Farewell, Governor Schaefer
Shannon Blankenship, MD TAP Marketing Director
For the past eight years, Governor William Donald
Schaefer has been a friend and advocate of Maryland residents
with disabilities. During his soon to be completed double term,
Governor Schaefer elevated the Governor's Office for
Individuals with Disabilities to Cabinet Level and signed
legislation to continue the Office and its Advisory Council.
Throughout his administration, the Governor tried to do much
for all Marylanders, including those with disabilities, and for
that, we say thank you.
Kudos go to Governor William Donald Schaefer who
(among other accomplishments):
- initiated the first Transitioning Initiative in the nation
which provides additional funding to transition students with
developmental disabilities into the workplace from school.
- designated the Governor's Office for Individuals with
Disabilities as lead agency for coordination and submission of
the federal grant application which resulted in the establishment
of the Maryland Technology Assistance Program. Maryland was
one of the first nine states to obtain a technology grant. Now in
its sixth year of funding, Maryland's program is nationally
recognized.
- assured that every county in the state is participating in the
Statewide Special Transportation Assistance Program (SSTAP),
a funding program to provide transportation for elderly and
disabled individuals.
- promoted the statewide Supported Employment Project
which was a national model.
- annually appropriated funds for the "Access Maryland
Fund," the capital budget program to remove architectural
barriers in state buildings.
- appointed the Governor's Office for Individuals with
Disabilities as agency liaison with various entities, including the
Convention Center, Columbus Center, Baltimore City Life
Museums, and Baltimore Center for the Performing Arts to
ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- designated the Governor's Office for Individuals with
Disabilities to coordinate implementation of the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
- endorsed budget requests for local jurisdiction initiative to
provide coordination and increased services to citizens with
disabilities.
- established a position of Administrative Specialist for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing in the Governor's Office for
Individuals with Disabilities.
- supported enhancement of radio reading programs
throughout Maryland.
- supported the establishment of the Maryland Relay Service
to ensure that people with hearing and speech impairments have
greater access to the telephone.
- ensured that the new stadium, Oriole Park at Camden
Yards, was a national model for accessibility for people with
disabilities.
- supported and signed into law two key consumer bills:
- (1) The Maryland Discretionary Trust Act, which enables families to
set aside money for care of families with disabilities
- (2) The Motorized Wheelchair Warranty Enforcement Act, giving
greater protections relative to repairs or replacements of
motorized wheelchairs or scooters.
