the Governor (Executive Order 01.01.1977.07).
Established in accordance with federal statute
(P.L. 94-103), the Advocacy Unit became the
State's official agency designated to protect and
advocate the rights of the developmentally dis-
abled in Maryland. The designation permitted the
Unit to qualify for federal funding under the De-
velopmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act (P.L. 95-603). By that funding, the
program provides legal representation for develop-
mentally disabled persons with legal problems in
areas such as abuse and neglect, discrimination,
special education, and public benefit entitlements.

In 1984, the Board of Directors renamed the
Advocacy Unit as the Maryland Disability Law
Center. This change in name reflected the fact
that the office was no longer representing just the
developmentally disabled, those whose disability
becomes evident before age 22. Instead, with ex-
panded responsibilities, the Center had become a
statewide legal services program for those disabled
by impairments ranging from Alzheimer's disease
to cerebral palsy, from mental retardation to
learning disabilities, and from mental illness to
hearing impairments.

The Center is funded by a number of sources in
addition to its federal "protection and advocacy"
grant. The Maryland Legal Services Corporation
funds the Center to represent indigent disabled
persons, throughout the State, in noncriminal
matters. The Department of Human Resources
funds the Center's representation of handicapped
children whose parents or relatives fail to provide
proper care and attention. The Department of
Human Resources also funds the Center to re-
present disabled adults who are at risk of being
placed in an institution.

Since 1984, the Center has received financial
support from the Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene to represent residents in State
mental health facilities. The Department also
funds the Center to protect mentally retarded per-
sons from abuse and neglect and to represent dis-
abled adults who are denied Social Security bene-
fits. In addition, the Center receives funds from
the State Department of Education to represent
disabled persons who are dissatisfied with voca-
tional rehabilitation services.

A non-profit private corporation, the Center is
governed by a nine-member Board of Directors.
The Governor appoints the Board's members.

TASK FORCE ON EATING
DISORDERS

Chairperson: David M. Roth, Ph.D.

Catherine A. Albright; Arnold E. Andersen,
M.D.; F. Vernon Boozer; Dorothy A. Dobbyn;
Joyce Kronthal; Karen B. Lanpher, Ph.D.; Carol
Loomis; Mary S. Pabst; Brenda A. Sigall, Ph.D.

c/o Sheppard-Pratt Hospital
6501 N. Charles St.
Towson 21204 Telephone: 823-8200, ext. 2340

At the request of the General Assembly, the
Governor created the Task Force on Eating Dis-
orders in October 1986 (Joint Resolution no. 27,
Acts of 1986). The Task Force will determine to
what extent Marylanders suffer from eating disor-
ders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The
Task Force is to consider also how these disorders
might be recognized and treated.

By September 1987, the Task Force will submit
a report of its findings.

COMMISSION ON EDUCATION IN
AGRICULTURE

Chairperson: James E. McClellan

Roland F. Behnke; Christine M. Bloom; Alan L.
Brauer, Sr.; Martha dark; Bemie Fowler; Edwin
R. Fry; Karen Sue Hamilton; John J. Lancaster,
Jr.; George H. Littrell, Jr.; David Miller; Dr.
Mortimer Neufville; Edward W. Quidas, Jr.; Dr.
Jerome J. Ryscavage; Dr. Ronald J. Seibel; Steen
G. Westerberg.

215 Rockwell Terrace
Frederick 21701 Telephone: 662-3804

Staff contact: Dr. Boyd Robinson

c/o State Department of Education
200 W. Baltimore St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 333-2079

In October 1986, the Governor created the
Commission on Education in Agriculture (Joint
Resolution no. 28, Acts of 1986). The Commis-
sion is to study programs and policies concerned
with vocational agricultural education and recom-
mend program improvements at all educational
levels.

The Commission will report its findings and
recommendations by September 1987.