policies and practices.

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

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About Theodore A. Howard:

Ted Howard is the fulltime Pro Bono Partner at Wiley Rein LLP in Washington., D.C., where he oversees administration of the 250-lawyer firm’s Pro Bono Program, while also maintaining an active caseload representing individuals and groups of clients in civil rights, family law, housing, immigration, and public benefits matters. Ted is currently the Chair of the D.C. Circuit Judicial Conference Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services, and Co-Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. He served on the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense from 2015 to 2021, including three years as Chair, and the Board of Governors of the District of Columbia Bar from 2016 to 2022. He has been honored for his pro bono contributions by the Legal Aid Society of D.C., with its Servant of Justice Award in 2006, and by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, with its Wiley A. Branton Award in 2015. Ted is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Harvard Law School.

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Rebecca Cokley to Receive Judith Heumann Champion of Justice Award

Photo of Rebecca Cokley. White woman with red hair wearing a navy blazer and white tank top, standing in front of a brick wall.

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is excited to announce that Rebecca Cokley will receive the prestigious Judith Heumann Champion of Justice Award at DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala on September 20, 2023 at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

The award, established in 2020, recognizes Judith Heumann’s remarkable lifelong achievements and her legacy as one of the world’s most influential disability rights activists. DRM presents this award to exceptional individuals who have dedicated their lives to advocating for disability rights and other intersecting civil rights movements.

Rebecca Cokley, a second-generation little person and three-time presidential appointee, has championed inclusive policies and challenged systemic barriers within the federal government, non-profit, and private sectors throughout her distinguished career. This esteemed award recognizes her contributions to the disability rights movement and her relentless pursuit of equity and inclusion.

Similar to Judith, Rebecca is an innovator who pushes boundaries and follows her vision. Her accomplishments include coordinating the first-ever White House Black History Month event for disability communities and initiating the first LGBTQIA+/Disability Pride Month event. She co-founded the Disability Justice Initiative (DJI), which is the first disability policy shop in a progressive think tank at the Center for American Progress.

In 2021, Rebecca joined the Ford Foundation as a program officer for their first-ever U.S. Disability Rights program. The program focuses on strengthening the disability field, cultivating diverse leadership, advancing economic security for people with disabilities, integrating disability rights into social justice movements, promoting disability pride and mobilizing resources for disability rights work.

Rebecca embodies and continues to champion the values and spirit that Judith Heumann infused into the disability rights movement.

To learn more about DRM’s Breaking Barriers Awards Gala, visit DisabilityRightsMD.org/Breaking-Barriers-Gala.

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About Rebecca Cokley:

Prior to joining the Ford Foundation, Rebecca was the cofounder and director of the Disability Justice initiative at the Center for American Progress, where she built out a progressive policy platform that protected the rights and services disabled people depend on for survival and also developed innovative solutions like a proposed disabled worker tax credit and increased access to capital for disability-owned small businesses. She also stewarded a campaign that resulted in an unprecedented 12 presidential candidates developing disability policy platforms.

Prior to her work at American Progress, she served as the executive director for the National Council on Disability, where she worked on sexual violence on college campuses, policing reform, and the civil rights of disabled parents. A three-time presidential appointee, Rebecca served in key policy roles at the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as oversaw diversity and inclusion efforts for the Obama administration.

Rebecca is a frequent speaker and contributor on issues of public policy and disability inclusion in the media and at major national conferences. She has a bachelor’s degree in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

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ARE YOU READY TO LEAD? Disability Rights Maryland Seeks an Executive Director

Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) is seeking an experienced disability rights leader and advocate to lead this private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) law firm and advocacy organization as it creates an integrated and just society by advancing the legal rights of people with disabilities throughout Maryland. DRM is Maryland’s designated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency and a member of the National Disability Rights Network. We work with people with disabilities to pursue opportunities to champion their rights to self-determination, dignity, equality, opportunity, and freedom from discrimination and harm. We provide free legal services to persons with disabilities in Maryland and engage in systemic litigation and public policy advocacy to positively impact people’s lives.  DRM’s work spans a spectrum of issues including criminal justice and prison reform, education, monitoring facilities to investigate abuse, neglect and rights violations, voting, housing, transportation, assistive technology, health care, and the right to self-determination and appropriate services, among others, on behalf of Marylanders with all types of disabilities.  DRM envisions a world where people with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of community life.

The new Executive Director will have the opportunity to lead DRM’s experienced and talented team with a positive, results-oriented style that inspires all staff and broadens the circles of support for DRM’s work. The successful candidate will manage DRM in a manner consistent with this core mission and can relay commitment to the mission both inside and outside the organization while demonstrating the highest ethical standards and operating with integrity and transparency in conducting the business of the organization.

 

HIGH PRIORITY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • To serve as the primary public face of DRM with the disability community, the media, public officials, other nonprofits, and the community at large and to represent the organization in its various local, state, and federal networks;
  • To lead, encourage, and inspire a staff that is collaborative, talented, collegial and committed to the well-being of the communities we serve and one another;
  • To articulate and nurture a vision for DRM’s future;
  • To lead DRM’s community advocacy efforts including disseminating important information, making referrals, providing technical assistance, and training, as well as individual representation and systemic advocacy to promote legal rights for people with disabilities;
  • To lead DRM in setting priorities and in planning and pursuing creative strategies for addressing future challenges to the disability community and to the organization;
  • Develop and guide fundraising strategies which include cultivating and soliciting major gifts, and working alongside the board and staff to develop actionable fundraising plans;
  • To effectively and ethically oversee DRM’s finances in compliance with applicable law and DRM’s mission;
  • To grow and diversify resources to support DRM’s work;
  • To support an engaged Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities to the

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Possession of a Juris Doctor degree and membership in good standing with the Maryland Bar, or ability to obtain membership upon employment;
  • A passion for the mission of DRM and its multi-faceted advocacy approach;
  • A demonstrated commitment to, and experience with, advancing the rights of persons with disabilities in ways that express the values of inclusion, autonomy, equal access and full participation in community life;
  • Experience working with persons with disabilities, including from diverse communities;
  • An understanding of the difference between disability rights and disability justice;
  • Successful leadership of lawyers and others in a justice-oriented organization;
  • Experience managing a similar organization, including staff supervision, budget development, financial oversight, grant and contract compliance, strategic and priority planning, and managing change;
  • Experience successfully raising funds from private sources, including foundations and individual donors, and from federal, state and local governments;
  • Experience working effectively with multiple organizations and individuals with diverse perspectives, the public, elected and appointed officials, and consumers of services;
  • Demonstrated understanding of legislative and executive-level public policy issues and processes, in Baltimore and Maryland a plus;
  • Experience working productively with or on an engaged board of directors;
  • Interpersonal skills that demonstrate integrity, respect, compassion, collegiality, inclusivity, flexibility, capacity to motivate and thoughtfulness;
  • Outstanding communication skills, including written language, with a range of audiences and
  • Preference for an individual with lived experience as a person with a disabiiity.

 

SALARY AND BENEFITS:        

The salary range is $130,000 to $160,000 depending on experience and special skills. DRM also offers a very generous benefits package which includes excellent medical insurance, employer-paid dental, prescription, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as pre-tax savings plans, and a retirement savings opportunity with generous employer contributions. DRM offers eligible employees reimbursement for the cost of spouse or partner-paid health insurance premiums up to an established maximum amount. DRM also offers generous paid time off package, including vacation, holidays, sick time, and more. DRM is headquartered in Baltimore and a hybrid work schedule is available upon approval by the Board.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled and will be reviewed as they are received. Serious candidates should submit applications as soon as possible, but no later than June 30, 2023. Applications should contain a current resume and a thoughtful cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position.

Applications should be submitted by email to Christine Griffin (cgriffin@benderconsult.com) and should include “DRM Executive Director Search” in the subject line. Please include in your message how you heard about the search. Only a select number of highly qualified individuals will be invited to participate in the formal interview process. This is a confidential process and will be handled accordingly throughout all phases of the recruitment and selection process.

Materials should be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

DRM has retained the executive search firm and certified disability-owned business enterprise, Bender Consulting Services, Inc. to conduct this search, www.benderconsult.com.

DRM is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified individuals with disabilities including those who are also people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals and others who contribute to staff diversity are encouraged to apply.   DRM provides reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. Please notify us if you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and/or hiring process.

 

ABOUT DISABILITY RIGHTS MARYLAND:

DRM’s advocacy improves the lives of people with disabilities and creates a more inclusive and just society for all, by advancing human rights. We help people with disabilities pursue opportunities to participate fully in all aspects of community life, and champion their rights to self-determination, dignity, equality, opportunity, and freedom from discrimination and harm.

DRM provides free legal services to Marylanders with disabilities on matters that are related to their disabilities and fall within our advocacy service areas. DRM’s advocacy services are developed in close collaboration with the community of people we serve, and in compliance with our funding sources.

DRM is Maryland’s designated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency and a member of the National Disability Rights Network. As such, DRM is part of a nationwide network of organizations working to advance the rights of people with disabilities. Congress established the P&A System in 1975 in response to squalid conditions in institutional facilities for people with disabilities. In creating and funding the P&As, Congress granted us unique statutory authority to conduct investigations of suspected abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities in facilities.

DRM currently has a budget of approximately $5 million, and a staff of 45, including 19 attorneys, 3 intake specialists, 14 advocates, and 9 administrative support staff. Among the leadership team members are the Director of Litigation, the Director of Finance, the Deputy Director, and the Executive Director.

DRM receives federal funding from several agencies under the following grants:

  • Protection & Advocacy for Developmental Disabilities (PADD), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR), U.S. Department of Education
  • Protection & Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT), U.S. Department of Education
  • Protection & Advocacy for Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Voting Access (PAVA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS), Social Security Administration

In addition, DRM is a grantee of the Maryland Legal Services Corporation. In 2016, DRM was awarded a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention. DRM has received support from private foundations including the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Morton K. and Jane Blaustein Foundation, Open Society Institute, Hoffberger Foundation, Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, Fund for Change, Steptoe Foundation, Venable Foundation and the Baltimore Bar Foundation. DRM’s governing Board of Directors financially supports the organization with 100% participation. DRM also relies on charitable contributions from individual donors.

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