OUR SIX PRINCIPLES
1. People with disabilities need to receive supports and services in their communities where they live, work, play, vote, go to school and worship. Maryland’s policies governing the funding of such supports and services must reflect a commitment to this principle.
· Honor people’s choices. Funding should enable people with disabilities to choose where to live and empower them to fully participate in their communities.
· Prioritize funding to focus on community setting options and away from the current institutional bias. Implement the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Olmstead case.
· Commit to funding personal support services (personal assistants, interpreters, assistive technology, etc.)
2. People with disabilities need accessible and affordable housing throughout Maryland. Maryland’s current housing availability is insufficient.
· Strengthen Maryland’s building code to fully incorporate the principles of universal design, including visitability.
· Create incentives to increase the accessible and affordable housing stock.
· Create stipends to assist homeowners or rental occupants.
· Uphold the Fair Housing Act by fully implementing it and its amendments.
3. People with disabilities should enjoy a level of employment that is equal to the general population. Maryland’s policies governing employment must support efforts to access meaningful employment and opportunities for career advancement.
· Implement/expand the Medicaid Buy-In provision of the federal government.
· Increase career-planning programs for individuals with disabilities.
· Support and strengthen the “Ticket to Work” program.
4. Individuals with disabilities should enjoy the same level of transportation available to non-disabled members of the general public.
· Create an accessible, coordinated statewide system (region-to-region and within regions) of transportation.
· Improve the maintenance of sidewalks, bus stops and enforce the laws regarding public rights of way.
· Improve the Para transit system.
5. People with disabilities need increased access to affordable health and mental health care to fully assure their well-being and quality of life.
· Ensure that Marylanders have the right to preventive health care regardless of their income level, disability or employment status.
· Fund Medicaid fully, including Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT).
· Provide citizens, including those with disabilities, a choice in their health and mental health coverage.
· Provide universal and affordable prescription drug coverage.
· Provide for appropriate durable medical equipment and supplies.
6. Children and young adults with disabilities need the full complement of supports to achieve successful learning in the most integrated setting.
· Fund the Thornton Commission recommendations and ensure that the money goes to all students, including those with disabilities.
· Allocate money for the purpose of transitioning youth from the school system into the community.
· Provide access to academic and extracurricular activities for persons with disabilities, including parents, family, friends, and teachers.
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