Current Projects of the
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

Family NetWorks , Youth Empowerment Alliance

Council funded projects for Fiscal Year 2010/2011

Rosewood Video Documentary – (University of MD School of Medicine & Video Press)
The purpose of the Rosewood Documentary is to educate and inform multiple audiences about the closure of Rosewood in an engaging and compelling manner, including families, individuals with disabilities, policy makers, interested others and the general public.

Rosewood Publication
A publication will be developed and distributed with stories and photographs of people who have moved out of the Rosewood Center. The publication will illustrate the impact of living in the community.

Maryland Parent Leadership Action Network- (MD Coalition for Inclusive Education)
The overall purpose of this project is to increase the advocacy and leadership skills of parents of children with developmental disabilities and for students, ages 18 – 21 with developmental disabilities, so that they can effect change at the community and statewide level to support the full inclusion of students with disabilities in their neighborhood schools. For more information, contact Selene Almazan at selene@mcie.org or call 410-859-5400.

The End the Wait Now! Campaign – (The Arc of Maryland, Inc.)
The End the Wait Now! Campaign is a targeted effort by individuals with developmental disabilities and families in partnership with the member organizations of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition. Through public education and grassroots advocacy, the goal is to convince the Governor and state officials to reduce and eventually eliminate the DDA Waiting List for Community Services. For more information, contact Cristy Marchand at cmarchand@thearcmd.org

Equal Access to Information and Resources Research Project -(HER Associates, Inc.)
The purpose of this project is to determine if people with developmental disabilities and their families from the Hispanic community in Maryland have equal access to information and resources from specified disability service systems as other people with developmental disabilities and their families; to determine the “state of the state” on this issue and develop recommendations for improvements. For more information, contact Carmen Arroyo carroyo@herassociates.com

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.

HOMES- (Maryland Disability Law Center)
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 contact Cathy Surace at cathys@mdlcbalto.org

Impact of Consent- (Resource Connections of Prince George's County)
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 Joyce Sims at  jsims@rcpgc.org  

The following five projects are funded in partnership with the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration, the Maryland Department of Disabilities,* and the DD Council.

Employment – Customized Training & Technical Assistance

Family Service Foundation, Inc.
The goals of this project are to build the capacity of the agency and staff to provide person-centered supports.  The Family Service Foundation, Inc. (FSF), will receive training and technical assistance to learn about and implement person-centered values, person-centered planning and customized employment and to structure the organization to provide person-centered supports. The project will pilot person-centered teams and develop and implement an organizational development plan for the entire agency. Contact Robert Claxton at rclaxton@fsfinc.org.

Friends Aware, Inc.
Through grant funding, this project will establish the agency’s commitment to community employment and expand integrated employment outcomes for people with developmental disabilities. Friends Aware will develop and implement a strategic plan, restructure the agency and resources to support the agency’s goal, build the capacity of staff, and utilize and develop external partnerships that support employment outcomes.  Friends Aware is located in Allegany County, a rural part of Maryland.  Contact Jane Eaton at jeaton@friendsaware.org.

The League for People with Disabilities
The purpose of the project is to increase the number and quality of customized employment outcomes for participants supported by the League and to facilitate organizational change from a facility-based traditional day habilitation service to a model which uses community learning services. This will be accomplished through development and implementation of a strategic plan that refocuses day habilitation and vocational services for people with severe disabilities with buy-in from board members, staff, participants and families and building the capacity of staff to provide customized employment. The League will be mentored by another Maryland agency. For additional information, contact David Greenberg at dgreenberg@leagueforpeople.org.

United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Maryland, The Center for Life Enrichment, Abilities Network, St. Mary’s County Government, Dept. of Human Services
The purpose of the project is to foster a collaborative working relationship between the agencies and St. Mary’s County Dept. of Human Services to optimize employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities. Strategies include development of systemic strategic changes needed to successfully implement “Employment First,” improving the skills and capacity of agency staff to provide customized employment, and creating additional relationships with businesses in the County. Contact Mitzi Bernard at BernardM@ucpsm.org.

TransCen, Inc.
The Council, in partnership with the Developmental Disabilities Administration and the Maryland Department of Disabilities, awarded grants to the five organizations listed above to improve the employment outcomes of people with developmental disabilities. TransCen, Inc. will facilitate the development of an Organizational Change Peer Network that focuses on supporting the five grantees (network members) plus two additional agencies as they build systems and organizational capacity to offer customized employment services and supports. Contact Betsy Luecking or visit www.transcen.org

* This employment initiative is supported in part with funds from the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (CFDA 93.768) awarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Maryland Department of Disabilities and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Developmental Disabilities Administration.

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.