Advocacy Call: Critical Funding for Marylanders with Disabilities

Urge the Governor and the General Assembly to Include no less than a 4% Increase for DDA Community Services in the FY 2021 Budget!

In the minimum wage legislation passed in 2019, the legislature included a mandate that the Governor include a 4% increase in his budget for developmental disability services. This funding is critical to ensuring minimally adequate funding for the direct support workforce, transportation, training, and other key components to making greater community inclusion a reality.

Without this increase, wages for direct support professionals will sink to historic lows, and people who rely on community supports will see their opportunities for community life and work threatened.

Community Services for Marylanders with Developmental Disabilities have reached an absolute workforce crisis. Without the 4% increase, the ongoing availability of community supports will be in jeopardy


Take Action Now

Please send a letter to Governor Hogan by no later than Monday, December 2nd, 2019!

It is critically important to let him know how important DDA community supports are to you/your loved one’s quality of life and how important it is for those supports to be funded at a level that provides quality support, including Direct Support Professionals.

A handwritten (or typed) letter is most effective, but an email is an excellent alternative. What is most important is that you take a few minutes to write to Governor Hogan by December 2, 2019!

  • Guidelines and talking points for DSP’s and Clients/Families are provided below.
  • Email Messages can be sent via this link: https://governor.maryland.gov/contact-the-governor
  • If sending an email message, under Message Topic, select “Developmental Disabilities Administration” before composing your message.

Thank you for your advocacy!

Guidelines and Talking Points for Advocates:

CLIENTS & FAMILIES

Direct Support Professionals