Assistive Technology Co-op:  Expanding Technology Access for Children  with Developmental Disabilities AT:L.A.S.T., Inc.- This project will  expand access to assistive technology for school-age children in Maryland, both in their schools and homes, by providing large discounts on purchases for families and schools.  The project will expand  membership in an AT buying cooperative to include nonpublic schools, home schooling groups, and local school systems, and will for the first time extend discounts to families who choose to buy their own AT.  The project will establish clearinghouses to facilitate purchases and will host workshops to inform parents about appropriate AT selection and use.  In partnership with the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program, the project will help families secure low-interest credit to further help them afford AT. Living Free: Campaign for Freedom People on the Go of Maryland will assist self-advocates to increase their advocacy skills to help people move out of institutions so they can live in the community.  People on the Go will conduct a Statewide Self-Advocacy Conference and Legislative Activities to include:  a State Governmental Affairs Seminar, Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature, On-going Focus Groups, and a Legislative Internship in the Maryland General Assembly for the 2002 Session.  They will also coordinate Quarterly Leadership Meetings and Federal Legislator Visits to describe the Campaign for Freedom and urge their support to help states implement Olmstead. Coalition for Inclusive Education Opportunities Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE)- The Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education supports parents in Maryland who seek inclusive educational opportunities for  their children in neighborhood schools. They educate and empower families of all income levels about inclusion through training and information dissemination; increase placement of students in less restrictive education settings; assist parents in organizing to promote systemic change and strategy development; provide information to develop or improve inclusive services; and monitor federal, state, and local government  practices to increase and improve inclusive education practices. Increased public awareness and outreach to families will be the focus of information dissemination activities. Specific geographic areas will be  targeted:  Baltimore City, the Eastern Shore, and Prince George's County.  Expanding the Availability and Accessibility of Public Transportation for People with Disabilities Wicomico Transit - This project will increase the amount of rural transportation available to residents of Wicomico County, and rural ridership will be increased by 5% annually.  The project will add additional routes in rural areas not currently served and will incorporate existing routes of Go-Getters and Lower Shore Enterprises, two non-profit agencies serving people with disabilities.  Along with educating people about the use of public transportation systems, this project will expand the hours of service into the metro core of Wicomico County to complement those of the evolving rural services (offer more weekday and weekend service and extend hours of service), they will continue their efforts of coordination with other human service agencies that have transportation services throughout the project.  Partners In Policymaking        Arc of Maryland- (a joint project of the Council, The Arc of Maryland and the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program/Family Support Network) provides leadership training for parents of young children with severe disabilities and people with developmental disabilities so that they become skilled systems change advocates.   In 2003-2004: The Partners in Policymaking project will undertake a variety of activities that will assist graduates of all previous Partners in Policymaking classes to increase their involvement in, and impact on, systemic issues of interest to them. Graduates total almost 250. The intent is to increase the impact "Partners" have on a range of state, local, and community issues that are important to people with developmental disabilities and their families. In 2004-2005: A ninth new Partners in Policymaking class will be trained and supported. Watch for details of this dynamic training in 2004. Terrific Teens at Kamp A-Kom-Plish Inclusive Summer Camp Melwood / Kamp A-Kom-Plish - This project will develop and refine a pre-vocational training program for youth with and without disabilities to prepare them to become Counselors-In-Training. Information from this project will be shared with other camps through articles, conferences and a training manual to encourage the establishment of similar programs at a variety of camps throughout Maryland. Transportation Action Project Independence Now, Inc. - Dissemination of the Transportation Resource Guide for Montgomery County, Revise, reprint and disseminate the Guide for Prince George's County, obtain consumer feedback from both, continue collaboration with the Disability Rights  Council to secure date from MetroAccess riders, develop training for paratransit drivers, explore establishment of a model training curriculum with one or more high schools, survey users of fixed route transit to  examine if individuals have increased their use as a result of the accessible bus stop campaign.  Cross Disabilities Rights Coalition Maryland ADAPT and People on the Go of Maryland will build on the successes of advocacy groups led by people with disabilities and further  support individuals with disabilities to continue to expand their influence on issues that are important to them.  Funding in the first phase of the project is to help the partnering groups work together to identify shared issues and develop an action plan that will lead to long-term change.  Expected outcomes in the first phase of the project include the following activities: establish a partnership so the groups  can join together and work in a multi-pronged strategy on shared issues, encourage people to learn how to effectively advocate for themselves and others, break down barriers, and be fully involved and participate  meaningfully with full support.  Activities will include outreach to others across the state to unite and build a bigger movement.  They will have a team building session in September 2002 and then contact  grassroots groups statewide to inform them of the partnership and solicit support. They plan to meet several times in October to hear what are the biggest issues for the most people and prioritize those issues.  They will hold a skills training planning session in November to set a prospective training schedule for phase two.  In December they will develop a three-year action plan for phase two of the  project. Expanding the Availability of Affordable and Accessible Housing NCB Development Corporation, National Disability Institute will implement a comprehensive housing strategy statewide for the benefit of individuals with developmental and/or  physical disabilities that is affordable and accessible. The focus of activities will be on capacity building at a local and state level that engage diverse public & private sector interests to expand individual  choices for the target group for both affordable rental and home ownership options in an integrated setting. Over a three-year period, NCBDC with direct involvement with the Council, the Developmental Disabilities Administration, and the TAC will target 7 key stakeholder groups for dialogue, education, problem solving, & investment. The 7 key stakeholders are: Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development & other state & local policymakers; Public Housing Authorities statewide; for profit & not for profit housing developers; persons with developmental and/or physical disabilities and families; lenders; and Maryland based, regional, and national foundations with a record of commitment to affordable and accessible housing development for low income populations. To sustain systems change and have long term impact, NCBDC will cultivate a commitment to innovation and barrier reduction related to funding, policy, awareness and attitude. We will focus on specific activities that will produce a long significant return on  investment for the Council & DDA and build and sustain relationships within each and among all stakeholders. Will crate a new or improved attitude and commitment to innovation, creative problem solving, and  barrier reduction related to funding, policy, and practices that expand affordable and accessible housing choices for individuals with disabilities and/or families.  A process of systems change will be  developed that will be both self-sustaining and support continued long-term results. More Doors to Open Arc of Anne Arundel County hosts this project which is designed to make renting or owning a home a reality for people with mental retardation and related disabilities utilizing three components:  (1) Establish a partnership with Homes for America, a non-profit housing development organization, to provide lease-to-own housing that will meet the needs of adults with developmental and/or  physical disabilities and their families. (2) Develop a train-the-trainer approach to assist family members, self-advocates, and disability professionals to establish housing coalitions in other jurisdictions.   (3) Assist in providing statewide leadership in implementing the recommendations of the Technical Assistance Collaborative.  Believing that there is an inherent conflict of interest when one entity controls and manages both housing and supports, over the program The Arc of Anne Arundel will attempt to divest itself of housing stock it owns, offering them to the current residents or other individuals with developmental  and/or physical disabilities. Waiting List Campaign The Arc of Maryland has been granted a one year award where families lead the campaign  entitled "Build on the Success of the Waiting List Initiative – It Works! Don't Turn Back the Clock" to impact the state Department budget for FY04.  There are two co-chairs – one to represent a family with  a child on the waiting list; and one to represent an adult waiting for needed services.  Key activities include: (1) outreach to families who received services through the Waiting List Initiative to send personal thanks to the Governor and Lt. Governor (2) outreach to individuals on the "new" waiting list to ask them to join the Campaign (3) host a conference for families who wish to organize to make a difference for the Waiting List Campaign (4) develop fact sheets illustrating the reasons the Waiting List Initiative is const-effective and prevents future crises for families, individuals and the government and (5) maintain regular communications and updates with members of the Campaign via an active email list serve and a toll-free hotline. Family NETWorks This family-centered and family-directed project will:  implement and evaluate and interactive, family-friendly website to foster family empowerment and family determination; outreach to unserved families,  especially those with aging caretakers and those from minority cultural backgrounds.  Family NETWorks will award mini-grants to enhance the development, implementation and replication of best practices that support families and build capacity for local community efforts; and provide training, technical assistance and public awareness to increase knowledge and understanding of family choices, needs and supports.  As a result of Family NETWorks, it is expected that families report greater knowledge and ability to make better choices in accessing and evaluating the quality of family supports they need and feel that they are  true partners in the family support system. Families who have historically not known about or used family supports will be actively involved in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of the  statewide Family Support system.  Family members, service providers, state agency staff, community generic agencies, professionals, Advisory Council members, students and others will report an increase in  knowledge, understanding and techniques in the provision of quality family supports as a result of Family NETWorks training and technical assistance Special Education Leadership Project In August 2001 The Council began a new, focused initiative to mobilize parents and students so that they can maximize their participation in and impact on the design, funding, implementation and evaluation of special  education services at the local level.  Building on the work of statewide organizations this 3-year systems change project will provide information, support, training, and technical assistance to families,  community leaders, educations, and local special education citizen advisory committees (SECACs).  The project will develop relationships with a number of local SECACs per year, plan and implement training and networking opportunities, and provide ongoing information and technical assistance.  In areas where no committee currently exists, the project will work with the school system and established parent support and  advocacy groups within the jurisdiction to develop a special education citizens advisory committee.  The project will also create mechanisms through which SECACs can network and mentor each other on issues common to all school systems as well as their own desired outcomes. Project Income A collaboration of eleven Howard and Anne Arundel County agencies providing support, residential and employment services. Over three years, the project will provide employment opportunities for 75 individuals with developmental disabilities: 10 micro-enterprises, 35  unique and individualized employment opportunities, and 30 individuals accessing the retail skills training program at Anne Arundel Community College's Sales and Training Service Center at Arundel Mills. The project  will contract with two nationally recognized organizations - Griffin-Hammis Associates, affiliated with the University of Montana's Affiliated Rural Institute on Disabilities, and The Center for Self-Determination - for training and consultation. These organizations have successful experience in creating micro-enterprises, individualized budgets, and other creative approaches to employment. The project will establish a  Leadership Team composed of individuals, families, executive directors, support staff and community leaders that will provide platform style training and support to foster this grass roots movement in Maryland. Additionally, the project will establish a Business Advisory Committee comprised of community and business leaders.