DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES

FUNCTIONS

For Maryland citizens with disabilities, the Department evaluates programs and services. It coordinates and supports public and private agencies serving people with disabilities, provides information and referrals, and identifies and recommends ways to improve services.

Entrance, 217 East Redwood St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Since July 2009, the Department is responsible for the annual observance in October of Disability History and Awareness Month (Executive Order 01.01.2009.10). The Department works to increase public awareness of the hisory of the disabilities rights movement, and collaborates with other State agencies on events and activities statewide that promote the annual observance.

217 East Redwood St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

OFFICE OF SECRETARY

Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of Disabilities heads the Department. With the approval of the Governor, the Secretary appoints the Deputy Secretary.

The Secretary of Disabilities chairs the Advisory Committee of the Technology Assistance Program and the Interagency Disabilities Board, co-chairs the Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities, and serves on the Governor's Executive Council; the Children's Cabinet; the Advisory Council to the Children's Cabinet; and the Governor's Warrior to Worker Council. The Secretary also serves on the Task Force on the Maryland Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program; the Interagency Committee on Aging Services; the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Council; the Behavioral Health Advisory Council; the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code Advisory Council; the State Coordinating Council for Children; the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council; the State Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation; the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minority Affairs; the State Advisory Council on Quality Care at the End of Life; the Governing Board, Maryland Center for School Safety; the Steering Committee for the Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators; the Task Force to Study the Impact of Expanding Credit and Noncredit Courses for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; the Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention; and the Governor's Workforce Investment Board.

Within the Office of Secretary are Communications, Interagency Affairs, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary. The Office is aided by the Maryland Commission on Disabilities, the Interagency Disabilities Board, as well as the Ethan Sayer Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators.

The Commission advises the Department of Disabilities. The Commission reviews statewide programs for persons with disabilities and fosters coordination and support for these programs.

Entrance, 217 East Redwood St., Baltimore, Maryland, August 2015. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Twenty members constitute the Commission. Eighteen are appointed to three-year terms by the Governor. One member is named by the Senate President, and one by the House Speaker. The Governor designates the chair for a two-year term (Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-119 through 7-124).

INTERAGENCY DISABILITIES BOARD
In July 2004, the Interagency Disabilities Board was established to develop the State Disabilities Plan (Chapter 425, Acts of 2004; Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-127 through 7-132). The Secretary must request that the Board revise the Plan at least once every four years (Chapter 207, Acts of 2010).

The Board consists of thirteen ex officio members and representatives of State government agencies whom the Governor may designate.

DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY

CONSTITUENT SERVICES PROGRAM

For individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers, the Program provides assistance with information, referrals, resource listings, and access.

TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Formerly under the Office for Individuals with Disabilities, the Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP) was reassigned to the Department of Disabilities in July 2004.

The Program provides information and technology services to people with disabilities. To enhance the quality of life for Marylanders with disabilities, the Program helps people to locate, evaluate, and purchase adaptive devices. The Program offers technology-related training and referrals in cooperation with the Department of Aging, the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the State Department of Education, and the Developmental Disabilities Administration of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Three model technology demonstration centers have been established by the Program at Cumberland, Hagerstown, and Salisbury. A main site lies at the Maryland Rehabilitation Center in Baltimore where technology resource specialists serve.

Created in 1990, the Program is governed by the federal Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-407; P.L. 103-218). The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education funds the Program. Maryland was one of the first states to receive such a grant. Federal funding continues until September 30, 2002.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Advisory Committee, formerly the Management Committee, first was appointed by the Governor in December 1989 to oversee the Technology Assistance Program. The Secretary of Disabilities chairs the Committee.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY LOAN PROGRAM
Within the Office for Individuals with Disabilities, the Assistive Technology Loan Program originated in 1999 as the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program (Chapter 468, Acts of 1999). The Program has been overseen by the Department of Disabilities since July 2004 (Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-601 through 7-616). In July 2008, the Program received its present name (Chapter 62, Acts of 2008).

The Program helps individuals with disabilities purchase assistive technology equipment to enable them to become more independent and more productive.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Applications for loan guarantees and loan interest subsidies for assistive technology equipment are evaluated by the Board of Directors of the Assistive Technology Loan Program.

The Board of Directors of the Assistive Technology Loan Program consists of eleven members. Eight are appointed by the Governor; one by the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene; and one by the State Superintendent of Schools. One serves ex officio (Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-604 through 7-609).

POLICY

ACCESS MARYLAND PROGRAM

ATTENDANT CARE PROGRAM

The Program provides funds for aides to assist severely disabled adults with daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, meals, and transportation (Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-401 through 7-406).

COMMUNITY LIVING POLICY

For disabled persons aged 18 to 64, Community Living Policy coordinates personal assistance services, and works to find ways to increase current services. Personal assistance services are tasks which maintain health, personal appearance, comfort, and safety.

ETHAN SAYLOR ALLIANCE FOR SELF-ADVOCATES AS EDUCATORS
The Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators was established within the Department of Disabilities in July 2015 (Chapter 388, Acts of 2015).

STEERING COMMITTEE
In July 2015, the Steering Committee for the Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators was authorized (Chapter 388, Acts of 2015).

The Committee consists of those members appointed by the Secretary of Disabilities and four ex officio members.

EMPLOYED INDIVUIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM
The Employed Individuals With Disabalitites Program provides health care coverage for a small fee to eligible employed Marylanders with disabilities. The Program is administered jointly by the Department of Disabilities and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

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