The Department evaluates programs and services for Maryland citizens with disabilities. It coordinates and supports public and private agencies serving people with disabilities, provides information and referrals, and identifies and recommends ways to improve services.
State government compliance with laws and policies that affect persons with disabilities is monitored and encouraged by the Department. At least quarterly, the Department consults with and provides technical assistance to the Maryland Advisory Council for Individuals with Disabilities. The Department also promotes local or regional coordination of services to persons with disabilities.
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 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 Interagency Committee on Aging Services; the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code Advisory Council; the Children's
Cabinet; the State Coordinating Council for Children; and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.
Within the Office of Secretary are
Communications, the Office of Research and Evaluation, and
the Chief of Staff. The Chief of Staff oversees Departmental
programs: Access Maryland, Assistive Technology Guaranteed
Loan, Constituent Services, and Technology Assistance. The
Office is aided by the Maryland Commission on Disabilities,
and the Interagency Disabilities Board. 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 State
Government Article, secs. 9-1109 through 9-1112). INTERAGENCY DISABILITIES BOARD
The Board consists of thirteen ex officio members and
representatives of State government agencies whom the
Governor may designate. TASK FORCE ON SELF-DIRECTED MENTAL HEALTH CARE
The Task Force was to develop recommendations for
establishing a pilot program that would allow those who use
mental health services to devise their own service program,
consistent with the recommendations of the federal New Freedom
Commission on Mental Health. In November 2005, the
Task Force reported its recommendations to the Department
of Disabilities and the Mental Hygiene Administration. The Task Force continues to meet to oversee implementation of its recommendations.
For disabled persons aged 18 to 64, Long-Term Care 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.
The Program helps individuals with disabilities purchase assistive technology equipment to enable them to become more independent and more productive (Code 1957, Art. 41, secs. 14-901 through 14-914).
Applications for loan guarantees and loan interest subsidies are evaluated by the Program's Board of Directors.
The Program provides funds for aides to
assist severely disabled adults with daily tasks, such as
bathing, dressing, meals, and transportation (Code 1957, Art. 41, secs. 18-601 through 18-604).
Under the
Program is the Personal
Assistance Services Advisory Committee.
The Committee consists of twenty-one members appointed by the Governor to three-year terms.
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 Office on 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 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.
OFFICE OF
SECRETARY
217 East Redwood St., Suite 1300
Baltimore, MD 21202 MARYLAND
COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
The Maryland
Commission on Disabilities started as the Maryland Advisory
Council for Individuals with Disabilities. Formerly under
the Office for Individuals with Disabilities, the Council
reformed as the Maryland Commission on Disabilities within
the Department of Disabilities in July 2004 (Chapter 425,
Acts of 2004). The Commission advises the Department of
Disabilities. The Commission reviews statewide programs for
persons with disabilities and fosters coordination and
support for these programs.
In July 2004, the
Interagency Disabilities Board was established to develop
the State Disabilities Plan (Chapter 425, Acts of 2004; Code
State Government Article, secs. 9-1113 through 9-1117).
In March 2005, the Secretary
of Disabilities and the Executive Director of the Mental
Hygiene Administration, Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, convened the Task Force on Self-Directed Mental Health Care.
POLICY
The Deputy Secretary is responsible for six policy units: Children's Policy; Emergency Preparedness Policy; Employment Policy; Housing Policy; Long-Term Care Policy; and Transportation Policy.
LONG-TERM CARE POLICY
Long-Term Care Policy started as the Office of Personal
Assistance Services created in 1998 within the
Department of Human Resources. In July 2005, the Office
transferred to the Department of Disabilities (Chapter 439,
Acts of 2005) and reorganized as Long-Term Care Policy.
PROGRAMS
ACCESS MARYLAND PROGRAM
The Access Maryland Program assists State agencies with ensuring that their facilities are in compliance with federal mandates requiring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM
Within the Office for Individuals with Disabilities, the Assistive Technology Guaranteed Loan Program started in 1999 (Chapter 468, Acts of 1999). The Program has been overseen by the Department of Disabilities since July 2004 (Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1118).
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Assistive Technology Guaranteed 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 1957, Art. 41, sec. 14-904).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).
PERSONAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Personal Assistance Services Advisory Committee formed under the Office of Personal Assistance Services in July 2005 (Chapter 439, Acts of 2005; Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1119). The Committee advises the Department on personal care, attendant care, and home care services. The Committee guides the Department in the development of standards for the training of personal care workers; determining the feasibility of establishing a registry for personal care workers or a referral system of individual providers; and setting compensation levels for personal care workers.
CONSTITUENT SERVICES PROGRAM
For individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers, the Constituent Services Program provides assistance with information, referrals, resource listings, and access. The Program was assigned to the Department of Disabilities in July 2004 (Chapter 425, Acts of 2004; Code State Government Article, sec. 9-1118).
TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
2301 Argonne Drive, Room T-17
Baltimore, MD 21218
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.Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
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e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us