Following the first televised debate this morning where he laid out his plan to move Maryland forward, Governor O’Malley spent the afternoon at the Maryland Disabilities Forum addressing the importance of empowering every Marylander.  The Governor highlighted inclusive polices put in place under his administration to improve the quality of life for every Marylander.

“We all need one another, each of us is important and needed.  There is no such thing as a spare Marylander or spare American,” said Governor O’Malley.  “To move forward, you deserve a government that works and fights for you,… and therefore you deserve a Governor who fights on your side every day and in every way.”

O’Malley continued, “The most important days in life are not always the easy days, they are the hard and challenging days when, nonetheless, we chose to make a new tomorrow by moving forward.  Even through these tough times, we’re always fighting on the side of all Marylanders.”

The O’Malley-Brown administration has worked over the past four years to protect and advance the rights, support systems and opportunities of individuals with disabilities.  Their accomplishments include:

• Under the O’Malley-Brown administration, the number of individuals with disabilities receiving services has increased dramatically from 6,572 in 2008 to over 11,000 in 2010.
• The wait list for individuals with disabilities has decreased from 4,703 to 1,304 and there is currently no waiting list for individuals with the most significant disabilities.  The average time on the wait list has also dropped from 18 months to 4 to 6 months.

• Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown invested $10.4 million into Maryland’s Infants and Toddlers Program, facilitating a 50% increase in the number of children receiving early intervention services since 2003.

• To encourage the hiring of Marylanders with disabilities, Governor O’Malley appointed the Secretary of the Department of Disabilities as a permanent representative on the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board.

• Governor O’Malley provided $6.4 million to make state buildings and properties more accessible.
• Governor O’Malley led the fight to pass legislation that requires public places to activate closed captioning when requested.
• The O’Malley-Brown administration closed the Rosewood Institution–a center known for abuse and neglect–and successfully transitioned its residents to other community homes.

• In order to fight the stigma placed on individuals with disabilities, Governor O’Malley worked with families and advocates to remove the “R” word from state health and education codes.

To learn more about the O’Malley-Brown administration’s record on supporting individuals with disabilities, click here.