The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute continues to host events and conferences and foster advocacy in the community. Here is what happened over the past few months:
On January 8, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an article written by Kendall Eaton, Esq., staff attorney for Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law), “Understanding Intellectual Disability.”
On January 15, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an article written by Tracy Waller, Esq., MPH, MCDD staff attorney, “The Fire Rages On—Considering People With Disabilities.”
On January 15, Jennifer Falter, Esq., Project HEAL attorney, gave a presentation at the Kennedy Krieger Clinical Discipline Directors and Leadership meeting entitled “Guardianship and Lesser Restrictive Alternatives.”
On January 18, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an infographic designed by Eaton, “What Is Braille Literacy Month?”
On January 21, February 18 and March 18, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality held Community of Practice meetings. Eaton; Christopher Mason-Hale, BSW, MCDD community advocate; Kristine Nellenbach, MS, program coordinator for Resource Finder; Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS, assistant vice president at Kennedy Krieger and director of the MCDD; and Waller attended the meetings.
On January 22 and 29, the MCDD hosted 22 participants at listening sessions, as part of its Expanding the Public Health Workforce grant. During these sessions, Mason-Hale, Waller and van Stone engaged with people with disabilities and disability organizations across Maryland to gather insights on their experiences since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant’s purpose is to create a toolkit to help public health professionals in the disability and aging networks understand and address the challenges faced by the disability community during the pandemic.
On January 22, Eaton gave a Project HEAL overview presentation to new staff members of the Center for Development and Learning at Kennedy Krieger Institute.
On January 8, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an infographic designed by Eaton, “Law Spotlight: Acheson v. Laufer.”
On February 11, Eaton and Genevieve Hornik, Esq., staff attorney for Project HEAL, gave a presentation, “Early Childhood Transition to Kindergarten,” to families of Kennedy Krieger’s Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI™).
Also on February 11, Mason-Hale and van Stone gave a presentation to Kennedy Krieger’s core course attendees entitled “The Role of Ethics in Multidisciplinary Care.”
On February 14, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an infographic designed by Nellenbach, “February Is Low Vision Awareness Month”
On February 18, van Stone and Ying Wu, PhD, NCSP, child clinical psychology postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment at Kennedy Krieger Institute and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, traveled to Washington, D.C., for two congressional visits with staff members from the offices of Reps. Steny Hoyer and April McClain Delaney. Accompanied by Association of University Centers of Disabilities (AUCD) team members Shoshana Marin, public policy fellow, and Liz Weintraub, senior advocacy specialist, these visits aimed to educate staffers about the MCDD’s programs and projects and the AUCD network.
On February 19, Nellenbach gave an overview presentation about the Resource Finder to staff members of Kennedy Krieger’s Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress.
On February 21, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an article written by Waller, “Administrative Agencies and the Rulemaking Process.”
On February 28, The National Center for Disability, Equity, and Intersectionality published an article written by Waller, “The Constitution, Executive Orders, Memos and Proclamations.”
On March 5, Mason-Hale hosted an exhibitor table for the MCDD at the Baltimore County Public Schools Special Education Resource Fair, where he provided attendees with a wealth of valuable information and resources.
On March 5–9, Eaton; Hornik; Mallory Legg, Esq., director of Project HEAL; and van Stone attended the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates annual conference in Irvine, California. Van Stone presented a session, “Effective Dispute Resolution: Empowering Parents and Advocates to Navigate School Conflicts and Foster Collaborative Relationships in Schools.”
On March 7, Nellenbach gave an overview presentation about the Resource Finder to the early learning staff members of Maryland School for the Blind.
On March 11, Nellenbach gave an overview presentation about the Resource Finder to members of the Baltimore Metropolitan Transition Council.
On March 13, van Stone; Miya Asato, MD, vice president of training at Kennedy Krieger; Aaron Hauptman, MD, associate director of neuropsychiatry at Kennedy Krieger; and Heather Riordan, MD, medical director of the Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy at Kennedy Krieger; gave a presentation as part of a panel, “Navigating Transitional Age in the Care of Adults with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities,” at the American Neuropsychiatric Association 35th Annual Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
On March 14, Legg and van Stone gave a presentation as part of a panel, “Equity in Education: Empowering Rural Educators with Inclusive Behavior Supports Through Blended e-Learning and Coaching,” at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention in Baltimore, Maryland.
On March 15, Mason-Hale hosted an exhibitor table for the MCDD at the Howard County Public Schools Special Education Resource Fair, where he provided attendees with a wealth of valuable information and resources.
On March 19, Legg gave a Project HEAL overview presentation to staff members of the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute.
On March 21, van Stone shared her perspective as part of a panel on the potential consequences of cutting the U.S. Department of Education at the Disability Rights Bar Association conference.
On March 25, Legg and van Stone gave a presentation, “Medical Decision Making/Informed Consent and People with Intellectual Disabilities,” for Kennedy Krieger Institute’s core course program.
Also on March 25, Mirian Ofonedu, PhD, LCSW-C, director of training, partnered with the Down Syndrome Association of Maryland to host “Navigating Dual Diagnosis: Supporting Your Child with Down Syndrome and Other Disabilities,” a free virtual workshop. Participants learned advocacy strategies, effective collaboration techniques and self-care practices to support their child and themselves.
On March 27, van Stone gave a presentation, “Autism and Enhancing Your Workforce with Neurodiverse Talent,” to more than 450 participants for Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm.
On March 27, Eaton and Legg gave a presentation, “Special Education Law Overview,” for the SPARK (Simons Powering Autism Research) webinar series.
Also on March 27, Nellenbach delivered a virtual Resource Finder overview presentation to members of Montgomery County Public Schools Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC).
On April 1 and 2, van Stone participated in AUCD’s 2025 Technical Assistance Institute hosted by the University of Cincinnati Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
On April 2, Nellenbach gave an overview presentation about the Resource Finder to Kennedy Krieger’s Lifeskills and Education for Students with Autism and Pervasive Behavioral Challenges (LEAP) parent association.
On April 7, Legg; Jaimie Toroney, MHS, Autism Research and Engagement Core research manager; and van Stone were recognized for their years of service at Kennedy Krieger’s Employee Service Awards Ceremony at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
On April 16, Legg gave a Project HEAL overview presentation to Johns Hopkins psychiatric fellows.