Episode 19

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Published on:

15th Jul 2025

The Abilities of People w/ Developmental Disabilities

Today on Room at the Table, Laura Howell and Mat Rice discuss the critical work they do for people with developmental disabilities in Maryland. They share insights on navigating funding shifts, advocating for rights, and combating misinformation. The conversation highlights the importance of treating those with disabilities with respect and dignity. Laura, representing Maryland Association of Community Services, and Mat, the Executive Director of People on the Go Maryland, detail their organizations' efforts to secure funding, provide support, and educate the public. They emphasize the power of grassroots advocacy and the recent victory in restoring over a billion dollars in budget cuts. The podcast underscores the need for inclusive workplaces and encourages listeners to support and advocate for people with disabilities.

Timestamps:

  • (00:00) Intro: Creating equitable and inclusive workplaces for all
  • (01:27) Navigating state and federal funding shifts for disability organizations
  • (06:28) People on the Go's anti-fascism training
  • (15:58) Developmental disabilities in today’s society
  • (18:50) Advocacy wins and challenges in Maryland
  • (26:59) Maryland as model employer for disability inclusion
  • (33:31) How listeners can support people with disabilities
  • (37:15) Closing remarks and a call to action

Key Takeaways:

  • Grassroots Advocacy Power: The developmental disabilities community has an incredibly strong grassroots advocacy movement, rooted in parents' historical fight against institutionalization. This movement now includes self-advocates with disabilities, creating a powerful force for change.
  • Budget Battle Victory: In a remarkable advocacy effort, the developmental disabilities community in Maryland successfully restored over $1 billion in funding cuts. This unprecedented win demonstrates the impact of unified, persistent grassroots action.
  • Rethinking Job Requirements: Outdated job descriptions often include unnecessary physical requirements that exclude qualified candidates with disabilities. Employers should critically examine these requirements to ensure they're not missing out on talented individuals.
  • People with developmental disabilities are part of every conceivable human group. We support the whole person, including all aspects of their identity. It's crucial that organizations can provide inclusive support without having to hide or change how they assist people due to political pressures or funding concerns.

Guest Bio: 

Mat Rice currently serves as the executive director and advocacy coordinator at People On the Go Maryland (People On the Go). He is a disability advocate and former student at the Maryland School for the Blind and Parkville High School. Mat has served as a support broker and administrative support assistant for Shared Support Maryland, Inc. where he worked for over four years.

Mr. Rice was formerly the public policy director and project lead for the Empowering Partners self-advocacy initiative at The Arc Maryland. He also served as the public policy specialist for People On the Go. Mr. Rice has been instrumental in educating legislators on issues which impact the quality of life for people with disabilities in Maryland.

As a leader in the community, he served as the lead facilitator on the Equal Employment Coalition to help pass the Ken Capone Equal Employment Act. Additionally, Mr. Rice served as a board member of Maryland Association of Community Services and MD Works, Inc., and he currently serves as the chair of the Developmental Disabilities Administration Quality Advisory Council.

Since 2003, Laura Howell has served as the CEO of the Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS), a non-profit association of over 120 agencies providing community-based support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  For ten years, Laura served as the Chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Coalition, a statewide coalition that engages in advocacy and education to improve the lives of Marylanders with developmental disabilities. 

Laura has led several successful advocacy campaigns, including passage of first-in-the-nation legislation to link funding for direct support wages to an increase in the state minimum wage.

Laura’s work is rooted in her belief that all Marylanders deserve the opportunity to live full lives in their communities.  For over twenty years, she has worked to support innovative, quality community supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to promote the growth and professional developmental of direct support professionals and community providers.

In 2015, Laura was named one of the 51 Most Influential Marylanders by The Daily Record. In 2017 she and the organization she leads, MACS, was named one of the Innovators of the Year by The Daily Record for work that they did in supporting IDD providers in transforming supports to achieve greater self direction and community inclusion. 

Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and a Master’s degree in Community Planning, from the University of Maryland Baltimore.

Resources & Mentions:

Tags:

developmental disabilities advocacy, disability rights, community support services, Medicaid funding, state budget cuts, grassroots advocacy, inclusive workplaces, disability employment, anti-fascism training, LGBTQ disability rights, People on the Go Maryland, Maryland Association of Community Services, disability policy, developmental disability awareness, disability community organizing, disability legislation, reasonable accommodations, disability workforce inclusion, disability budget restoration, disability lived experience, disability self-advocacy, disability education, disability support organizations, disability public policy, disability community empowerment

Transcript
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Room at the Table: Building Culture by Breaking Barriers
Gather around the table for conversations about creating equitable and inclusive workplaces where leaders rise above mediocrity and teams thrive.
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