Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

Celebrating Value and Talent National Disability Employment Awareness Month Office of Disability Employment Policy, US Department of Labor Circular images of people in the workplace with fireworks in the background. The image background is dark blue.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). This is the 80th anniversary of NDEAM. Every year, #NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities across the country. This year's theme is "Celebrating Value and Talent."

Learn more: www.dol.gov/agencies/ode...

​Join the Council! We are looking for people with developmental disabilities to help us create change. Apply today! DD Council logo and two pictures of Council members.

Are you a person with a developmental disability? Do you want to create change in Maryland? If so, apply to be a Council member!

This is a volunteer leadership opportunity for passionate advocates. Learn how to apply here: www.md-council.org/about-us/bec...

A mother holds her small child, while her other child claps while coming down the slide. A wheelchair and walker are next to the slide. Below the photo, text reads: Maryland needs more families where ALL children and their families can play.

Maryland needs more playgrounds where ALL children and their families can play. The Council and Maryland Department of Disabilities are excited to launch our Playgrounds for All website!

Check out the full website, including a toolkit and map, at www.playgroundsforallmd.org

A woman with blonde hair, glasses, and a light blue jacket. She is smiling.

The Council is excited to welcome Jenn Raulin as our new Deputy Director!

Jenn brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in program management with federal and state agencies, as well as nonprofits.

Learn more about Jenn at mailchi.mp/md-council/c...

The cover of the Where is Home? publication. Where is Home? 10 Stories About What Home Means in large text. A drawing of a city skyline with different types of houses and buildings is at the bottom of the image.

The Council is proud to announce our latest publication!

Where is Home? shares powerful stories of 10 people with developmental disabilities in Maryland who are living and thriving in their own homes. Each story shows that home can look different for everyone.

www.md-council.org/wp-content/u...

A proclamation from Governor Wes Moore recognizing Direct Support Professionals Week.

Thank you to Governor Moore and his administration for proclaiming this week (September 7-13) as Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week in Maryland.

This week, we honor and appreciate all the great work of DSPs across Maryland!

A graphic with pictures of people with DD and their family members who graduated from Partners in Policymaking. Text: Join the ranks of over 500 Partners in Policymaking graduates around Maryland who are long-term agents of change in the community. Through 12 sessions in 2025 and 2026, Partners will learn about systems change - creating, working towards, and achieving a vision of shared values about people with disabilities! Apply by October 6th TheArcMD.org/Partners The Arc Maryland logo DD Council Logo People on the Go logo This project is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,262,502 with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Are you an adult with DD or a family member of someone with DD? Do you want to grow as an advocate?

Apply for Partners in Policymaking! This year-long program teaches people with DD and family members how to create change at the local, state, and federal levels.

Apply now at thearcmd.org/partners

The Arc Maryland Executive Director Ande Kolp presents a Partners graduate with a plaque.

A Partners grad poses for a photo with their family, as well as Ande Kolp (The Arc Maryland) and Mat Rice (POG). They are in front of the Partners in Policymaking banner.

The 2025 Partners graduates pose for a group photo, along with staff from the Council, The Arc Maryland, and POG.

A group of Partners participants give their capstone presentation. They are standing at the front of the room while the rest of the class looks on.

Congratulations to the 2025 Partners in Policymaking (Partners) graduates!

The Council proudly supports Partners with The Arc Maryland and People On The Go Maryland. These advocates are ready to make Maryland a place where people with and without disabilities live, learn, work, and play together!

Learn more about the event at drive.google.com/file/d/1XdWH...

Register for the event at us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

NextGen Synergy and the Maryland DD Coalition Invite You To: What’s Next: A National Conversation on the Future of IDD and Mental Health Supports Date: September 17, 2025 | Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (ET) For accommodation needs, please contact nick.b@nextgenidd.com NextGen Synergy, in partnership with the Maryland DD Coalition, invites you to an inspiring national conversation about the future of support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and co-occurring mental health conditions. This event is for everyone across the country—not just people in Maryland. We’ll celebrate the progress we’ve made, talk about new opportunities, ideas, and resources, and share helpful tips for building strong, inclusive communities. Thank you to our Language Access Sponsor: Kibu We are proud to recognize Kibu as the official language access sponsor for this National Conversation. Kibu is a purpose-built digital platform designed to meet the needs of the IDD services community. Their accessible, on-demand video library supports life skills, job readiness, health and wellness, and more. Kibu also offers tools that simplify documentation, track progress, and strengthen communication. With a deep commitment to inclusion and equity, Kibu helps ensure that everyone can engage fully. We thank them for making this event more accessible and for their leadership in promoting universal access. Learn more at kibu.com

NextGen Synergy Inc. and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition are hosting a conversation about the future of mental health supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This is a virtual meeting on Zoom. It is on September 17 from 3 pm to 4:30 pm.

Is your child with DD interested in dating? Join the free webinar: "Guiding Your Neurodivergent Child Through the World of Dating"!

This webinar will discuss confidence, boundaries, and healthy relationships. It is a virtual event on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 pm.

www.eventbrite.com/e/guiding-yo...

Know Your Rights A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights A joint project produced by the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General Civil Rights Division. Maryland Commission on Civil Rights logo Maryland Office of the Attorney General logo

The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the Office of the Attorney General published Know Your Rights: A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights. This resource has important information about how Maryland law protects civil rights.

mccr.maryland.gov/Documents/FI...

MDOD Secretary Carol Beatty, Deputy Secretary Anne Blackfield, Disability Culture and Achievement Awardee Liz Weintraub, and Council Executive Director Rachel London pose for a photo.

Council Chair Dee Sapp, her son and Disability Culture and Achievement Awardee Lawrence Sapp, MDOD Secretary Carol Beatty, and Council Executive Director Rachel London pose for a photo after the celebration. Lawrence is holding his award.

Congratulations to the Governor's Disability Culture and Achievement Awardees: Lawrence Sapp, Liz Weintraub, and Rose Carey. Your contributions make your communities stronger and our state better for everyone. It was fitting to honor your achievements on the same day that we celebrate the ADA.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown speaks. He is standing at a podium. People are sitting behind him.

A group of people pose for a photo. They include Council Executive Director Rachel London, MDOD staff members, Governor's Disability and Culture Awardees, the Mayor of Laurel, and a representative for Senator Chris Van Hollen.

In July 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Yesterday, we joined the Department of Disabilities to celebrate 35 years of the ADA. Thank you to Attorney General Anthony Brown for his keynote speech about the importance of accessibility and opportunity.

Disability Pride Month July 2025 The disability pride banner is in the top right corner Pictures of people with developmental disabilities smiling on the left Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council logo at the bottom right

Every July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month. This month honors the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Disability Pride Month also recognizes the history, contributions, and experiences of people with disabilities.

DDA Operated Medicaid Waiver Amendments Public comments are open until July 8, 2025

The Maryland Department of Health is proposing amendments (changes) to the DDA-operated Medicaid waiver programs. DDA is accepting public comments on the proposed changes until next Tuesday, July 8.

Learn more about the proposed changes and how to comment at health.maryland.gov/dda/Pages/Co...

Last chance to help guide the Council's work! Fill out our State Plan Survey to tell us which issues are most important to you and your family.

The survey is only open through tomorrow, July 1. Fill it out now at www.md-council.org/we-want-to-h...

1/ Over 1,000 of you have spoken up against #Medicaid cuts that hurt people w/ #disabilities. This is what #advocacy looks like!

But we still have work to do.

The Senate is still trying to pass the #OneBigBeautifulBillAct. It would cut even more Medicaid funding!

A group of people standing together during DD Day 2025.

Time is running out! Our State Plan Survey is open until July 1. Help us identify the best ways to create change and improve lives for Marylanders with developmental disabilities.

Fill out our State Plan Survey to tell us which issues are important to you. www.md-council.org/we-want-to-h...

Hello Dearest Friends and Colleagues, For five long months, we’ve been in the trenches, together, fighting to protect people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from Medicaid cuts. Early this morning, the United States House of Representatives passed the bill that contains these devastating cuts. When we work toward choice and independence, we must acknowledge that there will be losses along the way. The pain of these losses is real. But so is our solidarity. We are still together. We are always together. Today, we lift up the incredible strength and dedication of Developmental Disabilities Councils across this country—and the unwavering advocacy of people with developmental disabilities, their families, and support circles. I want you all to know that every call, every meeting, every email, every action taken has mattered. Every minute of work and strategy, every idea, every hope, every tear has made a difference. This has been a fierce and exhausting battle—and we know it’s not over yet. The reconciliation bill known as the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' (yes, that's the actual name) now moves on to the Senate. Tomorrow, we get back in the ring and turn our focus to our Senators. But today, we rest. We breathe. We honor the fight and the fighters. We honor and thank all of you. You are not alone; you are never alone — because WE are the movement. With love always, see y'all back in it tomorrow, Jill Jacobs Executive Director National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

A statement from NACDD Executive Director @jilljacobs.bsky.social on the recent House vote to approve devastating #Medicaid cuts:

If Medicaid is important to you, tell your elected officials. Learn more at www.md-council.org/policy/advoc...

MEDICAID MATTERS in red and blue text on a white background NACDD logo

Congress is voting on a bill that could cut at least $700 billion in healthcare spending. Most of the cuts would be from Medicaid. More than 1.5 million Marylanders, including many people with DD, rely on Medicaid to live the lives they want with the support they need.

The cover of the Council's 2024 Annual Report. At the top are four pictures, with the Council logo at the center. The pictures feature: - a young man with a disability smiling - a mom holding her young son as she accepts an award - a family and their service dog standing in the Maryland Senate chambers - a group of women wearing shirts that say "HOPE" The text below reads: Together | Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council | Live, Learn, Work, and Play | 2024 Highlights

Looking for something to read this weekend? Catch up on the Council's 2024 Annual Report!

This report highlights the change we created last year. We worked to make Maryland a place for people with and without disabilities to live, learn, work, and play together.

www.md-council.org/wp-content/u...

Together, we are creating a Playgrounds for All website. This website will have detailed information about how to create playgrounds where everyone feels welcome. It will also include a map of public playgrounds in Maryland where people with and without disabilities can play together.

Chris Rogers (a white man with dark hair and a beard) and Kirsten Bosak (a white woman with dark hair and glasses) point at a sign. The sign lists their Playgrounds for All presentation at a conference.

Last month, the Council and Maryland Department of Disabilities presented about our Playgrounds for All project at the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA) conference. We talked about why playgrounds should be designed for people with and without disabilities to play together.

A father and son stand on the playground together. The father is wearing a jacket that says "Navy"

April is the Month of the Military Child! There are about 43,500 military children in Maryland, including about 5,200 with developmental disabilities.

The Council is working with the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families to create resources for military families of people with DD.

Applications Are Now Open! Maryland Youth Leadership Forum June 26-28 at Towson U Learn more at innow.org/mdylf A picture of young people smiling and posing for a photo Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council logo. This Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council project is supported by the Administration for Community Living as part of a total award of $1,265,982.

Are you a Maryland high school student with a disability? Are you ready to learn leadership skills and shape your future?

Apply to attend the 2025 Maryland Youth Leadership Forum (YLF)! YLF takes place from June 26 to 28 at Towson University. Applications are due by Saturday.

www.innow.org/mdylf/

A young man sits in a wheelchair and laughs. A woman is standing next to him smiling.

A man and woman with developmental disabilities smiling.

A young girl with developmental disabilities and her mom. They are smiling and holding up their fingers to create a heart.

We want to hear from you! Help the Council identify the best ways to create change and improve lives for Marylanders with developmental disabilities.

Fill our our State Plan survey and tell us what issues are most important to you and your family.

www.md-council.org/we-want-to-h...

Three young adults with disabilities smiling and hugging in a park. Text highlights that over 5 million Americans with disabilities were served by ACL programs in 2023. NACDD and its website are displayed at the bottom.

The Administration on Disabilities served more than 5 million Americans with disabilities in 2023, thanks to the Administration for Community Living. #ThanksToACL

A crowd of people standing together at a rally. They are holding up signs that say "Save Our DD Services" Photo by Bryan Sears, Maryland Matters

The 2025 Maryland legislative session ended on Monday. The Council is proud of the work we did this year with the Maryland General Assembly.

Learn more about how we advocated for change this year in our 2025 Legislative Overview: www.md-council.org/wp-content/u...