Thursday, March 12th at Noon – Lawyer’s Mall, Annapolis
Once again, DD services face big budget cuts.
Join the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition on Thursday, March 12th, at noon to let everyone know:
WE CAN’T GO BACK, AND WE WON’T GO BACK
The Budget Can’t Be Balanced on the Back of People with Disabilities
This is not possible without you! Please join us, wear red, and be ready to advocate.
All are welcome! The rally is from Noon to 1 p.m., but if you can come early, there are more opportunities to be visible:
- 9:30 AM: Arrive at the State House (located next to Lawyers Mall at the top of the legislative complex)
- 9:45 AM: Greet legislators as they walk over to the State House. Take a seat in the gallery of the House or Senate on the 2nd floor of the State House or linger in the hallway to greet legislators as the sessions begin at 10 AM.
- 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Deliver letters to your legislators
- 12:00 to 1:00 PM: “We Can’t Go Back- We Won’t Go Back” Rally on Lawyer’s Mall. – See below for details!
If you do come early, there will be time before the rally. You may be able to find somewhere to sit in the House or Senate buildings or grab food or drink somewhere nearby.
How to Prepare
If you want to go into the State House, Senate, or House buildings, remember to bring your state-issued ID – you cannot get in without it!
Wear something red.
While we will have posters and signs there for attendees, feel free to bring your own! Just remember that sticks and poles on signs are not allowed.
Plan for parking! Look into options before you come.
Paid parking is available at these places. They are not too far from Lawyer’s Mall.
If you are coming with a large group, it may help to have group transportation.
Letters to Your Legislators and the Governor
We invite you to share your story with your representatives in Annapolis and the Governor! Start by downloading the templates through the buttons below. You can fill it out on a computer or write on it.
For the letter to Legislators, you can include a picture of yourself in the space provided! There are also dotted lines along the bottom of the page that you can cut with scissors, representing the cuts that are happening to our services. Print four copies so you can give them to all your representatives! You can find out who your representatives are here. Just click lookup and enter your address to find out who your legislators are!
For your letter to the Governor, you can bring a copy to deliver to the Governor alongside other attendees, or you can email a copy of it to lchausse@thearcmd.org.
What Brought Us Here
Proposed cuts to the DDA Budget from the Moore Administration include $155.4 million in General (State) Funds, and $310.8 million in Total Funds with the federal matching dollars. More specifically, the proposed cuts would:
Change the Dedicated Hours Policy, which cuts $27.1 million in General Funds, and $54.2 million in Total Funds, affecting 3,800 people and 200 or more providers.
- The way this cut has been described by DDA (the way it would be implemented) would change existing policy and rate structure and reduce access to 1:1 and 2:1 staffing. In Provider Managed Services, the Dedicated Hour structure is the path for someone who has a dedicated need for 1:1 or 2:1 support to receive that support.
- Impact: This cut would result in the loss of dedicated (one-to-one or two-to-one) staff for many people and impact their ability to receive needed supports.
Reduce Self-Directed Reasonable and Customary Rates available for Staff Wages, which cuts $62.2 million in General Funds, and $124.4 million in Total Funds, affecting up to 4,000+ people who self-direct and hire their own staff.
- This would reduce the reasonable and customary wages allowed under self-directed services by aligning wages with Bureau of Labor Statistics data used to set community provider rates. It would also eliminate the option of a wage exception.
- Impact: This cut would result in the inability of people to maintain current pay levels and if necessary, pay higher wages for staff with certain qualifications.
Cap Individual Budgets at $500,000, which cuts $66.1 million in General Funds, and $132.2 million in Total Funds, impacting 1,600 people with budgets over $500,000. Of these 1,600 people, 820 have services that cost more than $500,000, who would lose services if they don’t get an exception.
- This would establish an annual cap of $500,000 per person for services in someone’s plan. This would require an exception process to get federal approval and a federal waiver amendment.
- Impact: This cut would affect people with the most complex medical and behavioral needs, both in the self-direction and the community provider models.
DDA services are vital to supporting Marylanders with developmental disabilities to live, learn, work, and play in their community. The 1999 Supreme Court Olmstead decision said people with disabilities have the right to get services in the most integrated setting.
These proposed cuts threaten the system that makes that right a reality in Maryland.