ABOUT THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF DISABILITIES (MDOD)
Message from Secretary Catherine Raggio
In his inaugural address, Governor O’Malley shared his vision of “One Maryland,” a Maryland where we are united by our belief in the dignity of every individual; united by our responsibility to advance the common good; and united in our understanding that what we choose to do in our own lifetime matters.
The Maryland Department of Disabilities strives to make the Governor’s vision into reality for every Marylander with a disability. When our citizens with disabilities fully participate in their communities, our entire state is stronger. To that end, the Department, in partnership with other State agencies, works to remove barriers for people with disabilities and create new opportunities in education, employment, housing and transportation.
I have witnessed wonderful changes for people with disabilities in Maryland over the past 25 years. Today many people with disabilities are employed with meaningful jobs, have moved from institutions to independent living and are building new lives. And while we have made some progress, we still face a number of challenges to ensure all people with disabilities are able to fully participate in their communities.
As Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, I will continue the important work of the Department to ensure that all Marylanders have the support, training and opportunity they need to live independent, productive and full lives. I believe that through strong, productive partnerships between state agencies and individuals and organizations within the disability community we will truly make the Governor’s Vision of “One Maryland” a reality.
History
The Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD):
- was established in 2004 and passed its three-year Anniversary on May 11, 2007;
- is charged with unifiying and improving the delivery of services to people with disabilities by working collaboratively with all state government agencies; and
- develops and facilitates the implementation of the State Disabilities Plan, calling for collaborative partnerships with state agencies to improve services for people with disabilities.
MDOD Key Accomplishments
- Maryland State Disabilities Plan - annually evaluates disability initiatives across all state departments and measures the outcomes of all programs and services serving people with disabilities.
- Transportation - partners with the State Department of Transportation to assure continuous improvement to paratransit, fixed route and mobility systems.
- Employment - fully funded Maryland's Medicaid Buy-In, allowing people with disabilities to go back to work without losing medical benefits.
- Long-term Services - partnered with multiple state agencies to secure $67 million over five years from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to support state efforts to reform long-term support systems and transition individuals from institutions to community settings.
- Assistive Technology - secured federal and foundation funding to sustain the Assistive Technology Loan Program for 17 additional years.
- Mental Health - helped secure a $13.5 million federal Mental Health Transformation Grant to improve the delivery of mental health services in Maryland.
- Housing - collaborated with the state's housing department to implement a "bridge" subsidy program giving individuals in nursing homes and institutions temporary housing subsidies until permanent support can be located.
- Emergency Preparedness - choreographs a multi-pronged preparedness program for citizens with disabilities, including regional conferences for individuals, first responders, employers, service providers, caregivers and advocates.
State Disabilities Plan
The Maryland Department of Disabilities State Disabilities Plan focuses on goals, strategies and action steps to ensure immediate and progressive improvement in service delivery within the following nine areas: community integration, housing, transportation, family support, emergency preparedness, employment and training, health and behavioral health, technology and accessibility, and education.
The Maryland Department of Disabilities State Disabilities Plan is available via download, in PDF and Word format.
MDOD Performance Measures for Tracking Services
In collaboration with other state agencies, the Maryland Department of Disabilities has developed a set of interagency performance measures to evaluate services provided to individuals with disabilities. Click here to learn more about MDOD Performance Measures for Tracking Services.
Enabling Legislation
On Tuesday, May 11, 2004 SB 188 was signed authorizing the creation of the Maryland State Department of Disabilities (MDOD). Click here to view the Statutory Overview of SB 188.
To read more about Maryland Department of Disabilities awareness and advocacy efforts, or to read about other community iniatives, please visit our News & Features section.
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