The Arc Maryland October 2019 Newsletter. The Arc Marlyland Logo with the Maryland flag.
Checking In with The Arc Maryland
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
"Employ Ability" during National Disability Employment Awareness Month. October 2019. Featuring Photo of a man stocking shelves at a grocery store smiling at the camera.
During the month of October, The Arc celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), to promote workplace inclusion of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD). NDEAM is recognized to educate on disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. Throughout the month, The Arc Maryland will be sharing success stories of Maryland workers with I/DD who are served by chapters of The Arc. Additionally, we will be sharing resources, news articles, and videos about employment of people with I/DD on our social media. Be sure to keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter to celebrate this month!
Partners in Policymaking ® 2019 Class Graduates
For the first time in 12 years, there is a new class of Partners in Policymaking Graduates in Maryland! 29 participants completed the year-long class-style program to become more effective advocates at the local, state, and national levels. Congratulations to this outstanding group on their completion of the course! You can read more about what they have been up to in our 2019 Partners Yearbook.
The 2019 Partners in Policymaking Class Pose together for a group photo.
Partners in Policymaking ® 2020 Class Kicks-Off
The 2020 Partners in Policymaking Class listening to a presentation from Guy Caruso from the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University. Guy stands over the class with his PowerPoint behind him.
Our next cohort of Partners in Policymaking kicked off their year on September 22nd and 23rd learning about advocacy and the history of the developmental disabilities civil rights movement! Class members learned from Ande Kolp of The Arc Maryland, Guy Caruso of the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University, Ken Capone from People on the Go of Maryland, and Cathy Raggio, former Secretary for the Maryland Department of Disabilities. We are incredibly excited for the big things in store for our Partners class of 2020!
Hearing On Participant Choice and Control of Services
On September 24th, The Arc Maryland teamed up with other advocates in the Health and Government Operations Committee (HGO) of the House of Delegates in Annapolis for an informal hearing to discuss the direction of Financial Management Services in Maryland and concerns with the recent RFP (Request for Proposals) for the service released by the Department of Health. Advocates provided testimony that detailed their experiences of having their concerns with components of the RFP largely ignored. Many advocated for the restoration of participant choice of their FMS provider, and the removal of some powers granted to the FMS that are felt to be over-reaching.

The Arc Maryland believes people with I/DD and their families should be meaningfully involved in policy that affects their lives and the services they receive. We were pleased with the number of people who came out to be present for the discussion. In the end, the Delegates and Senators in attendance asked very thoughtful questions and implored the Department of Health to work with the advocates to find solutions and allay concerns.
Advocates crowded into the Maryland House of Delegates HGO Committee Room listening to testimony on Participant Choice and Control of Services for people with I/DD.
In the News
New Overtime Regulation Adopted by U.S. Department of Labor
A new federal regulation has updated the standards for determining those employees are entitled to, or exempt from, paid overtime. This rule-making has been the continuation of an update effort begun under the Obama Administration, that concluded in a new rule, was then blocked by a federal court, and subsequently re-started under the Trump Administration. The Overtime Final Rule, effective on January 1, 2020, sets the minimum salary level for ‘exempt’ administrative, executive, or professional  employees. The National Council of Nonprofits has prepared an in-depth discussion of the new rule, its impact and the overtime exemptions in general. This also points out that for Maryland and several other jurisdictions, even if a nonprofit or its employees are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) because of the organization’s size, Maryland’s own overtime law with no nonprofit or size exemption automatically adopts the federal wage level standards. To be exempt from paying overtime an employer, or their employee, must be exempt under both Maryland’s and the Federal requirements.
Hospital Patient's Bill of Rights Goes into Effect for all Marylanders
Marylanders for Patient Rights Logo
The Hospital Patient's Bill of Rights, signed into law in Maryland last legislative session, went into effect on October 1st. The bill requires hospitals to inform each patient of a list of their rights as a patient of a Maryland hospital through a written copy of the Patient's Bill of Rights. Additionally, the Patient's Bill of Rights will now be uniform across all hospitals in Maryland, making it a consistent list of rights observed across the state. A full list of the Patient's Bill of Rights can be found on the Marylanders for Patient Rights website.
Upcoming Events
Join The Arc Howard County for a day on the green! The 2019 TEE IT UP for The Arc Annual Golf Tournament will be played at the beautiful Waverly Woods Golf Club on Friday, October 4th, starting at 9 AM. The tournament will feature 18 holes of golf, lunch, course beverages, golfer prizes, sponsor gifts and much more. Click the button below to fill out the registration form to sign up today!
A golf club hitting a golf ball with The Arc Howard County's logo on it.
DMV-area chapters of The Arc are teaming up for an employment symposium to educate businesses about the win-win, added value of hiring people with disabilities. Hear about hiring a more inclusive workforce from guest presenters and an employment panel on Friday October 11th in Washington, DC. Click here for more information.
The Arc Employment Symposium
Registration is open for the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration's 2019 Maryland Employment First Summit! The 5th annual summit to champion the workplace inclusion of people with disabilities is open to individuals in services, provider agencies, employment specialists, CCSs, Families
Maryland Department of Health Developmental Disabilities Administration with Employment First Maryland Logo below.
The Capital building in Washington DC inside of the letters "DC."
Learn from the best in the Disability Community! The Arc's National Convention is an unmatched opportunity to connect and learn with advocates, professionals, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families. If you are interested in employment, education, advocacy, housing, criminal justice, and more - sessions are sure to challenge, inspire, and motivate!

Register for the four-day event today!
Join The Arc Washington County for the 8th anniversary of "Dancing With The Arc Stars!" Celebrate our accomplishments with dinner and dancing entertainment on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Festivities begin at 6:00 PM with the cocktail hour featuring a dance exhibition by students from Ballet and All That Jazz and Barbara Ingram School of Arts. . A gourmet dinner and dance competition will start at 7:00 PM.

Every vote counts! Purchasing a ticket for your favorite dance team will count as votes! Undecided? Purchase the Dancing With The Arc Stars Ticket!
The Arc Washington County: Dancing With the Arc Stars. October 12, 2019.
Get crackin’ at The Arc Baltimore's 18th Annual Art in the Round! Join them on October 18th at the Grand Lodge in Hunt Valley. With 80 pieces of art on exhibit representing over 60 artists with developmental disabilities, attendees gain special access to the artists to hear about their work. You may just fall in love with a particular piece like our featured art selected from our exhibit last year entitled “Maryland Blues” by artist Maria Rosner. Then, by bidding generously, it can be the centerpiece of your home. With an open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres, you’ll feel like the cat’s meow all while benefiting The Arc Baltimore’s mission.
An artpiece featuring painted Maryland Blue Crabs with Art in the Round written over top.
Parents' Place of Maryland is hosting Pete Wright, Esquire for a day long training on special education law and advocacy. Wrightslaw programs are designed to meet the needs of families and community members who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The program is not disability specific.

This one-day special education law and advocacy program will focus on four areas:
  • Special education law, rights and responsibilities
  • Tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
  • SMART IEPs
  • Introduction to tactics & strategies for effective advocacy
The Parents' Place of Maryland Logo. Parents embracing a child.
The Arc Southern Maryland is pleased to invite you to their 5th annual Trick-or-Trot fundraising event!

Choose to participate in the spooky 5K or the eerie 1K Fun Run/Walk/Roll! Costumes are encouraged, and even celebrated in our costume contest! There will be fun for ghouls and goblins of all ages and abilities! Save the date now! It will be a fun-filled day for the whole family.

Available Activities Include:
  • Meet and take photos with Southern Maryland Blue Crabs mascot, Pinch
  • Mini “pumpkin” decorating
  • Bean bag toss
  • Plinko
  • Scavenger hunt
  • Halloween photo “booth”
  • & more!
5th Annual Trick-Or-Trot 5K and 1K Fun Run/Walk/Roll from The Arc Southern Maryland. Image of a person in a wheelchair overtop of Halloween ghosts and ghouls.
Get your popcorn ready! The Sprout Film & Art Festival highlights the many talents of people with differing abilities. Enjoy work from artists throughout Harford County at The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region's art gallery and view artistic and memorable films from the renowned NYC company, Sprout. Special musical performances will be featured throughout the evening! Sponsorship opportunities for the event are also available.
Sprout Film Festival. November 13, 2019 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Water's Edge Events Center. Art. Music. Film.
The Arc of Frederick County is excited to announce our 2019 European Holiday Market being held on Saturday, November 16th at 555 South Market Street! There will be a variety of craft and food truck vendors for you to explore. This is the perfect time to shop for your holiday needs and try out some local food! All proceeds support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities!
3 Images with assortments of holiday gifts, gingerbread, candy canes, and candles. European Holiday Market. Saturday, November 16th 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 555 South Market Street, Frederick MD 21701
Get your laugh on as The Arc Carroll County welcomes back the Political Satire Performance Group the Capital Steps for a hysterical performance. The show starts at 7:30 PM on Saturday, November 23rd, at Winters Mill High School. Tickets to the event can be purchased at the Carroll Arts Center, all branches of the Carroll County Public Library, or from The Arc Carroll County both in person and online.
The Lyin' Kings. Uncle Sam holding up a bag of money over a cliff as a democratic donkey and republican elephant watch from behind in suites. The Capital Steps.