theAdvocatetheAdvocateVolume 23, Number 1

Winter 2006

The Arc of Baltimore Mission StatementTo ensure that people with developmental disabilities

have maximum opportunities to actively participate

in all aspects of community life and to offer programs

and services that support them in doing so.

Advocacy, resources and community for people with developmental disabilities

Join local icons Brooks Robinson, Lenny Moore, Tom

Tasselmyer, Scott Garceau and other famous faces for The

Arc of Baltimore’s 12th Annual Celebrity Golf

Tournament, slated for May 23 at the Woodlands and

Diamond Ridge Golf Courses.

From small beginnings in 1994, the event has climbed to

the #18 spot on the Baltimore Business Journal’s list of largest

local fundraising events. All proceeds benefit programs and

services provided by The Arc of Baltimore for thousands of

people with developmental disabilities and their families and

friends. More than 200 golfers are expected to participate this

year.

Scientific Plant Service is title sponsor for the third

consecutive year. The event’s founders, Mike Eikenberg and

Chuck Shettle, have signed on again as

co-chairs.

If you would like to register a

foursome or receive sponsorship

information, please call Kim Lyons at

410-296-2272, ext. 5239, or email her at

klyons@arcofbaltimore.org. ■

Players Teeing Up for Golf Tourney

UpcomingEvents

Friday & Saturday,May 12-13

The Arc of Maryland Statewide

Convention convenes in Ocean City.

Self-advocates “People on the Go of

Maryland” are co-sponsors. Please

register by April 25th by calling call

1-888-272-3449 or by visiting

www.thearcmd.org. To reserve a room

at the Clarion Resort Fontainebleau, call

the hotel directly at 1-800-638-2100 or

go to its website, www.clarionoc.com.

A special group rate will be held until

April 11.

Wednesday, May 3 The Arc of Baltimore Annual Meeting and

Awards Banquet begins at 5 p.m. at

Towson University. Contact Lauren

Seabolt at 410-296-2272 or

lseabolt@arcofbaltimore.org to reserve

a seat.

2

LocalOrganizations

Share theHoliday Spirit

The 2005 holiday season may be but

a dim memory for many of us, but

dozens of families who have chil-

dren with special needs are still feeling its

warmth, thanks to generous employees

from Baltimore City Department of

Recreation and Parks—Therapeutic

Recreation Division and Legg Mason Capital

Management.

Personnel from the recreation centers

conducted a toy drive at their holiday party.

Staff responded with a tremendous

outpouring of charitable spirit, donating

hundreds of toys and games for The Arc of

Baltimore to distribute.

Employees from Legg Mason wanted to

sponsor four families—each of which has

at least one child with a developmental

disability—for the holidays. Corinne Ratliff,

an administrative assistant with Legg

Mason, explains, “We looked at a number

of different organizations that had families

that needed adopting. I talked to each

organization on the phone and

took the information to our

group. We then voted on which

ones we would go with.”

Ratliff recalls that almost every-

one was involved in some way with

this event—either by donating

money, shopping or wrapping.

Employees purchased gifts for the

children and mothers. The company

also donated a Best Buy gift card that

was used to purchase a big-screen

television for the Homeland Center.

“All that matters to us is that we

made a difference to some deserving

families,” Ratliff says.

One mother, who prefers to remain

anonymous, said she cried when The Arc

of Baltimore’s “Santa” delivered the

gifts for her family. “Then I cried all

over again on Christmas morning.

Without that help, my kids would

have had no presents to open.”

The Arc of Baltimore staff

salutes the holiday angels from

the Baltimore City Department

of Recreation and Parks—

Therapeutic Recreation

Division and Legg Mason

Capital Management for

sharing the holiday spirit.

The effects of their kindness

will be felt for years to

come. ■

...On behalf of the Pediatric Ambulatory Center and T.D. [initials

used to maintain confidentiality], I would like to sincerely thank

you for your assistance in helping us purchase a wheelchair.

Because of your generous contributions, T can be fed, receive

therapy as well as watch her mom and sibling from the comfort

of her own chair. T is now mobile in her new pink Convaid

Stroller/Wheelchair with head, leg and arm supports, and we

couldn't be happier for her. Mrs. D. reported that her daugher

appears happier and more alert since receiving the wheelchair.

Without organizaions such as yours, none of this would be

possible...

Kelley Talley,RN/University of Maryland School of Medicine/Pediatric

Ambulatory Center

.....Thank you so

much for what you

do for us. thank

s for the extra

help

towards a ramp for ou

r home for our

daughter. I appr

eciate all and

anything you ha

ve done and con

tinue

to do for our fa

mily. Your efforts do

not go without n

otice...

Heather Newcomb

Letters, We Get Letters!

“Thank you.” Just two small words, but they mean the world to

our staff members, who work so hard to enhance the lives of

people with disabilities. Here are some steller excerpts from

just a few of the many letters people have taken the time to send...

Just a few words of

thanks

for my son's [e

mployment]

award. You hav

e been most

kind in thinkin

g of him. We

do appreciate al

l the efforts

you have made

in pastyears.

It is comforting t

o me...to

have thoughtful

people caring

for my son...

Jean Rever

3

“When I first met Dimitra Vega, she

was my job coach at ACE

Uniform, and I couldn’t stand

her,” chuckles Doris Rowe, president of Helping

Hands, a self-advocacy group sponsored by The

Arc of Baltimore. “I was going through a very bad

time and having a lot of problems with my family

and friends.”

Since then, Rowe has done a 180-degree turn.

“I call Dimitra my adopted mom. She helped me

go from the bottom to the top. She picked me up

off the street and helped me find an apartment.

Every two weeks she takes me grocery shopping

and in between, she’ll call to see if I need anything

else, especially when she finds a sale.”

Vega feels the love. Now a community

employment case manager, she jokes with her

boss, “You can never fire me because Doris and

the Helping Hands wouldn’t stand for it. They

love me to death.”

The Helping Hands feel strongly about a lot of

other things besides Vega—not the least of which

is being included in all communities and having

full citizenship rights. As Rowe puts it, “We do not

belong in segregated institutions, sheltered work-

shops, special schools, or nursing homes. We can

live in the same community where you live and

work. We can work in worthwhile jobs, and we

know how to help each other. We are working

with other advocates to close Rosewood.”

The Helping Hands meet monthly, on the

third Saturday. This year’s priorities include

advocating for increases in wages, vacation time

and recognition for people working for The Arc

of Baltimore’s Employment Services Department.

“I went into Steve [Morgan, executive

director] and said, “I’m not demanding anything

because I know you are the boss, but the Helping

Hands want the people we serve in the employ-

ment and vocational services departments to get

pins for the number of years of service they work,

just like everyone else does.”

While visiting Morgan, Rowe also asked that

Dimitra Vega receive an award at the agency’s

annual meeting. Rowe says Vega deserves one

because “she opens the building for Helping

Hands meetings, makes copies of the agenda,

invites speakers, and takes us on picnics.” Morgan

explained the nomination process and suggested

that Rowe submit an entry form, which, naturally,

she has completed already.

That kind of follow-through is a hallmark of

the Helping Hands. In the fall, members sold Joe

Corbi pizza kits and added close to $300 for the

group’s coffers. They sponsored another

fundraiser that netted more than $250 for

disabled Katrina victims, and they purchased a

Thanksgiving dinner for a needy family.

Perhaps nowhere was the group’s persistence

as evident as it was during its campaign to banish

the word “retarded” from the association’s name.

Members’ efforts paid off: in 2001, the board of

directors approved a motion to change the name

Helping Hands Advocates Make Progressand Forge Friendships

from The Baltimore Association for Retarded

Citizens (BARC) to The Arc of Baltimore.

Rowe still discusses last year’s re-opening of the

renovated Homeland Center, during which the

“Baltimore Association for Retarded Citizens” sign

was taken down. Not one to rest on her laurels, she

keeps a vigilant lookout on signage throughout the

agency. Recently, she informed her peers that she

saw a “BARC” sign on the door of the Loch Ridge

Center. “We would like that sign to come down,”

she says, and she is already making plans for that to

happen.

Until then, Rowe and other Helping Hands

members will be busy advocating on behalf of

people with developmental disabilities during the

legislative session in Annapolis. Undoubtedly, they

also will campaign vigorously for Dimitra Vega’s

special award.

Vega is touched by their sentiments. “I enjoy

working with the Helping Hands very much. I

consider myself the middleman between their

voices and the staff of our agency. Right now, they

are looking for new members, so I sent emails to

case managers and job coaches and anyone else I

could think of who might know someone who

wanted to join the group.

“They call me ‘Mama’ and are so nice to me.

After the pizza fundraiser, I set aside a few [pizzas

she purchased] and put them in the oven to serve

for the Helping Hands’ lunch. I got distracted and

the pizzas burned to a crisp. I sent out for two

buckets of chicken, but the Helping Hands ate

every piece of that burnt pizza first because they

didn’t want to hurt my feelings.”

If you or someone you know is interested in

joining the Helping Hands, please call Dimitra Vega

at 410-296-2272, ext. 5341. ■

Dimitra Vega

Doris Rowe

4

2006 FamilySupport Series

Underway

Families and caregivers of children who

have special needs receive a variety of

supports from The Arc of Baltimore’s

Family and Children’s Services Division. Staff

members answer questions about Individual

Education Plans (IEPs) and assistive technolo-

gy, locate respite care, and share information

about financial aid resources.

Also, the division offers an annual family

support series. This year’s series began with a

networking forum, during which families

shared personal experiences, as well as a

session about trusts, guardianships and other

ways to plan for children’s futures.

Don’t miss out on this outstanding educational

opportunity. Mark your calendars for the

remaining four meetings!

April 26, 6-9 p.m.

Child and Daycare IssuesDiscover what is available to you and your

child; discuss integrated childcare options and

learn about family co-ops.

June 28, 6-9 p.m.

SiblingsFocus on how siblings play a key part in your

family and learn what support networks are

available to assist them.

September 27, 6-9 p.m.

Parents as AdvocatesEmpower yourself and other family members

to be advocates for special education issues.

November 29, 6-9 p.m.

Supporting Children with SevereDisabilities at HomeGet the latest information on available

supports and learn valuable tips to help you

care for your child at home.

All meetings feature special guest speakers as

well as an opportunity for participants to share

information or ask questions. A light dinner is

provided, and childcare is offered.

Call 410-296-2272 (ext. 5349) to register for

one of the meetings and to receive future

mailings. If you require special accommoda-

tions, please contact Ori Natividad at

410-296-2272, ext. 5338 or by e-mail at

onatividad@arcofbaltimore.org. ■

A Look at the ABCs of IEPs

Most people have heard of an Individual Education

Program (IEP), but not everyone can tell you a lot

about it. This article fills in some of the missing links.

What is an IEP? An IEP is a written statement of an educational program

designed to meet a child’s individual needs. Every child who receives special

education must have an IEP.

What is the purpose of an IEP? The IEP serves two general functions. The

first is to help parents and educators set reasonable learning goals for a

child. The second is to specify the services a school system will provide for

that child.

Who serves on the IEP team? An IEP team is composed of people who

make decisions about whether or not a child needs special education

services and, if so, what kind. Parents are important members of the IEP

team and must be formally notified about when and where an IEP meeting

will be held. The meetings should take place at a mutually agreeable time

and place. If a parent or caregiver cannot attend at the time suggested, he or

she should call their school contact immediately to arrange a more

convenient time.

As a parent, how can I prepare for an IEP meeting? School representatives

generally bring written reports and drafts of goals and objectives to IEP

meetings. Remember that asking questions and providing input are part of

your parental responsibility! So jot down your concerns, questions and

goals before the IEP meeting. You may also prepare by:

● observing your child in class

● having a conference with your child’s teacher/s

● sharing your concerns about his/her progress and/or behavior with the

school

● offering suggestions

● reviewing your child’s school records

● requesting assessment results

● inviting someone to accompany you if you think that will be helpful

● getting clarification on points you do not understand

● asking for definitions and/or explanations of terms with which you are

unfamiliar

Can you suggest some good resources for families? Absolutely! A few that

come to mind are:

Parent’s Place of Maryland

www.ppmd.org

info@ppmd.org

410-768-9100

Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC)

www.mdlcbalto.org

410-727-6352

Maryland Center for Inclusive Education (MCIE)

www.mcie.org

mcie@mcie.org

410-859-5400

The Arc of Baltimore

Family & Children Division

www.arcofbaltimore.org

410-296-2272, extension 5346

— submitted by Joseph Anastasio,

Assistant Executive Director for Family & Children Services ■

5

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Governor Robert L. Ehrlich’s

proposed FY 2007 state

budget includes a series of

disability initiatives designed to lower

unemployment levels and support

more people in their communities.

The budget proposal includes full funding of a $16.2M

Community Workers’ Wage Initiative and a $7.689M

Transitioning Youth Initiative. An additional $10M is provided

for 1,225 individuals on the Waiting List as well as 40 people

who will be served through the Waiting List Equity Fund.

Additional employment-related initiatives include:

● Increased funding for attendant care to support people

going to work or seeking higher education

● Job training for youth who are transitioning from school to

employment

● New efforts to support youth with learning disabilities who

enroll in community college

“This budget will fully implement a Medicaid Buy-In for

Maryland workers with disabilities,” says Governor Ehrlich. “It

is estimated that more than 1,500 people with disabilities in

Maryland will seek re-employment under the new Buy-In

provisions, enabling them to return to work without losing

their health coverage under Medicaid.”

Additional Budget Highlights● $2.7M for emergencies—a $700,000 increase over last year’s

emergency funds, which were depleted halfway through the

fiscal year.

● $412,800 to coordinate resources to implement legislation

designed to extend rights to people in state residential

centers

● $1.75M for transportation subsidies to service providers

● $200,000 for the Special Olympics

Action NeededPlease contact the Governor to thank him for his

developmental disability initiatives. You can email him at

www.gov.state.md.us or write to Governor Robert

Ehrlich/State House/Annapolis, MD. 21401-1925. If you prefer,

simply call 1-800-811-8336.

With gratitude for your help,

Stephen H. Morgan

Executive Director

Governor Launches $90M in Disability Initiatives

Non-ProfitOrg.U.S. Postage

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regard to race,color,religion,sex,age,marital status,

national origin,medical condition or disability.

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