We are exceptionally proud of this year's honorees, and thank them for their commitment and contributions to advancing rights for people with disabilities!
On the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) salutes its community, partners, and friends who were instrumental in forging and implementing this landmark legislation for people with disabilities. We are singularly proud of our accomplishments over the past year to actualize the principles of the ADA in Maryland, which include:
Prevented proposed budget cuts that would have eliminated 25% of existing bus routes, jeopardizing paratransit services to critical destinations including dialysis centers, mental health programs, occupational and physical therapy providers for over 30,000 paratransit riders, in collaboration with Consumers for Accessible Ride Services (CARS) and other advocates.
Achieved changes in subsidized housing operations of a large public housing agency to fund the creation of accessible, affordable rental housing.
Brought legal action against a major municipal jurisdiction in Maryland to obtain compliance for substantial ADA violations in maintaining curb ramps and sidewalks, with co-counsel, the Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (CREEC), Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho (GBDH).
July has been named Disability Culture and Achievements Month in the state of Maryland! Throughout July, Maryland will celebrate the "societal achievements and cultural contributions of Marylanders with disabilities."Click here to read more about Governor Hogan's executive order>>
DRM Leads Development of
Alternatives to Guardianship
As the media focuses on the restriction of Britney Spears’ rights under guardianship, DRM knows that restrictive and unnecessary guardianships have long been and continue to be a critical and fundamental civil rights issue for people with disabilities. This issue is not new.
Too often people with disabilities are stripped of their rights to make everyday decisions that govern their lives and who they are including who they can partner with or marry, whether they can vote, where they can work, and what health care and services they receive. Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) has seen the detrimental impact that unnecessary guardianships have on our clients’ lives. It can fundamentally restrict a person’s liberty, lead to loss of association and even institutionalization. Seeking to bolster alternatives to guardianship, DRM has led the charge to establish supported decision-making (SDM) in the state of Maryland.Click here to read the full story >>
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