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Maryland Department of Disabilities
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Newsletter                                                                                      August, 2017
Governor Hogan presents ADA Proclamation to Secretary Beatty
Governor Hogan Kicks Off disAbility History Tour

In celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maryland Department of Disabilities hosted a traveling disAbility History Tour throughout Maryland during July and August of 2017.
  
Governor Hogan kicked off the tour with a reception at the Lowe House Office Building in Annapolis on August 4th.  Governor Hogan presented a Proclamation in honor of the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act to Secretary Carol Beatty of the Maryland Department of Disabilities.  Over 125 guests enjoyed remarks from Karen Goss, Co-Director of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center and Janice Jackson, Executive Director and Founder of W.E.A.N.  Katie Collins-Ihrke received a Governor's Citation on behalf of the Maryland Association of Centers for Independent Living recognizing their work designing the Maryland themed disability history panel. 
 
Maryland's disAbility History tour also stopped at locations in Baltimore, Annapolis, Hagerstown, Waldorf, and Chestertown. The public can view images of the history panels, ASL translation, audio files, text only, text image descriptions, and large print versions of the displays on the Maryland Department of Disabilities website ADA 27 event page at ADA 27 Link.

computer key board with green enter button with the word learn written on it
Maryland Selected for Learning Collaborative

Maryland was selected as one of five state teams for participation in the Disability Network Business Acumen Learning Collaborative.
Each of the five selected state teams includes at least one state agency and one community-based organization (CBO) serving persons with disabilities. In Maryland, the Department of Disabilities will lead this effort in partnership with the local agencies which comprise the Maryland Association of Centers for Independent Living (MACIL). The MACIL is the coordinating organization for the seven Centers for Independent Living (CILs) providing services for those with disabilities throughout Maryland. Maryland's team will focus both on improving the general health of residents and decreasing overall healthcare costs.

"Maryland is pleased to be selected for this learning collaborative as we continue to seek new and innovative ways to ensure Marylanders receive the most effective, efficient, and coordinated long term support and health care," said Secretary Carol Beatty from the Maryland Department of Disabilities.

The learning collaborative will launch at the 2017 Home and Community Based Services Conference being held in Baltimore, August 27th - 31st.

 Read the full press release at this LINK.
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Nominate a Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are vital to the life experiences of many people with disabilities in Maryland.  From employment support to community living assistance, DSPs are many times the key difference between community participation and isolation for those with disabilities. 
 
The Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) join others throughout the United States in marking September 10th through September 16th, 2017 as DSP Recognition Week.
 
MDOD and DDA plan to travel the state thanking Direct Support Professionals for their dedication and expertise.  Join us in our celebration by nominating an outstanding DSP or employer for recognition . If chosen, your nominee could receive a visit from department staff and a Governor's Citation as we travel throughout Maryland.  One nominee in each category will be selected for a photo opportunity in Annapolis! THE NOMINATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 1ST!  Nominate your favorite DSP today!

Nomination Form
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Health Matters Maryland! Reaches Participant Goal
 
HealthMatters Maryland! is an initiative aimed at improving health and health education of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) throughout the state of Maryland. The HealthMatters Program team from the University of Illinois at Chicago partnered with six states to implement an evidence based wellness initiative in local communities. The Department of Disabilities leads the Maryland team to assist provider organizations in building leadership and capacity within their agencies to promote healthy lifestyles for those they support.
 
The Maryland Department of Disabilities had a goal of recruiting fifteen community based organizations to implement the Health Matters! program within their agencies.  The department is proud to report that nine providers joined in the Spring of 2017 and six more will begin their training in September. Recruitment for new community providers will be ongoing with additional application periods planned throughout the year. 
 
The following community based organizations serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities are participating in Health Matters Maryland!:

Spring 2017 scale up:
CHI Centers
Creative Options
Humanim
Langton Green
Melwood Horticulture and Training Center
Opportunity Builders, Inc.
Providence Center
The Arc Carroll County
Fall 2017 scale up:
Bay Area CIL
Change, Inc.
Compass, Inc.
Easter Seals
The Arc Washington County
Worcester County Developmental Center

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