Please Help MDLC Plan Our Advocacy Services
Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC) is the only legal services organization exclusively
focused on providing free advocacy assistance to people with all types of disabilities, of all ages,
statewide. Given the huge demand for our services, we need the disability community’s help to
determine where to concentrate our limited resources. We will use this survey information to
develop our 2016 Advocacy Services Plan.
We appreciate your time and effort in replying to this survey by August 15th. If you need
assistance to fill out this survey, or alternate formats or languages, please contact our office at
410-727-6352 Ext. 0 or feedback@mdlclaw.org.
Please begin by telling us a little about yourself.
Which of the following best describe you (select all that apply):
___Person with a developmental disability
___Person with psychiatric disability
___Person with physical disability
___Person with sensory disability
___Person with a traumatic brain injury
___Person with learning disability
___Family member
___Advocate
___Service Provider
___Other ________________________
Race/Ethnicity (select all that apply):
___American Indian/Alaska Native
___Asian
___Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
___Black/African American
___Hispanic/Latino/Spanish Origin
___White/Caucasian
___Multiracial
___Other ________________________
Geographic Area:
___Greater Baltimore Area
___Greater DC area
___Eastern Shore
___Southern Maryland
___ Western Maryland
___Other _______________
A summary of MDLC’s Advocacy Services Plan is included at the end of this survey. To view
the full 2014 Plan, please visit: http://www.mdlclaw.org/services-and-programs/
1500 Union Avenue, Suite 2000 ● Baltimore, Maryland 21211
Phone: 410-727-6352 ● TTY: 443-285-5387 ● Fax: 410-727-6389 ● www.mdlclaw.org
In what areas is MDLC’s legal help most important for people with disabilities in your
community? 1 = most important
2 = somewhat important
3 = not important
_____ Investigating Abuse and Neglect
_____ Developmental Disabilities Services
_____ Medicaid Services
_____ Special Education
_____ Social Security Benefits
_____ Leaving Facilities/Community Integration
_____ Outreach & Training of Volunteer Attorneys
_____ Monitoring State Facilities
_____ Mental Health Services
_____ Criminal/Juvenile Justice
_____ Housing
_____ Voting
_____ Traumatic Brain Injury Advocacy
_____ Transportation
_____ Other _________________________________________________
1. Which areas do you believe are MOST important, and why?
2. Please tell us what you like about MDLC’s current Advocacy Services Plan:
3. Please tell us what you do not like about MDLC’s current Advocacy Services Plan:
4. Is there anything not listed in MDLC’s current Advocacy Services Plan that you think should
be added?
5. MDLC provides legal representation to individuals and also works on issues that affect large
groups of people, called systemic advocacy. Do you believe MDLC has the right balance
between individual cases and systemic advocacy?
6. Do you have any other ideas for how MDLC could improve its services?
7. Would you like to share an example of how MDLC services benefitted you or your
community in the past year?
Please return the completed form to MDLC by August 15th by mail, fax or email:
Mail: MDLC, 1500 Union Ave., Suite 2000, Baltimore, MD 21211
Fax: (410) 727-6389
E-mail: feedback@mdlclaw.org
Thank you for your help!
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2014 Advocacy Services Plan Summary
Maryland Disability Law Center’s 2014 Statement of Advocacy Services is summarized
below. To view the full document, please visit http://www.mdlclaw.org/services-andprograms/
Children’s Mental Health: MDLC works to ensure that children diagnosed with a
psychiatric disorder have access to an array of high quality community-based mental
health services. The legal rights of children who are in psychiatric residential treatment
centers and hospitals must be safeguarded.
Adult Mental Health: MDLC advocates for people with a psychiatric disability to have
access to safe and affordable housing, high quality community-based services that are
recovery oriented and self-directed. Psychiatric hospitals must provide trauma sensitive
environments that are free from harm, coercion and force.
Developmental Disabilities: MDLC works to ensure that individuals with
developmental disabilities have access to high quality services in the community. All
individuals with developmental disabilities must be free from abuse and neglect, with
appropriate safeguards to ensure their legal and civil rights.
Assistive Technology: MDLC’s advocacy includes helping people with disabilities
access Assistive Technology that will improve their independence and ability to
communicate with others. Communication is essential for health, education, work,
safety, social connections, and self-reliance.
Education: MDLC advocates for children and youth with disabilities to receive a free
and appropriate public education in compliance with state and federal special education
laws, and for families to have the knowledge and resources to exercise their rights
under these laws.
Nursing Facilities: MDLC provides nursing facility residents with effective information
about their options for living in the community and assistance in obtaining appropriate
Medicaid waivers and other programs designed to facilitate their movement to high
quality community-based services.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: MDLC helps individuals with traumatic brain injuries obtain
high quality community-based services to avoid unnecessary and harmful
institutionalization.
Civil Rights in Public Programs: MDLC challenges discrimination that impedes the
opportunities of people with disabilities to be included in our communities. MDLC’s
work includes expanding access to affordable and accessible housing, public
transportation, and participation in school athletic programs.
Social Security: MDLC ensures that Social Security beneficiaries receive appropriate
services and assistance, including reliable public transportation, transition planning from
school to work, and continuing Medicaid/ Medicare services to support them in meeting
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employment goals.
Voting Rights: MDLC ensures that individuals with disabilities who are of voting age
have the opportunity to participate fully in the voting process, including being able to
register and to vote privately and independently.
Medicaid: MDLC advocates for Maryland’s Medicaid program to be structured in a way
that enables people with disabilities to live in the most integrated, least restrictive
settings, and to have meaningful access to client-centered, equitable programs that
allow them to live productive, fulfilling lives.
Public Policy: To the extent permitted under federal law and by funding sources,
MDLC engages in public policy advocacy primarily at the state level on issues affecting
people with disabilities, including the issues set forth above and expanded financial
support for programs serving people with disabilities.
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