Current Projects
For an easy-to-read list of projects: Current Projects – Easy Read
For a printable list of projects: Current Projects
ADVOCACY
Enhancing Self-Advocacy and Public Policy Work
People On the Go of Maryland (POG)
People on the Go of Maryland (POG) is a statewide self-advocacy group led by people with developmental disabilities. With support from the Council and the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, POG works to improve issues that affect people with developmental disabilities. POG educates and advocates for change with state agencies, the state legislature, and the community. POG also provides training, assistance, and support to a network of local self-advocacy groups. This helps them be informed about issues, build skills, speak for themselves, and be strong advocates.
COMMUNITY SUPPORTS
Supported Decision-Making Training
Parents’ Place of Maryland
A law was passed in 2022 that allows adults to use supported decision-making (SDM) to get support to understand, consider, and make decisions themselves. SDM is a way for adults to get help from other people to make choices and decisions for themselves.
The Parents’ Place of Maryland, in partnership with People On the Go Maryland, Disability Rights Maryland, and The Arc Maryland, will develop a training for youth with developmental disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
Cultural Brokers in Maryland
Ethiopian and Eritrean Special Needs Community
The Ethiopian and Eritrean Special Needs Community (EESNC) will recruit cultural brokers to lead activities in Amharic. These cultural brokers will provide resources and information to people with developmental disabilities and their families. They will also train faith-based and other organizations in the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities about inclusion of people with developmental disabilities.
Cultural Brokers in Maryland
The Arc Prince George’s County
The Arc Prince George’s County will recruit and train cultural brokers and provide resources for them to share with the Spanish-speaking community. They will work with community organizations across the county to make sure their work reflects the needs of the communities they are serving. They will also implement a training for their staff on how to best support and be responsive to the Spanish-speaking community.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
LEADING to Learn: Training on Working with Individuals with Developmental Disabilities for Correctional Supervisors
Loyola University
In partnership with the Council, Loyola University will develop and implement a training program for correctional supervisors in the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) – Division of Correction Jessup Correctional Region. To make this happen, Loyola will:
- Train and support people with developmental disabilities to help train correctional supervisors.
- Conduct 12-15 training sessions.
- Train 300 correctional supervisors in 4 facilities.
- Evaluate the program and replicate it in other correctional regions.
This will help correctional staff provide better support for people with developmental disabilities in Maryland’s jails and prisons.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Partners in Policymaking®
The Arc Maryland
Partners in Policymaking® (Partners) is a leadership developmental program designed for people with developmental disabilities and their families. The program prepares participants to advocate for what they need in their own lives. It also prepares them to be leaders that bring about change that helps
others. The Partners program is a series of nine sessions and other learning activities. Topics include: history of the disability movement, self-advocacy, inclusive education, assistive technology, legislative process, and advocacy. Partners graduates are prepared and supported to take action after they graduate. They support and learn from each other to bring about change.
Resources
The following resources were developed by the Council. They are available on the Council’s website or by contacting the Council.
Planning Now
Planning Now is an easy-to-use guide for families of children and adults with developmental disabilities. It includes information about government benefits, wills, trusts, taxes, and other things to help people plan. This publication is available in English and Spanish.
Developmental Disabilities Administration Fact Sheets
These 4 fact sheets provide information about the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) that is easy to understand. They include:
• DDA Overview
• Waiting List
• Coordinators of Community Services
• Person Centered Planning
These fact sheets are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
User Friendly ABLE Guide
This easy-to-use guide helps people with disabilities and their families understand the Maryland ABLE program. Maryland ABLE is a savings program. It makes it possible for people with disabilities and their families to save and invest money without losing the federal and state benefits they need. This includes Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. ABLE accounts help people with disabilities improve their health, independence, and quality of life.
2022 Changes to Maryland ABLE User’s Guide
What Matters
What Matters shows how good planning and creative support helps people live good lives. It does that by telling the stories of 9 people with developmental disabilities who work and enjoy other activities in their communities.
What’s Possible: 9 Stories of Changed Lives
What’s Possible tells the story of 9 people who used to live at Rosewood Center. Rosewood was an institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It closed in 2009. People who lived there finally got a chance to live in the community again. Their stories show how much their lives improved.