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#5Thoughts Friday

The



Explorer



Edition

1/31/2025

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5) PRESS RELEASE: DRM and Partners Reach Agreement with Baltimore City to Improve Sidewalks and Ramps for People with Mobility Disabilities​​

December 18, 2024—Baltimore, MD— Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) and their legal partners Disability Rights Advocates, Fox & Robertson, and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho, on behalf of a class of pedestrians with mobility disabilities, have reached a partial agreement with the City of Baltimore to make sidewalks and curb ramps more accessible for people with mobility disabilities. This is part of a class-action lawsuit called Goodlaxson, et al. v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore (Case No. 1:21-cv-01454-JKB). 

In 2021, DRM and their legal partners filed the lawsuit on behalf of several individuals and organizations, including Susan Goodlaxson, Janice Jackson, Keyonna Mayo, and the IMAGE Center of Maryland. We argued that Baltimore City failed to follow federal disability laws because many of its sidewalks and curb ramps were not built or maintained to be accessible, making it harder for people with disabilities to safely travel around Baltimore and take part in community life. 

Baltimore City’s own data shows the issue is widespread. A 2019 review found that only about 1.3% of surveyed curb ramps met ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. Many sidewalks were also damaged or too narrow for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, forcing people with disabilities to use the street alongside traffic, which is dangerous. 

CLICK HERE to see more.

The Maryland Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board is looking for new members!

The Maryland State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board consists of 36 voting members, who represent consumers, families and caregivers, advocates, government officials, health care professionals and elected officials. For a complete list of members, please see below. This board was authorized in October 2005. (Chapter 306, Acts of 2005; Chapter 236, Acts of 2008).

• The Vision of this advisory board is to prevent brain injury and maximize the quality of life for every Marylander affected by brain injury.
• The Mission is to identify needs, gaps in services, and potential funding resources by building relationships and collaborating with elected officials and heads of state agencies that will influence policy, promote prevention, education, and effective interventions that impact outcomes in order to support recovery and quality of life for every Marylander affected by brain injury.

4) Protecting yourself from injury in the winter snow and ice

Bryan Pugh of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland joins Jenyne Donaldson for a conversation about winter sports and injury prevention. Pugh shares some advice to keep in mind when you can't see what is under the snow.

CLICK HERE for more.

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3) Largest Study Ever Done on Cannabis and Brain Function Finds Impact on Working Memory

A new study published today in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks.

The study, the largest of its kind ever to be completed, examined the effects of cannabis use on over 1,000 young adults aged 22 to 36 using brain imaging technology. The researchers found that 63% of heavy lifetime cannabis users exhibited reduced brain activity during a working memory task, while 68% of recent users also demonstrated a similar impact.

This decline in brain activity was associated with worse performance on working memory - the ability to retain and use information to perform tasks. For example, working memory allows a person to follow instructions they've just been given or to mentally visualize and manipulate information, like solving a math problem.

"As cannabis use continues to grow globally, studying its effects on human health has become increasingly important. By doing so, we can provide a well-rounded understanding of both the benefits and risks of cannabis use, empowering people to make informed decisions and fully comprehend the potential consequences," said the study's first author Joshua Gowin, PhD, assistant professor of radiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

CLICK HERE for more.

2) Books We are READING This Week

A Watch Pot Never Boils

By

Special

Hi my name is Special, this is my first Book in which l invested all my thoughts and feelings for what I saw as therapy. I found out that I’ve never dealt with the trauma i was keeping locked up and it was becoming overwhelming and so l turned to putting my forum of healing. I started healing my betting my emotions out and of course it hurted so bad that it felt like a Spiritual Healing. After putting my emotions in its proper perspective I found out that, l could finish my becoming creative and that is when I bought “A Watch Pot Never Boils” To life.

CLICK HERE to see more.

Looking for Something fun to do in Maryland this weekend? Click the picture below and discover a world of possibilities for things to do this weekend!

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HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND !

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