Maryland Equity Coalition for People with Disabilities Convenes with 35 Member Groups
A coalition of 35 organizations committed to helping all Marylanders access disability services is now working together for the first time. The coalition will provide education and information to help people successfully navigate language and cultural barriers that impede access to disability services.
The Maryland Equity Coalition for People with Disabilities (Equity Coalition) is an outgrowth of ongoing coalition work to help Maryland’s Hispanic community access disability services. Now, that work includes Maryland’s Asian and Ethiopian/Eritrean communities. The coalition is also serving other underserved communities that face challenges in accessing disability services and welcomes new members.
“By bringing together trusted cultural organizations and disability service providers, we’re able to help families learn about and access disability services,” said Jubilee’s Lisa Lorraine. She co-chairs the coalition and manages Jubilee’s Breaking Barriers program, which helps people navigate language, culture, technology, and other barriers to disability services. “We see firsthand that when we can explain disability services in both the language people are most comfortable speaking and with an awareness of cultural differences—more people successfully access disability services.”
“Language, economic, and cultural barriers are all factors that negatively impact Asian-Americans access to disability services,” said Ariel La, co-chair of the Equity Coalition and co-founder of Promoting Meaningful Interaction and Social Engagement (PROMISE). “These issues are found across many communities, and by working together in the coalition we can help all Marylanders with disabilities better access services.”
In addition to helping people with information and education on disability resources, the coalition will also advocate for policies and legislation that help create a more equitable Maryland for all.
“We plan to build on the advocacy work many of our partner organizations are undertaking,” said Rosie Rivera Lily, chair of the coalition’s advocacy committee and Director of Equity and Engagement at The Parents’ Place of Maryland (PPMD). “We’re advocating for government funding for language access plans at state agencies and for cultural broker work that helps people navigate the complex system of applying for disability services.”
Organizations interested in joining the coalition should contact Lisa Lorraine at llorrraine@jubileemd.org. Full list of coalition partners below
- Amigo Care ABA
- The Arc Maryland
- The Arc Prince George’s County
- Ariana G. Collective, LLC
- Autism Society of Maryland
- Avanzos Educational and Behavioral Services
- Brown on the Spectrum
- Chinese Culture and Community Services Center, Inc.
- Choice and Control Inc.
- College Living Experience (CLE)
- Community Options, Inc.
- Disability Rights Maryland
- Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County, Inc.
- Ethiopian Eritrean Special Needs Community Inc.
- Independence Now
- Jubilee Association of Maryland
- Maryland Coalition of Families
- Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
- Maryland Inclusive Housing
- Montgomery Disability Advocates
- The Parents’ Place of MD
- Partnership for Extraordinary Minds
- People On the Go Maryland
- Potomac Community Resources, Inc. (PCR)
- Promoting Meaningful Interaction and Social Engagement (PROMISE)
- Rock Creek Foundation
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington
- SEEC
- Self Directed Advocacy Network of Maryland
- Service Coordination Inc.
- Special Education Equal Development Society (SEEDS)
- Speech Garden
- SupAbilities
- The Treatment and Learning Centers, Inc. (TLC)
- University of Maryland College Park, Special Education Program