The Arc Maryland Welcomes Two New Team Members

The Arc Maryland is excited to announce the addition of two valuable professionals to our team! Erli and Dominique will have responsibility for expanding and strengthening (empowering!) a network of advocates with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state. They will also help with our growing initiatives for families, inclusive schools, and advocacy. You can read about our two newest team members below.

Erli Ross | Self-Advocacy Coordinator

Erli Ross graduated from Hampton University with a B.A. In Psychology with a Minor in Criminal Justice. She is currently attending The Catholic University of America pursuing a Masters of Social Work. Erli began her career as a Supported Employment Specialist, working with individuals with mental health conditions. Erli has been successful in identifying and developing work opportunities with and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and educating companies on the benefits of employing an inclusive workforce. She also has prior experience in tech and research.

Dominique Palmer | Advocacy Specialist

Dominique Palmer is a native of Maryland who graduated from Long Reach High School in Howard County, where she was active on the dance team. Dominique has participated in The Arc Maryland’s Together We’re Better program since the 2021-2022 school year and has spoken with upwards of 7,000 students since then about her journey and lived experience as a person with a disability. Dominique is a Partners in Policymaking® graduate and started her own nonprofit with her mother, Pam Palmer, called the S.E.E. (Socially Equipping Everyone) Foundation in 2021. Dominique was a featured speaker at the 2023 Special Olympics Maryland Brave in the Attempt event, where she shared her passion for public speaking and living her best life. Dominique enjoys meeting new people, encouraging others to stay focused on reaching their goals, and traveling to new places.

SpArc Tank Ig-Nite is Almost Here: Did You Get Your Tickets?

November 16th, 5 to 7:30 PM

SpArc Tank Ig-Nite is The Arc Maryland's Signature Innovations Event to both raise and award funds for organizations that are working to remove barriers and create opportunities, through creative and innovative means, for people with IDD and their families to thrive!

Here is a sneak peek at how we will be celebrating on November 16th with you!

The Arc Maryland and the Autism Society of Maryland Launch Communication Board Educational Video

The Arc Maryland is proud to have partnered with the Autism Society of Maryland to create an educational video on communication boards at schools, on playgrounds, and in libraries across the state! The public presence of these boards helps create a more inclusive and more welcoming environment, creating an atmosphere of inclusion for participation in activities, and honoring all forms of communication. The vocabulary on the boards mimics the displays on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. Check out the video here!

Affordable Connectivity Program Available in Maryland

The Arc Maryland is partnering with The Arc US and the Federal Communications Commission's Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help connect families and households struggling to find affordable internet service. If you are enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline, you are eligible to enroll in the ACP!

With ACP, you can get a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service, along with a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers! Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or directly with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) using an online or mail-in application. Get started here!

MCE Leadership: The Arc 2023-2024 Class Kicks Off with 38 Leaders from Chapters of The Arc Across Maryland

This month, 38 leaders from chapters of The Arc across Maryland joined together for a retreat to kick off their MCE Leadership: The Arc journey! We are so excited to guide them on this year long leadership path as they learn to develop and fine-tune their personal leadership styles, and better support their organization's employees, people with IDD, and families. We are grateful to UMBC Training Centers' Center for Leadership and Innovation for their outstanding facilitation of the opening class.

Tell Congress to Pass the HCBS Relief Act!

Congress recently introduced a bill that would increase desperately needed funding for people with disabilities to live their lives in their communities.The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Relief Act of 2023 would provide two years of additional Medicaid funds to:

• Improve access to HCBS by increasing direct care worker pay and benefits;
• Decrease the number of people on waiting lists for HCBS (currently over 650,000!); and
• Pay for assistive technologies, staffing, and other costs that facilitate community integration.



You can contact your representatives through the button below to ask them to once again provide states with extra HCBS funding to help people with disabilities thrive in their own homes and communities!

Volunteer to Join the DDA's Quality Advisory Committee

The DDA is searching for volunteers to join the state's Quality Advisory Council, and you can apply! This is an opportunity to work with the DDA in creating, developing, and implementing policies, procedures, and legislation.

Committee members are appointed for a three-year term by the DDA Deputy Secretary. You can read more and apply through the buttons below.

Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and Maryland Department of Disabilities Create Inclusive Playground Framework

There is now a fantastic resource for creating inclusive playgrounds thanks to this awesome toolkit from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and the Maryland Department of Disabilities. The framework outlines ways to make playgrounds in Maryland more accessible! The Arc Maryland was honored to provide information included in the report about what works and the needs we have heard about from self advocates and families.

Natalie Dohner Presents at The People on the Go of Maryland Annual Conference

Natalie Dohner, Director of Education Initiatives and Partnerships, led a breakout session at the People On the Go conference last month! The session, on our Empowering Partners initiative, was entitled Capacity-Building to Strengthen Local Self-Advocacy Groups in Maryland. Participants learned about the initiative, which began in 2021, and the progress we have made over the past two years to grow and strengthen self-advocacy groups in Maryland.

In collaboration with People On the Go and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, The Arc Maryland has provided technical assistance and support to self-advocacy groups in regional communities across the state while working with local chapters of The Arc for long-term self-sustainment. Family members, people with IDD, and community partners learned how self-advocate facilitators are leading their own self-advocacy groups and empowering others.

Ande Kolp, Coni Nepomuceno Complete COPAA Seat 1.0

A round of applause for Ande and Coni! This month, these two team members completed the COPAA Special Education Advocate Training (SEAT) 1.0! The online, ten-session course aims to make non-attorney special education advocates across the country more effective and knowledgeable! Congrats, Ande and Coni! You can read more about the program below:

Support The Arc Maryland

Are you looking for ways to support the work of The Arc Maryland? We have many opportunities for ways in which you can give! See below or contact sdols@thearcmd.org for more information.

Or mail your donation to:

The Arc Maryland

Attn: Annual Charity Campaign

8601 Robert Fulton Drive, Suite 140

Columbia, MD 21046