People On the Go (POG) participates in many advocacy activities throughout the state of Maryland. On April 27, POG staff members had the opportunity to participate in the Disability Policy Seminar’s fly-in Hill Day. This event provided an opportunity for self-advocates to engage with legislators to advocate for high-priority issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tracy Wright, POG training coordinator, was one of many speakers at the welcome breakfast.
Adaptive Maryland Day, hosted by Promise Landing Farm, took place on May 7. POG staff members had the opportunity to participate as exhibitors. This event was the first of its kind, and welcomed people of all ages and disabilities. Adaptive activities and community resources were provided throughout the day, with more than 250 people in attendance. POG was able to spread the word regarding their statewide advocacy initiatives and networked with many community partners and professionals.
POG attended The Arc Maryland State Convention on May 23. An exhibitor table was staffed by Devin Wylie, MHA, prior POG program coordinator; Mat Rice, POG advocacy coordinator; and Wright. Cody Drinkwater, POG public policy assistant, gave a presentation at the convention with the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition. The presentation shared information regarding the 2023 legislative session. At the POG quarterly meeting on June 3, staff members shared a recap of the 2023 legislative session, as well as a debrief of The Arc Maryland State Convention.
Save the date for POG’s 2023 Self-Advocacy Conference to be held on September 22, 2023, at the Baltimore-Washington International Airport Marriott Hotel. POG formed a conference planning committee that first began meeting on April 14, 2023, and continued meeting every Monday afterward. This year’s conference theme is “Breaking Barriers: The Mission of an Advocate.”
