Great News! The FY 2018 state budget has passed the legislature. All expansion for the Autism Waiver and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) are in the budget as well as the full 3.5% DDA Rate Increase. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to result in tremendous success!

Thank you to everyone for your intense advocacy last week as you contacted members of Congress. While the American Health Care Act (AHCA) was pulled from a vote last week, the White House and GOP continue to work on other alternatives to cut Medicaid, specifically caps and block grants. These proposals may come piecemeal. Advocates are encouraged to be alert and continue to gather stories of real people that could be impacted. Click here for Maryland Medicaid Fact Sheet. You can send your story to   info@thearcmd.org. Be sure to complete the release of information form here .

HB 1061 - Education - Emergency and Evacuation Plans - Individuals with Disabilities has passed the full House and was heard this week before the Senate EHEA Committee. HB 1061 is aimed toward the safe evacuation of students, personnel and visitors with disabilities in emergencies such as weather, shooter in the building and other potential emergencies requiring evacuation. The bill will require the state Department of Education to review local education plans and work with disability advocates to determine best practice guidelines. By July 1, 2018, each local school system must update its emergency plan to comply with the updated guidelines and regulations.  If a student with an individualized education program (IEP) requires specific accommodations for evacuation in an emergency, the student's IEP must include the necessary accommodation.  If a student with a 504 plan requires specific accommodations, the student's 504 team must discuss and address the student's needs as necessary.  Click here to read an article written by Lori Scott, the mother behind the emergency evacuation bill. 

 

The Home Act of 2017 (HB 172/SB 728) will prohibit  discriminatory practices in residential sales or rentals because of a person's source of income.  The Act would end a discriminatory practice that affects many Americans, particularly people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) who rely upon Section 8 subsidies. 

 

Multiple federal laws prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities; however people with disabilities comprise the majority of discrimination complaints received by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Fair Housing Enforcement Office.

 

Too often, it is the source of income that a person with a disability uses to pay for housing that makes them a target of discrimination. One housing resource that is beneficial to people with I/DD (but also a source of discrimination) is The Housing Choice Voucher Program.

 

The Housing Voucher Program (Section 8) is a federally-funded, locally administered rental assistance program that subsidizes rent for people with I/DD and others who qualify.  Further, nearly 5 million Americans with disabilities receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which averages a yearly income of only $8,995. People receiving SSI are priced out of every rental housing market in the nation.  The Housing Voucher program, when complemented by Medicaid, SSI and food assistance resources, is a lifeline so people with disabilities can afford housing. 

 

The Home Act of 2017 would prohibit refusal to accept Section 8 as a source of income when determining if a person can buy or rent property.  HB 172 has passed the House; SB 728 is currently in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. The Arc Maryland submitted testimony in favor of this important disability rights legislation.     

Both bills have passed their respective houses and crossed over to the other side. The bill offers competitive grants to state universities and colleges to develop and implement pilot programs on Maryland campuses that provide inclusive higher education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

Senate