Current Projects of the
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

Family NetWorks

Youth Empowerment Alliance

Council funded projects for Fiscal Year 2008/2009

Project Include Me
Project Include Me is an innovative child care inclusion project for children with developmental delays and/or disabilities. Project Include Me is funded through the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children & the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council. The purpose of the project is to provide additional resources through training, equipment and modifications to support child care providers in sustaining child care services for families with children who have developmental disabilities. Project Include Me has a vision to increase collaboration among local agencies to utilize existing resources to support licensed child care providers in maintaining services for children with disabilities so they can be included in community child care centers and programs. For more information about the project contact Beth Cooney at 410-546-5400 or bcooney@wicomicocounty.org

Project Discovery
The purpose of the project is to develop and implement an innovative process for transition planning which ensures successful transition to adult life based on the interests of individual students. This will be achieved by promoting customized employment, self-employment, and/or participation in career training or higher education as transition/exit outcomes are developed for students with developmental disabilities.  The project is a collaboration between the Howard County Public School System, The FAPE Program (a project of the Howard County Autism Society and the Parents' Place of Maryland), and The Arc of Howard County. During this three year project, an Individualized Career Planning (ICP) process will be used to facilitate transition planning for students in 18 middle schools throughout Howard County.  The plans will develop and evolve through the students' high school years with input from academic instructors and transition coordinators. Expert training and technical assistance will be available to school system personnel and others. For more information about the project, please contact: Ms. Patricia Daley at (410) 313-5351 or via email: patricia_daley@HCPSS.org

Cross Disabilities Rights Coalition (CDRC)
A project that combines the strengths of People On the Go of MD and MD ADAPT to work toward moving people with disabilities out of state residential centers and nursing facilities and into the community with self directed supports for independence and self determination. Project activities also work to shift the current Medicaid Long Term Care funding bias. Goals are accomplished by establishing relationships and educating legislators, having a presence on decision making bodies, and bringing diverse advocacy groups together capitalizing on their individual strengths and creating a strong unified voice promoting community-based living and services. For more information contact the project's leader Ken Capone at 410-571-9320 (in Annapolis) or 410-974-6139 (from Baltimore) or visit CDRC's website.

Inclusive Education: Accelerating Systems Change
Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, Inc.
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. The purpose of the project is to expand the number of students with disabilities who are educated in their neighborhood schools.
Contact Selene Almazan for additional information at 410-859-5400.

Leaders in Disability Policy
A grant provided to the Coordinating Center, Abilities Network, MD Association of Non-Profit Organizations, Ciekot & Elliott and Leadership Anne Arundel. The vision of this project is to maximize the impact of people with developmental disabilities by tapping into the expertise of organizations that have demonstrated success in transmitting advocacy and leadership skills to people who then use these skills to influence policy. The project will create and pilot an integrated training program that maximizes the use of available technology for individualized learning and to support different learners. The program will rely on proven advocacy and leadership strategies by integrating the core competencies and selected components of several training paradigms. The result will be leaders who are effective advocates operating in the highest levels of policy making, supported by learning communities. Typically underrepresented groups will be mobilized to participate. For additional information contact Denise Marshall at 410-987-1048.

Project Ride
SEEC coordinates this project that will give individuals with developmental disabilities the tools to be regular users of low cost, flexible public transportation systems, and therefore broaden their opportunities for employment and engagement in recreation, the arts, education, and an array of other community activities. The project will increase the number of individuals with developmental disabilities who use public transportation as an alternative to more expensive paratransit systems or staying at home because of transportation barriers. The project will collaborate with officials of the Office of ADA Programs for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to develop teaching materials and conduct trainings for human service agencies and transit operators. The project will also establish an Advisory Committee comprised of consumers, family members, representatives from human services agencies, and transit providers to help guide the project. For additional information contact Denise Thomas at 301-576-9000 ext. 212 or visit
www.freedomintransit.org.

Legislative Internship
Ken Capone was selected by People On the Go of Maryland to participate in the legislative internship funded by the DD Council for the fourth year. Mr. Capone will be working with a Maryland legislator to review, monitor, provide testimony and advise on disability-related legislation which impacts those with developmental disabilities and thier families. The Internship will begin January 2008 and continue through the end of Session in April. For additional information about the legislative internship contact Ken Capone.

Families as Faculty (Parents' Place of MD)
The Families as Faculty program is a training experience that offers pediatric residents, medical students, and selected masters-level health professionals an opportunity to learn from families.  In the comfort and relaxed atmosphere of their homes, families can tell their story, talk candidly about the special challenges they face, and reflect openly and honestly on their experiences with health care professionals. For more information about Families as Faculty please contact Josie Thomas.

Maryland Disability Law Center (HOMES)
Funding from the Council will provide training for adults with developmental disabilities to advocate for their rights in health care, as well educate professionals, providers, and others on how to obtain services and remain in their own homes or with family members. Specific trainings for attorneys regarding the rights of adults with developmental disabilities receiving Medicaid will also be provided. Council funds will be matched by the Weinberg Foundation. For more information on the HOMES for Adults project visit www.mdlcbalto.org and click on Systems Work or contact Cathy Surace at cathys@mdlcbalto.org

Resource Connections of Prince George's County (Impact of Consent)
The intent of Resource Connection’s “Impact of Consent” initiative is promoting quality healthcare for people with disabilities, through education of family members, service providers, healthcare providers, and individuals themselves, about issues of decision-making and true informed consent. Year one activities will include the development of a user friendly website with accurate up-to-date information as well as the expansion of training regarding decision making and consent through the use of an informational video, print materials and online programs. For additional information on Resource Connection’s “Impact of Consent” initiative contact Bea Rodgers at Brodgers@rcpgc.org  

State Councils on Developmental Disabilities are funded through formula grants authorized under Subtitle B of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (DD Act). The Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) is the Federal agency responsible for implementation and administration of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act). Organizationally, the Administration on Developmental Disabilities is located within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is part of the Department’s Administration for Children and Families.