Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., was elected Maryland’s 60th Governor in 2002. In 2004, Maryland was the first state in the nation to create a cabinet-level Department of Disabilities. This action empowers people with disabilities by unifying and comprehensively reforming Maryland state policy, programs, and initiatives for people with disabilities. The elevation of Maryland’s Office for Individuals with Disabilities to cabinet-level status serves as a model to other state governments.
The new Department has been given authority to review and refocus regulatory and budgetary priorities relating to services for people with disabilities. The Department is also empowered to measure state performance by gauging consumer satisfaction. The Department will focus on achieving tangible improvements in the level and quality of support provided in areas such as employment, behavioral health, accessible technology, and training, under a new Statewide Disability Implementation Plan.
In particular, the Department’s focus on eliminating program duplication and fragmentation; aligning funding for the services with empowerment principles; addressing under-performing programs; and, ensuring consumer-driven rather than provider-driven services is commendable. By consolidating the authority and responsibility to oversee funding and implementation of these services, Governor Ehrlich intends to achieve far more comprehensive, systemic, and meaningful outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The Department will also better enable Maryland to take advantage of Federal and other grant opportunities to improve Maryland’s service delivery system.
The new Maryland Department of Disabilities advances employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities by not only enhancing the quality of employment-related services, but also by critically reviewing delivery of education, health care, housing, and transportation. All of these efforts impact on employment, since these other services are critical for individuals with disabilities to compete successfully in the workplace.
Governor Ehrlich’s leadership in making people with disabilities a high priority in Maryland is helping to raise awareness that integration of people with disabilities into the workforce is of vital importance.
