Members of The Arc: It's Almost Time For Legislative Calendar Day in Annapolis!

January 15th from 8:30 to 11:00 AM

Join us on January 15th (the second day of the Legislative Session) for The Arc’s Annual Legislative Calendar Day and Advocacy Training. From 8:30 to 11:00 AM, share legislative and budget priorities of The Arc network and welcome our champions back to Annapolis! Brush up on your advocacy skills during our Advocacy Training before distributing calendars that contain stories of the impact of The Arc across the state, highlighting people with IDD, their families, and our workforce - and join us on Lawyers Mall later in the morning for coffee, cocoa, and lively conversation!

Did you know that when you are a member of one of the nine local chapters of The Arc, you are automatically deemed a member of The Arc Maryland? To join your local chapter, please contact them for more information here. Registration for Calendar Day is via the link below.

Get Creativity Flowing this Holiday Break: The Together We're Better Student Artwork and Drawing Contests Are Now Accepting Submissions

Students can demonstrate what they know and how they feel about inclusion by creating artwork that aligns with this year's Inclusive Schools Week theme, CHILDREN FIRST – Building a Stronger Tomorrow. Student drawings and artwork selected for 1-3rd place honors can receive prizes for themselves and their schools! All submissions also go on a traveling tour across Maryland, where they are displayed in community libraries and other public places! Learn more and get started through the buttons below!

Partners in Policymaking® and MCE Leadership Programs Join Together in Annapolis to Learn About the Legislative Process

Earlier this month, advocates from our Partners in Policymaking® class and local chapter employees in our MCE Leadership class joined together in Annapolis to learn about Maryland's legislative process. They are ready to speak with their representatives and tell their stories for impact! The class was joined by guest presenters from the Maryland General Assembly, and received a 5-star tour of the Capital complex. Thank you to Delegate Pam Lanman Guzzone (District 13), Delegate Michele Guyton (District 42B), and Senator Craig Zucker (District 14), who shared their insights on session and provided words of encouragement and understanding!



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.

Amplify Your Advocacy Today: Join an Empowering Partners Self-Advocacy Group in Your Community!

With Maryland’s Legislative Session starting next month, now is the time to shape up your advocacy! Self-advocacy groups around Maryland are preparing right now, and you can join them at any time! People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are invited to join one of the self-advocacy groups below, supported by the "Empowering Partners" initiative! Don't see one near you, give us a call! It may be time to start another group near you.

Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature

Save the Date: February 18, 2026

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. You will hear information from legislators and fellow advocates, and learn about important advocacy topics for this legislative session before meeting with your representatives to discuss them. Be on the lookout for registration opening next month, as tickets sell out fast!

Joseline Peña-Melnyk (District 21) Is Maryland's New Speaker of the House of Delegates

We at The Arc Maryland are thrilled with the confirmation of Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk! In a historic and unanimous vote during the special session held today, Speaker Peña-Melnyk became the 109th overall, first Afro-Latina, and first Latina to be Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates.


Speaker Peña-Melnyk has been a transformative leader and a tireless champion for equity, justice, and inclusion throughout her distinguished career. Endlessly fair and just, she has fought tirelessly to advance health equity and advocate for underserved communities. We believe she embodies leadership that truly serves ALL Marylanders! Thank you, Speaker Peña-Melnyk, for your service and your vision and Congratulations! Onward!

As We Look To The Future, We Need You!

Support The Arc Maryland Today!

As we close out 2025 and our 65th year of service, one truth stands above all others: The Arc Maryland’s impact is only possible because of supporters like you.

Because of your generosity in 2025, together we:


• Helped restore nearly $1 billion in funding to the proposed FY25 and FY26 DDA budgets, supporting more than 20,000 Marylanders with IDD and their families, working alongside our coalition partners to protect and strengthen critical disability services statewide
• Mobilized thousands of advocates to raise their voices, shape policy, and safeguard disability rights
• Reached more than 3,000 students and educators through inclusive school initiatives that foster belonging and acceptance
• Prepared 63 new leaders through Partners in Policymaking, Empowering Partners, and MCE Leadership initiatives—equipping self-advocates, family members, and community leaders to take their place in leading Maryland forward
• Answered 1,226 calls for assistance, information, and referral, helping individuals and families connect to the resources and supports they needed—often at moments of urgency and uncertainty.

These victories didn’t happen by chance. They happened because people like you believe in creating the world we wish to see and making Maryland, in particular, a place where everyone belongs.


As we look ahead to 2026, the need for strong advocacy and empowered leadership has never been greater. Protecting hard-won funding, expanding programs statewide, and building capacity for the future all depend on your continued support.


Your year-end gift fuels everything we do:

• It protects vital services families rely on every day
• It strengthens advocacy across all corners of Maryland
• It prepares the next generation of leaders to advance inclusion and equity

Together, we drive our mission—and together, we will create the change we need. Thank you for helping ensure the next chapter of The Arc Maryland’s story is even stronger than the last.

Or mail your tax deductible donation to:

The Arc Maryland

Attn: Annual Giving Campaign

8601 Robert Fulton Drive, Suite 140

Columbia, MD 21046

The Arc Maryland is a public charity, 501(c)(3) organization. Our EIN is 52-0741602. We work to create a world where children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.