Maryland Disability Law Center has moved its offices to historic Union Mill in the Hampden/ Woodberry neighborhood of Baltimore. Effective April 20, 2012:

Our new address is 1500 Union Avenue, Suite 2000, Baltimore MD 21211.

Our new TTY number is 410-235-5387.

Telephone numbers remain 410-727-6352 and 1-800-233-7201 (toll free). Fax number remains 410-727-6389. Email addresses remain “first name last initial@mdlclaw.org”.

We are grateful to all of those who contributed to our capital campaign and supported this move! Thank you!

MARYLAND RECEIVES $106 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO PROVIDE MORE CARE IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS

ANNAPOLIS, MD (March 23, 2012) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown today joined Maryland’s Congressional Delegation and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in announcing that Maryland has been awarded more than $106 million in federal grant funding to further efforts to provide long term care in community based settings rather than in institutions.  The State Balancing Incentive Payment Program Grant, authorized under the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), was designed to help states transform their long-term care systems.  The competitive grant award increases the amount of federal matching funds received for each state dollar invested toward non-institutional long-term supports and services. Maryland is only the second state to win a grant award under the program.

“As a result of these additional grant funds, more of our seniors and people with disabilities will have the ability to stay in their homes, near their loved ones, rather than in institutions,” said Governor O’Malley.  “Thanks to President Obama and our Congressional Delegation, the Affordable Care Act has helped states reform their health care systems to reduce costs, protect choice, and help provide quality, affordable health care for more of our fellow citizens.”

“The Affordable Care Act continues to provide Maryland with the tools and resources we need to improve health care throughout our State,” said Lt. Governor Brown, Co-Chair of the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council. “These critical funds will boost our efforts to expand access to community-based care so more Marylanders can remain in their homes and communities while enjoying a higher quality of life.”

“I believe that honor thy father and mother isn’t just a good commandment to live by, it’s good policy to govern by. This program maintains our commitment to seniors so that they can continue to get the care and support they need in their own homes and communities,” said Senator Mikulski, a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee that passed the Affordable Care Act. “Thanks to what we accomplished with health care reform, quality and affordable care is becoming a reality for families across Maryland. I am proud to put funds in the federal checkbook so that Maryland’s commitment to community-based care is met dollar-for-dollar with federal support.”

“Keeping seniors as independent as possible for as long as possible is an important goal and this grant, which is made possible by the Affordable Care Act, will ensure that seniors receive long-term care services at home or in community-based settings,” said U.S. Senator Ben Cardin. “I am a big champion of expanding community-based health care services and this federal grant will help us make that possible.”

The grant award is an integral component of a broad state approach to expand community-based care.  Other aspects of the state approach include new investments to transition individuals from nursing homes to the community, adoption of a better screening tool to identify people who need services, and formation of a new consumer council.  All of this supports the state’s ongoing efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act mandate to provide services to individuals in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs.

“We have a responsibility to transform our long term care system into one that allows as many individuals as possible receive services in home and community-based settings, and this additional federal funding will help us as we continue our efforts to fulfill that important responsibility,” said Charles J. Milligan, Deputy Secretary for Health Care Financing at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

More information about Long Term Care in Maryland and the state’s efforts to reform the system to provide more services and supports in the community can be found at http://mmcp.dhmh.maryland.gov/longtermcare/SitePages/Home.aspx.  More information about the CMS State Balancing Incentive Payment can be found at http://www.medicaid.gov/AffordableCareAct/Provisions/Community-Based-Long-Term-Services-and-Supports.html.

Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown, Maryland has implemented reforms that have expanded health coverage to more than 300,000 Marylanders, nearly half of them children.  With the passage of this year’s budget, the number of Marylander’s with health care coverage could reach 400,000.  

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Maryland Court of Appeals requires attorneys to complete annual reporting about IOLTA funds and pro bono hours by February 15^th of each year.  We are happy to announce that this year the Court of Appeals instituted an online giving program offering all Maryland attorneys the option to donate to an Maryland Legal Service Corporation (MLSC)-funded agency at the completion of online filing. The donation page will appear as the last screen in the process.   

If you are an attorney licensed in Maryland, please consider using this page to make a donation to MDLC, and encourage colleagues and friends to do the same.  It’s quick and easy, and donations we receive through this process will count toward the $15,000 MLSC challenge grant we received earlier this week!

Maryland Court of Appeals online IOLTA and pro bono filing

MDLC is positioning itself for a strong future by moving its offices in April of this year to Union Mill in Hampden.  Union Mill is a green, urban infill project by Seawall Development, based on the award-winning Miller’s Court model. 

Recognizing that MDLC needs extra help to cover expenses related to our relocation and keep precious program dollars fully deployed on our mission, MDLC’s largest grantor, Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) has issued us the following challenge:  if MDLC can raise $15,000, MLSC will match this amount with a $15,000 grant.  Given that all MLSC grants will be reduced by a minimum of 5% this year with further reductions all but assured, MDLC absolutely must meet the $15,000 challenge.  Our clients rely heavily on our assistance and we simply cannot leave these dollars on the table. 

A donation of any amount will help us reach our $15,000 goal and will be greatly appreciated by all of us.  Individuals and businesses that make a donation at the “partner” level of $3,000 will be memorialized on the beautiful plaque gracing the entrance of MDLC’s new office suite. 

For years, the hard-working advocates at MDLC have been opening doors for people with disabilities and are now reaching out to the community for help in opening new doors of our own.  If you prefer to donate online, please use our website: www.mdlclaw.org .  If you prefer to send a check payable to MDLC, you may mail it to us at: MDLC, 1800 N. Charles Street Suite 400, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Thank you for any help you can provide! 
Virginia Knowlton, Executive Director

Since 2007, MDLC has provided advocacy assistance for “Petra,” a 10-year-old with autism, blindness, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities who exhibits self-injurious behaviors.  MDLC has visited Petra’s home and school, attended IEP, DDA and service coordination meetings, corresponded with various agencies and coached Petra’s parents.  Despite her parents’ best efforts, including working opposite shifts so one of them could always be with Petra, she was not receiving the support services she needed and rarely left home except to attend school.  Petra’s parents eventually had to doubt whether they could maintain her in the family home although that was their goal.  MDLC was told repeatedly that Petra had no entitlement to services, but we persisted.  Finally, we were able to get our client placed into the Community Pathways Waiver program.  At long last, Petra will be able to access the services she needs to be healthy and safe at home!

Have your income tax forms completed for free!

People with disabilities living in the Baltimore metropolitan area with an income of less than $50,000 are invited to Disability Income Tax Day on February 11, 2012 from 9 am to 2 pm.  Clinics will be held at 3 locations:  Northern Community Action Center on York Road, Goodwill Industries on East Redwood Street, and Office of Employment Development at Mondawmin Mall.    Read the announcement for information about how to make an appointment and what services will be offered.  Questions?  Call Division of Rehabilitation Services at 410-333-6119 or go to www.baltimorecashcampaign.org .

MDLC and Allies bring you: Special Education Legal Clinic in Prince George’s County!

Do you need help obtaining appropriate special education services for your child?  MDLC and its Special Education Coalition of Prince George’s County partners invite you to our Special Education Clinic for free advocacy assistance and information. 

Nov. 19, from 9 AM to 2 PM
The Arc of Prince George’s County
1401 McCormick Dr., Largo, MD 20774

Appointment strongly recommended for individual attorney/paralegal consultations.  Please call MDLC at 800-233-7201 ext. 2516, or MCIE at 410-859-54- ext. 118 by Nov. 15 to assure your appointment! 
We also welcome walk-ins.   Representatives from Prince Geoprge’s County Public Schools will be present to hear your concerns and answer questions.  Additional parent resources will also be available.

Please let us know any accommodations you may need!  See you on Nov. 19.

Read flier in English, or en Espanol.

MDLC represented “Louis,” who had been sent to the Rosewood institution from foster care at age 6 and remained there until age 23 when he was discharged to community services.  A few years later, he was discharged from community services and began relying on support from former staff people and the supervisor at his job, until circumstances changed and he needed a more reliable support plan.  Meanwhile, the state had destroyed Louis’ entire record except for the two-page discharge summary.  This discharge summary, prepared by state officials, is the only documentation remaining from Louis’ time at Rosewood and the only documentation describing him prior to the age of 22, the age by which a developmental disability (DD) must have manifested for eligibility purposes.  Unfortunately, the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) did not find this discharge summary persuasive and denied Louis, a former ward of the state, eligibility for services as an individual with a DD.  MDLC represented Louis in an informal hearing where the state again did not give the discharge summary proper weight and incorrectly found him ineligible.  MDLC then hired an expert to perform a neuropsychological evaluation to show that Louis does have a DD.  MDLC also found Louis’ staff from when he first left Rosewood, and learned more about the supports he needs and receives from his supervisor and the social worker at his place of employment.  MDLC represented Louis at an administrative hearing.  Upon receiving the neuropsychological report, speaking with MDLC’s witnesses, and learning more about the support Louis used to receive and still needs, DDA decided to withdraw their denial and issue a new decision.  DDA changed their position, not only finding that Louis does have a DD, but placing him in the highest priority category which enables him to start receiving services quickly.

“Petra” is a single mom with a young son who has Multiple Sclerosis.   Petra suffered a stroke in 2009 and was no longer able to lift her son to take him to school or even to the car.  She had attempted to port her housing voucher from the County to the City to get her son into a school program that would better attend to his needs and pick him up from home.   The County had refused, so she moved on her own and had lost her voucher.  As Petra’s condition became more disabling and her son’s condition worsened, she could no longer afford her housing.  She came to MDLC for assistance.  MDLC convinced the County to reinstate her voucher and talked the City into accepting her voucher being ported to the City.  We found her a unit that while not fully accessible had a no-step entrance, but at that time her son could walk with assistance.  After six months, her son’s condition was reaching the point where he needed a fully accessible unit and Petra needed an additional bedroom to accommodate the equipment for his increasing needs.  MDLC went back to the City to ask for a 3-bedroom voucher and to the landlord to ask that she be allowed to move prior to her lease ending.  Mom and son love their new 3 bedroom accessible home!