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 serves on the Governor's Executive Council; the Children's Cabinet; the Advisory Council to the Children's Cabinet; the School Safety Subcabinet; and the Governor's Warrior to Worker Council. The Secretary also chairs the Interagency Disabilities Board, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Advisory Committee of the Technology Assistance Program, and co-chairs the Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities.

As a member, the Secretary serves on the Interagency Committee on Aging Services; the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs; the Behavioral Health Advisory Council; the Maryland Behavioral Health and Public Safety Center of Excellence Advisory Group; the Commission on Behavioral Health Care Treatment and Access; the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code Advisory Council; the State Coordinating Council for Children; the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council; the Maryland 529 Board; the State Advisory Council on Health and Wellness; the Maryland Commission on Health Equity; the State Coordinating Council for Human Services Transportation; the Commission to Study Mental and Behavioral Health in Maryland; the State Advisory Council on Quality Care at the End of Life; the Oversight Committee on Quality of Care in Nursing Homes and Assisted-Living Facilities; the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority Affairs, and Women Business Affairs; the Steering Committee for the Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators; the Interagency Committee on Specialized Transportation; the Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention; the Commission on Trauma-Informed Care; the State Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board; the Two-Generation Family Economic Security Commission; and the Governor's Workforce Development 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, and the Interagency Disabilities Board.

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

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).

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

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). At least once every four years, the Secretary of Disabilities must ask the Board to revise the Plan (Chapter 207, Acts of 2010).

The Board consists of sixteen ex officio members and representatives of State government agencies whom the Governor may designate (Chapter 211, Acts of 2017).

RECORDS MANAGEMENT
Since October 1, 2017, the Department of Disabilities has had a program for the continual, economical and efficient management of its records. The Department's Records Officer develops and oversees the program, and serves as liaison to the Records Management Division of the Department of General Services, and to the State Archives (Chapter 539, Acts of 2017; Code State Government Article, secs. 10-608 through 10-611).

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 Technology Assistance Program provides information and technology services to people with disabilities. To enhance the quality of life for Marylanders with disabilities, the Program helps them 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 Maryland Department of Health.

Three model technology demonstration centers have been established by the Program at Cumberland, Hagerstown, and Salisbury. A main site lies at the Workforce and Technology Center (formerly 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). Grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education initially funded the Program. Maryland was one of the first states to receive such a grant.

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 one by the State Superintendent of Schools. One serves ex officio (Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-604 through 7-609).

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MARYLAND

301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, November 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Formerly under Telecommunications, in January 2005, Telecommunications Access of Maryland moved under the Chief of Information Technology within the Department of Budget and Management. In July 2008, it transferred to the Office of Secretary within the Department of Information Technology, and in February 2009, was placed under Administration. In April 2015, Telecommunications Access of Maryland transferred to Infrastructure, and in February 2016, to Application Management. In July 2020, Telecommunications Access of Maryland transferred to the Department of Disabilities (Chapter 586, Acts of 2020).

The Maryland Relay Service was initiated by Telecommunications Access of Maryland in December 1991 to convey dual-party telephone messages for persons with disabilities. The Service enables a deaf person to communicate via a telecommunications device with an intermediary party who then verbally relays the message to a third party. For State residents who are deaf or have impaired hearing, speech, vision, or mobility, the Service makes telephone use possible 24 hours per day, seven days per week (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3A-501 through 3A-606).

GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY
The Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay formed in 1987 as the Telecommunications for Disabled Individuals Board within the Department of Human Resources (Chapter 525, Acts of 1987). Reorganized under its present name, the Board transferred to the Department of General Services in 1991 (Chapter 598, Acts of 1991). The Board joined the Department of Budget and Management in 1996, and the Department of Information Technology in July 2008. In July 2020, the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay transferred to the Department of Disabilities (Chapter 586, Acts of 2020).

In consultation with the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay, the Department maintains the Maryland Relay Service.

The Board's fourteen members are appointed by the Governor who names the chair. Members serve three-year terms (Code Human Services Article, secs. 7-802 through 7-806).

POLICY

ATTENDANT CARE PROGRAM
Formerly in the Community Services Administration of the Department of Human Resources, the Attendant Care Program transferred to the Department of Disabilities in July 2005 (Chapter 439, Acts of 2005).

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

AUTISM STRATEGY

In consultation with the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs, the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy identifies and evaluates existing public, private and nonprofit services for individuals with autism and their families. With the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs, the State Coordinator is to develop a strategic plan for addressing autism-related needs in Maryland, including needs in the areas of employment, housing, health care, training for first responders and criminal justice professionals, and identification and intervention (Code Human Services, secs. 7-111, 7-112).

ADVISORY STAKEHOLDER GROUP ON AUTISM-RELATED NEEDS
Authorized by the General Assembly within the Department of Disabilities in July 2020, the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs transferred to the Governor's Office of Community Initiatives in July 2021 (Chapter 341, Acts of 2020; Chapter 389, Acts of 2021). In July 2023, the Group moved with the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy to the Department of Disabilities (Chapter 225, Acts of 2023).

The Stakeholder Group identifies and evaluates existing services for individuals with autism and their families. With the State Coordinator, the Group also is to develop a strategic plan for addressing autism-related needs in Maryland; promote, monitor, and evaluate its implementation; and recommend and implement changes to it.

Chaired by the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy, the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs consists of at least twenty-one members. Ten of these are appointed by the Governor, six represent various stakeholder groups, and five serve ex officio (Code Human Services, secs. 7-112).

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).

For law enforcement personnel in their interactions with persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities, the Alliance ensures increased training. Persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities are supported and prepared by the Alliance to serve as advocates who educate and inform their communities, law enforcement, and other public entities of their specific needs.

The Alliance consists of self-advocates, family members, disability-related professionals, educators, and law enforcement personnel.

STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE ETHAN SAYLOR ALLIANCE FOR SELF-ADVOCATES AS EDUCATORS
In July 2015, the Steering Committee for the Ethan Saylor Alliance for Self-Advocates as Educators was authorized (Chapter 388, Acts of 2015).

The Steering Committee is responsible for general oversight of the Alliance, including budget approval, review of its activities and outcomes, developing its parameters, and competitively selecting entities to operate the Alliance. Further, the Steering Committee makes recommendations on the sustainability of the Alliance and expanding it, associated costs, potential sources of funding, and compensation and support for self-advocates.

Those members appointed by the Secretary of Disabilities to three-year terms and four ex officio members constitute the Steering Committee (Code Human Services Article, sec. 7-503).

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