Summer greetings! We invite you to read our quarterly newsletter to learn about all the latest news from the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD), Kennedy Krieger Institute and the community.
We hope you have an opportunity to gain some rest and relaxation this season. Since many children are out of school during the summer and enjoying outdoor activities, we recommend reading this article from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital about ways to stay safe: “Preventing Summer Injuries: 10 Things Pediatricians Would Always Do.” With a growing concern for acts of mass violence, the National Association of School Psychologists published a helpful article, “Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Families and Educators.” This article provides useful strategies for talking to children about staying safe, especially as many people enjoy large gatherings and events throughout the summer.
The Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 ended on May 11, 2023. As a result, some Medicaid procedures have changed. If you are enrolled in Maryland Medicaid, please note Medicaid coverage renewal will no longer be automatic. Notices from the Maryland Health Connection are being sent to Medicaid participants when it is their turn to renew coverage. Read the article, “Medicaid Check-In,” for more information about the renewal process.
Beginning on July 1, the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) crisis response system for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioned to the Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Crisis System. Prior to the transition, individuals enrolled with DDA services could call a specific nine-digit number and, if appropriate, a DDA mobile crisis team would be dispatched to the caller’s location. These services were transitioned to BHA since they are already providing the same service. Read this article for more information about the transition.
On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. The ADA National Network created an anniversary toolkit to mark the 33rd year of this historic civil rights law. The toolkit provides webinars, articles and events from the ADA National Network. The Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) hosted a webinar, “Celebrating Olmstead: Exploring the 14c Report and National Trends in the Movement to End Segregation and Exploitation of People with Disabilities.” A recording of this webinar and many others can be viewed on the DETAC website.
We want to thank all those who donated to the MCDD team during Kennedy Krieger’s ROAR for Kids event. The donated funds were used to purchase materials for the Resource Center at Kennedy Krieger, managed by our Resource Finder program coordinator. A photo of the MCDD team at ROAR appears in the “In the Community” section of this newsletter.
This quarter’s newsletter features an article about Maryland ABLE changes and an update on the MCDD Faith Community project. We hope you find the resources in this newsletter helpful as we all continue to work together to help individuals with disabilities learn, grow and thrive.
Take care and stay safe.
In gratitude,
Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS
Director, Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities
Founding Director, Project HEAL
