Photo of police officer grabbing a student by the arm at school. |
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DRM attorneys Megan Berger and Megan Collins, together with Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) attorney Selene Almazan-Altobelli, the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute, the Mental Health Association of Maryland, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, and the National Disability Rights Network filed an amicus brief with the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
In the amicus brief, the court was asked to prohibit "no-suspension" conditions of probation in schools due to their inequitable enforcement on students with disabilities and students of color.
Data shows that students with disabilities are roughly twice as likely to be suspended throughout their early academic careers than their non-disabled peers, and students at the intersection of race and disability are at an even greater risk of suspension.
Additionally, two former DRM attorneys, Alyssa Fieo and Nicole Joseph, jointly published an article with COPAA on September 8th, 2021 further outlining the detrimental effects of school policing, suspension, and other inequitable practices on students with disabilities. Click here to read the full report >>
These discipline disparities place students with disabilities at a consistently greater risk of academic exclusion, lower achievement, higher dropout rates, and incarceration.
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Randi Ames, DRM attorney and MSBA Leadership Academy Fellow. |
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The Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) has selected DRM attorney Randi Ames to join the prestigious Leadership Academy as a Fellow together with an outstanding 2021-2022 cohort of fifteen of Maryland’s rising star attorneys across a wide range of backgrounds and specialties. Click here to read more >>
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Two men, one in a wheelchair, cross East Madison St at North Charles St in Baltimore, MD.
Photo by Elbert Barnes.
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In a recent interview with WYPR 88.1 FM, DRM attorney Cory Warren addressed the legal action DRM and co-counsel have taken to remedy the City of Baltimore's widespread absence of accessible sidewalks. Lack of accessibility makes everyday travel difficult, if not dangerous, for thousands of people with mobility disabilities living, working or visiting the city. “…We're filing the suit,” Cory stated, “because we want people to be able to participate as Baltimore residents equally.” Click here to listen to the WYPR interview >>
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DRM filed the lawsuit on behalf of people with mobility disabilities with co-counsel Civil Rights Education and Enforcement Center (CREEC), Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) and Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho (GBDH).
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U.S. Paralympics Teammates Tatyana McFadden (left) and Susannah Scaroni (right)
celebrate after winning bronze and gold medals at the 5000m T54 Final.
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Tatyana McFadden, DRM’s 2018 Breaking Barriers Awards Influencer Honoree, who was recognized for her athletic accomplishments and advocacy on behalf of students with disabilities, knocked it out of the park at the recent Paralympic Games in Tokyo. In addition to being a world-class athlete, Tatyana is also a tireless advocate for people with disabilities.
While still in high school, Tatyana’s advocacy initiatives made national headlines when DRM represented her in a successful federal lawsuit granting her request to compete using her own wheelchair, on the same track, and at the same time, with the rest of her peers on her high school track team.
Several years later, with DRM’s expert legal assistance and the support of many others, Tatyana and her family’s fight for inclusion led to the passage of the Maryland Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Law. This groundbreaking legislation requires all schools to make "reasonable modifications" to accommodate students with disabilities so that they can equally participate in sports and physical education programs.
A member of the U.S. Paralympics Team since 2004, Tatyana’s decorated career spans six Paralympic Games. Taking center stage in Tokyo, she competed in the women’s 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 4x100 universal relay and marathon. She added three medals to her collection; bronze in the 5000m, silver in the 800m and gold in the 4x100m universal relay. Tatyana now holds a combined total of 20 gold, silver, and bronze Paralympic medals. Click here to watch Tatyana and her teammates win gold in the 4x100 universal relay >>
This year, for the first time, the Paralympic Games were televised on major television networks during prime-time programming following years of athletes and activists fighting for equal treatment for Paralympic athletes. Click here to learn more >>
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U.S. Paralympian and Baltimore native Jessica Long prepares to dive
at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Maryland athletes made their mark at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, where Baltimore native and Paralympian swimmer Jessica Long secured her place as the second most decorated U.S. Paralympian of all time, with a total of 29 career Paralympic medals. Long has claimed Tokyo a "total success." Click here to learn more >>
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Daniel Romanchuk, U.S. Paralympian and Mount Airy Resident,
at the Boston Marathon in 2019.
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Daniel Romanchuk of Mount Airy made history when he won bronze at the men’s marathon, becoming the first American man in 21 years to place in the event. Daniel completed the grueling 26.2 miles in the pouring rain and finished in a season-best 1:29:53. Click here to learn more >>
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In light of the growing uncertainty posed by the Delta variant and to better safeguard the well-being of the communities we serve, the Breaking Barriers Awards Gala has been rescheduled for Thursday, April 28, 2022.
We look forward to celebrating with you the incredible accomplishments of our exceptional honorees as well as the life-altering work that DRM’s staff accomplishes every single day of the year.
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Disability Rights Maryland is committed to advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities and we need your help to achieve our mission.
Please consider donating by clicking the button below!
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