By Kayla Velez and Sharon Oladipupo, MCDD Trainees
Each year, the Maryland Developmental Disabilities (MDD) Coalition sponsors Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature (DD Day), an opportunity for participants to educate state legislators in the capital on crucial issues affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their caregivers and their families. As trainees of the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD), we had the opportunity to participate in DD Day on February 13, 2025. We are excited to share the valuable insights and reflections we gained from this first-time experience.
Prior to attending the event, we had the opportunity to assist in preparing informational folders and organizing resources for attendees. This experience allowed us to network and collaborate with staff members from The Arc Maryland and observe the many thoughtful details that help make DD Day a success. Kennedy Kreiger Institute’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program and University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD) trainee core course sessions prepared us with the skills to deliver an elevator pitch that effectively delivers information about ourselves and current issues to legislators.
Alongside advocates, Kennedy Krieger staff members and other LEND and UCEDD trainees, we boarded a sponsored bus that took us to the Goldstein Treasury Building in Annapolis, Maryland. We were greeted with breakfast and kicked off the day by listening to speeches from Maryland senators, delegates, Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and leaders of the IDD community. Although we were not physically present in the same room due to the large number of attendees, we could feel the energy and passion of those advocating for disability rights and sharing their stories. We received the same handouts included in the folders we had helped prepared. One of the fact sheets highlighted several significant budget cuts and cost containment measures that, if approved for the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years, would severely impact people with disabilities, their families and community providers. These potential budget cuts sparked our discussions with legislators, not only to educate them on the importance of these services, but also to emphasize how they directly affect those who rely on them. The program concluded with an award ceremony honoring students’ artwork from elementary to high school that focused on diversity and inclusion.
Our day continued as attendees divided up into smaller groups to visit elected officials. Self-advocates from People On the Go (POG) Maryland led meaningful conversations with legislators and their staff. These discussions centered on the proposed budget cuts to Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and the significant impact those changes would have on people with IDD and their families. Self-advocates played a key role in leading these conversations, sharing their personal experiences and ensuring their voices were heard.
Being in small groups provided us with the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions with policymakers, including representatives from the offices of Delegate Addison, Senator Hettleman, Delegate Phillips and Delegate Stein. We addressed several critical issues affecting individuals with disabilities and their families. Some of our discussions focused on the elimination of Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) and its impact on families, the Social Work Compact and other potential budget cuts that would impact individuals with disabilities. As service providers, advocates and individuals familiar with the program’s benefits, we shared our perspectives, emphasizing how these small grants provide essential support to the people we serve and their families. Each legislator or their representative acknowledged our concerns and expressed appreciation for our advocacy and commitment to supporting people with disabilities and their families.
To wrap up the day, we returned to the Goldstein Treasury Building for a lunch meeting with several leaders from disability service organizations including the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, POG, and the Maryland Department of Disabilities. The meeting was a question-and-answer format, giving us a chance to gain insight into the leaders’ work and learn how to be a better advocate for the disability community.
Attending DD Day for the first time was an incredibly positive and eye-opening experience. We witnessed firsthand the dedication and passion of advocates who are working tirelessly to improve the lives of people with IDD. We gained a deeper understanding of the ongoing challenges that this population faces, such as limited access to services and resources, and the important role that legislative support plays in creating lasting change. The event also emphasizes for us the power of collective action and the vital role of advocacy in shaping public policy. It was inspiring to see so many people unite with a shared vision of inclusivity and empowerment, and we left with a stronger sense of how we can all contribute to creating a more equitable society.