Commission Business - Maryland



Maryland Commission on DisabilitiesOctober 13, 20164:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.Maryland Department of Transportation7201 Corporate Center DriveHanover, MD 21076Present: Janice Jackson, David Jones, Kavita Krishnaswamy, Mark Leeds, Karen-Ann Lichtenstein, Seth Morgan, Ronza Othman, Donald Rowe, Denise Schufman*, Ryan Swanson, Robert Sweeney, Glynis Watford, Department of Disabilities: John Brennan, Jade Gingerich Guest Speakers: Alyssa Fieo, Mark Townend, Nollie WoodCommission BusinessThe May 2016 meeting minutes were approved. Update on Voting Access: Alyssa Fieo of Disability Rights Maryland provided an update on efforts to improve access to the ballot marking device during elections. Election judges are not being instructed to tell all voters that the accessible ballot marking device is available if needed. Ms. Fieo also reviewed the accessibility of voting centers themselves; Maryland has a high rate of accessibility, but it is not 100%. Ms. Fieo can provide information on which centers are not accessible. It was noted that the State Board of elections used to have an advisory committee on voters with disabilities, but it has been defunct; this might be a place in which the Commission could play a role. Presentation on State Hiring InitiativesMark Townend of the Department of Budget and Management provided updates on several State hiring initiatives to support the hiring of people with disabilities: State hiring preference - in the 2016 legislative session a bill passed that adds 5 points to the application of people who self-identify as having a disabilityQUEST Internship Program - working with the Division of Rehabilitation Services, DBM helps people with disabilities find internships in State agencies; people who finish a six-month internship are placed on the “Special Options Eligible” hiring list (eligible to be hired for a position without having to go through the competitive hiring process) DBM has also worked with DORS to develop alternative ways to be certified to be added to the Special Options Eligible List without having to be certified by DORS or go through a QUEST internshipDBM helps organize a day-long job shadowing event for people with disabilitiesInformation about DBM’s initiatives can be found at: Updates The State Disabilities Plan was approved by the Interagency Disabilities Board and an Implementation Plan was developed with the partner agenciesMDOD assisted DORS to secure a $7.5 million federal research grant on youth with disabilities’ transition into adult employmentMDOD assisted DLLR to secure a $2.5 million grant to support the employment of individuals with severe disabilities in Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties PROMISE is an ongoing $33 million research grant administered by MDOD that looks at the long-term effects of providing enhanced supports (including employment opportunities) to high school students receiving SSI; the grant is in its third year and is fully enrolledMaryland passed the Equal Employment Act to phase out sheltered workshops that pay subminimum wage to employees with disabilities; MDOD is helping with the development of the implementation planMDOD is working with the National Security Administration to develop experiential internships for people with disabilitiesMDOD is collaborating with a number of partners to support the development of postsecondary opportunities for students with intellectual disabilitiesMDOD is working with the Department of Housing and Community Development and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to administer two housing programs for people with disabilities who have low income (Section 811 and Weinberg Apartments)MDOD is working with Department of Housing and Community Development and local Public Housing Authorities to reinstate the Bridge Subsidy Program to transition eligible people with disabilities into public housing/housing voucher programsMDOD is developing financial literacy training for people involved in the housing programs and who have borrowed money through the Assistive Technology Loan ProgramMDOD helped the Centers for Independent Living apply for a grant to help support people waiting to transition into independent livingGeneral DiscussionThere was discussion about: the number of programs or initiatives that are focused on on people with developmental or intellectual disabilitiesthe amount of resources being diverted, per federal regulations, to support youth employment (in some cases at the expense of support adult employment services)people moving from community living to nursing facilitieshaving the Baltimore City Commission on Disabilities present on Project Space (accessible parking meter program) Montgomery County has a program that provides a tax benefit to those who put accessibility features in their homesAdjourned at 6:00pm? ................
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