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An Open Letter to The Arc Maryland Community and Our Partners

Since the release of the Governor's draft budget, our community has been facing significant uncertainty and concern. There is widespread confusion about the impact of the proposed cuts on individuals with disabilities and their families. The severity of these reductions is alarming—if implemented, they will fundamentally alter community services for nearly 20,000 people who rely on Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) to live and work in their communities.

The fear of these cuts is further compounded by potential reductions to Medicaid at the federal level, raising even greater concern that our community may be left behind. We recognize that this fear has begun to turn into frustration and anger.

As disability rights advocates, we embrace and act with constructive advocacy. We are reminded of the adage: "Get sad, get mad, get busy!" Now is the time to shift our focus from fear and frustration to action. We approach challenges with openness and respect, believing that solutions emerge when we engage in informed dialogue. When the draft budget was released, we immediately sought clarity: What was the rationale behind these cuts? How were these figures determined? What would the real impact be on individuals, families, service providers, and the broader community?

We advocate with facts, personal stories, and a commitment to identifying alternative solutions. We also recognize that Governor Moore has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to our community. We must not overlook his past support as his administration navigates this budget crisis. We believe that his goal remains to strengthen lives, empower families, and sustain our economy. Given this, we can only assume that these cuts were proposed based on assurances that they would not jeopardize the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). If the Governor had a full understanding of the real-life consequences of these cuts, we are confident he would reconsider them.

Rather than channeling our frustration into anger, let us rise to the occasion and fill in the gaps. Share your personal stories with your legislative representatives. Help them see the human impact behind these budget figures. Your voices matter—let’s ensure that policymakers understand that these are not just numbers on a spreadsheet but real lives at stake.

As we move forward together, let us choose civility and constructive engagement. Our elected leaders are working to serve the people of this state, and we believe that most people, at their core, have a genuine desire to do good. Let us extend that belief and positive regard to our Governor, recognizing that he relies on advisors, data, and personal accounts to guide his decisions.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Let us not allow this moment to divide us. Instead, let us come together to elevate the voices of individuals with IDD and their families. Through collective advocacy, we can illuminate the path forward and drive meaningful change.

With determination and unity,

Ande Kolp, Executive Director

Guy Stephens, President of the Board

The Arc Maryland

What Can You Do?

Share your Story and Amplify the Issues:

These next few weeks are critical for our community!

Call, write, and visit our elected leaders to keep DD Services at the forefront of their minds. While we would typically focus on the budget committees in the House and Senate, we understand that in this fight, we need all hands on deck. Educate all members of the House and Senate on what these budget cuts are and what they will mean to our lives and futures if not rolled back.

For people with developmental disabilities:

• Contact your representatives. Include details about your life, where you live, who supports you, and what supports you rely on to live, learn, and work in your community. Pictures speak a thousand words. Consider providing a picture of yourself so your legislator can visualize the human beings that would be impacted by these cuts.
• Share your concerns and fears about what might happen if the budget is cut.
• Ask for help: What do you want your elected leaders to do for you and others?

For family members:

• Contact your representatives. Share about yourself/your family, and your loved one with developmental disabilities.
• Share your concerns and fears about what might happen in the budget is cut. Consider sharing pictures of your family so legislators can see the people these cuts will impact.
• Ask for help: What do you want your elected leaders to do for you, your loved one, and others?

Hundreds of Advocates Gather in Annapolis for a Rally to Save Our DD Services - #SaveOurDDServices

Thank you to the hundreds of advocates who visited Annapolis last Monday to #SaveOurDDServices! With community services for close to 20,000 Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities on the line, and budget cuts that would cut 22% of funding for developmental disabilities services beginning in our current fiscal year, our grassroots showed our elected officials that we are here, and we are not going away! We must inform everyone we can about what the budget contains and what the impacts will be to us, our loved ones, and those we support. Download the DD Coalition fact sheet below for details about the proposed budget cuts.

The Rally from the Developmental Disabilities Coalition was covered by a number of news outlets, including Channel 11 News, the Baltimore Sun, Maryland Matters, and the Baltimore Banner.

Follow-up articles since the Rally have also appeared in Maryland Matters, the Eastern Shore's Star Democrat, and today in the Baltimore Sun.

Sold Out - DD Day at the Legislature

Feb 13th in Annapolis

One of the biggest advocacy days of the year is coming up soon - Registration is full for DD Day at the Legislature, but you can still tune in online! On February 13th, check out the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition Facebook page to watch a livestream of DD Day. If you were unable to reserve a space at the event, please plan to be down in Annapolis later in the morning on February 13th to join fellow advocates at the Senate and House of Delegates. Please plan to arrive early as the day will start promptly at 8 a.m. Our agenda and materials for the day will be posted to the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council website no later than Wednesday this week.

Bring a Poster to DD Day (or Create One when You Arrive)

At DD Day this year, we will have a poster-making station so you can make a poster to take with you on your legislator visits. We will have poster boards, markers, a table, and stickers. If you plan to make a poster at the event, please consider bringing a 5X7 or 8X10 picture of yourself and/or your loved one. We need to put human faces to our issues so people know we are not just talking about numbers on a spreadsheet but real people with real lives that will be hurt by cuts.

Rules about posters: Please use respectful language. Stick to the issues and what you want. Please do not disparage others, including the Governor, or use language that would be offensive to people with disabilities and their families. Remember - no sticks are allowed on posters on Lawyers Mall or in the legislative buildings. In your visits with your elected leaders, consider gifting your poster to them so they can see your picture and message and remember who they are working for.

Medicaid: A Lifeline for Marylanders with Disabilities - How to Help Protect It

This year, Congress and the new Administration will debate the size and scope of the federal government, including a review of the Medicaid program. The stakes for people with disabilities could not be higher.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health insurance and access to long-term care to more than 1.6 Million Marylanders, including 1 in 3 Marylanders with disabilities.



What Medicaid means for Marylanders:

• Health: Medicaid coverage unlocks access to health care and improves health.
• Financial Security: Medicaid protects families from high healthcare costs.
• Dignity and Community: Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) enable over 100,000 Marylanders with disabilities to live, work, and participate in their communities.
• Federal Investment: The federal government spent $10.6 billion on Medicaid in Maryland in 2023.
• Jobs: Medicaid creates thousands of valuable local jobs in the healthcare sector and increases employment for people with disabilities.
• Stronger Rural Hospitals: Medicaid funding enables rural hospitals and other critical healthcare infrastructure to stay open and provide care to rural residents.

Impact to Maryland’s Economy

• Cuts to federal Medicaid funding would shift costs onto Marylanders, squeezing already tight state, local, and family budgets.
• The state would be forced to make up for the loss in federal funds by raising taxes, reducing eligibility for Medicaid, reducing benefits, increasing costs for individuals and families, paying providers less, or cutting state funding from other areas like K-12 education.
• The risk of cuts to HCBS is especially great because the state spends more on HCBS than any other optional benefit. Maryland already limits HCBS due to constraints on available funding. Over 35,000 Marylanders are currently on a waitlist to receive Medicaid-funded HCBS.
• Without adequate funding for HCBS, thousands of Marylanders with disabilities would lose their independence and be forced into nursing homes or state-run institutions to survive.

How You Can Help

1. Contact Congress to let them know: Medicaid is a lifeline for people with disabilities!
2. Share Your Medicaid Story with The Arc US on why it is important to you or a loved one.
3. Sign a Petition To Protect Medicaid for millions of children and adults with disabilities who rely on it to live in their communities.

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in House APP

• HB0214 - Human Services - Maryland Assistive Technology Program - Establishment
• HB0458 - University of Maryland, College Park Campus- TerpsEXCEED Program Funding
• HB0502 - Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative - Established

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0604 - Vulnerable and Senior Adults - Theft of Property by Caregiver, Family Member, or Household Member - Prohibition
• HB0677 - Criminal Procedure - Out of Court Statements - Vulnerable Adult Victims and Witnesses
• HB0703 - Criminal Procedure - Diagnosis of Developmental Disability or Intellectual Disability - Evidence

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0067 - Election Law - Absentee Ballots - Signature Requirements and Verification
• HB0091 - Elections- In-Person Voting- Proof of Identity
• HB0115 - Election Law- Polling Places- Establishing Voter Identity (Voter Privacy Act of 2025)

Tuesday, February 11th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0465 - Health Care Facilities - Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Programs - Video Recordings

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House EMC

• HB0559 - Food Establishments - Portable Chemical Toilets

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0430 - Employed Individuals With Disabilities Program - Upper Age Limit - Prohibition

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0756 - Petition for Guardianship of the Property of Alleged Disabled Person - Stay of Civil Actions and Proceedings

Wednesday, February 12th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0488 - Public Schools - Discipline-Related Data - Collection and Publication
• HB0495 - Education - Antidiscrimination Policies - Policy and Notice Requirements
• HB0583 - Primary and Secondary Education - Virtual Schools - Alterations
• HB0630 - County Boards of Education - Student Cellular Phone Use Policy - Establishment (Maryland Phone-Free Schools Act)

Wednesday, February 12th at 2 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0252 - Child Care Centers – Certificated Staff Ratio Requirement – Repeal
• SB0386 - Primary and Secondary Education - Definition and Notification of Reportable Offense - Alterations
• SB0452 - Child Care Affordability Commission - Establishment
• SB0644 - Public Schools - School Resource Officers - Firearms Required

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in House E&T

• HB0707 - Vehicle Laws - Licenses, Identification Cards, and Moped Operator's Permits - Notation of Nonapparent Disability (Eric's ID Law)
• HB0727 - Motor Vehicles - Driving Records - Disclosure of Medical Diagnosis (Safeguarding American Families Everywhere Act)

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0576 - Health Care Facilities - Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Programs - Video Recordings
• HB0869 - Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in House JUD

• HB0542 - Adult Protective Services - Investigations and Disclosure of Information

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0560 - Public Health - Maryland Commission on Health Equity - Membership and Purposes

Thursday, February 13th at 1 p.m. in Senate JPR

• SB0618 - Vehicle Laws - Licenses, Identification Cards, and Moped Operator's Permits - Notation of Nonapparent Disability 

Tuesday, February 18th at 1 p.m. in House E&T

• HB0896 - Human Relations - Discrimination in Housing - Income-Based Housing Subsidies

Tuesday, February 18th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0781 - Election Law- Polling Place Procedures- Voting by Elderly Voters and Voters with Disabilities (Accessible and Expedited Voting Act of Maryland)
• HB0816 - Election Law - Petitions and Ballot Questions - Contents, Plain Language Requirement, and Procedures
• HB0983 - Election Law - Local Boards of Elections - Language-Related Assistance

Tuesday, February 18th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0433 - Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative - Established
• SB0679 - Nursing Homes - Direct Care Wages and Benefits and Cost Reports (Nursing Home Care Crisis Transparency Act)

Wednesday, February 19th at 1 p.m. in House APP Health and Social Services Subcommittee

• DDA Budget Hearing

Wednesday, February 19th at 1 p.m. in House W&M

• HB0526 - Primary and Secondary Education - Definition and Notification of Reportable Offense - Alterations
• HB0620 - Primary and Secondary Education - Reportable Offense - Alteration
• HB0689 - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Use of Reimbursement Funds by Schools
• HB0694 - Public Schools - Individuals With Disabilities - Main Entrance Accessibility and Emergency Planning
• HB0702 - County Boards of Education - Special Education Service Delivery Models - Publication Requirement
• HB0743 - Public Health - Health Care Quality Fund for Community-Based Behavioral Health Programs - Establishment
• HB0862 - Child Care Affordability Commission - Establishment

Wednesday, February 19th at 1 p.m. in Senate B&T

• SB0429 - Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act
• SB0603 - University of Maryland, College Park Campus- TerpsEXCEED Program Funding

Wednesday, February 19th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0429 - Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act
• SB0602 - County Boards of Education - Special Education Service Delivery Models - Publication Requirement

Thursday, February 20th at 1 p.m. in Senate B&T Health and Human Services Subcommittee

• DDA Budget Hearing

Thursday, February 20th at 1 p.m. in House HGO

• HB0933 - Nursing Homes - Direct Care Wages and Benefits and Cost Reports (Nursing Home Care Crisis Transparency Act)

Thursday, February 20th at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0490 - State Boards, Committees, Commissions, Task Forces, and Workgroups - Elimination of Citizenship Requirements and Establishment of Diversity Requirements

Thursday, February 20th at 1 p.m. in Senate FIN

• SB0659 - Consumer Protection - Electronic Funds Transfers - Regulations (Elder Fraud Prevention Act of 2025)

Friday, February 21st at 1 p.m. in Senate EEE

• SB0482 - Public Middle and High Schools - Student Discipline (Right to Teach Act of 2025)
• SB0714 - Public Schools - Discipline-Related Data - Collection and Publication

House of Delegates:

APP - Appropriations

EMC - Economic Matters

E&T - Environment and Transportation

HGO - Health and Government Operations

HRU - Rules and Executive Nominations

JUD - Judiciary

W&M - Ways and Means