Publications
Please contact MDLC at 1.800.233.7201 if you would like any of the following documents in alternative format(s).
Special Education
1. Special Education Rights: A Handbook for Maryland Families and Professionals (PDF format) 2009 edition – a 62 page handbook designed as a guide for helping families navigate the special education system and IEP process. Includes sample forms and letters.
(This document is formatted for double-sided printing and will contain
2 blank pages if printed single-sided).
2. Extended School Year Services (PDF format) an advocate’s guide to the legal issues involved in obtaining ESY services for school-aged children. This 28-page outline was developed with a grant from, and posted with the permission of, the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Services (now called National Disability Rights Network).
3. Schoolhouse Legal Services (PDF format) – a 2-page brochure describing a joint project between MDLC, Legal Aid Bureau, and Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service to provide information and/or representation to children removed from school.
4. Chronology of the Vaughn G. special education lawsuit against Baltimore City Public City Schools. This documents sets out the history of the case from 1988 to 2008.
5. In the Name of Treatment: A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Your Child From the Use of Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusions. This 18-page handbook produced by the Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions, and Seclusion (APRAIS) can be downloaded from their website by visiting: www.aprais.org. Hard copies are available for $5 by calling 410-828-8274. *This is not an MDLC publication.
6. Special education and juvenile justice power point presentation (approx. 60 slides) October 2010.
7. Obtaining Special Education Services for Children with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). January 2011.
Social Security
1. Social Security Administration Ticket to Work fact sheets (PDF format) – a series of fact sheets in Question and Answer format, describing the Social Security Administration’s Ticket to Work program.
General Ticket to Work Information
What Can an Employment Network Do For Me?
Choosing an Employment Network
Your Rights in the Ticket to Work Program
Ticket to Work Grievance Process
2. Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) worksheet. Also known as the “Medicaid Buy-In”. This check sheet will help you determine if you may qualify to buy Medicaid. October 2008.
Children’s Medicaid Services
1. Accessing Mental Health Services for Children in Maryland Through the Medical Assistance Medicaid EPSDT Benefit - a fact sheet for you to use in order to help a child under the age of 21 to get medically necessary services through the Medical Assistance program. Sept. 2009
Sample Service Request Letter (Microsoft Word)
Sample Follow-Up Letter (Microsoft Word)
2a. Accessing Services for Children with Developmental Disabilities in Maryland through Medical Assistance/Medicaid and MCHP: a 10-page handbook about using Medicaid, Medical Assistance, and Maryland Children’s Health Program to get services for children with developmental disabilities. Sept 2009
2b. Access to Children’s Medical Services Through Medical Assistance. A short, easy-to-read version of the handbook listed above (document #2a). Sept 2009
3. Access to Children’s Mental Health Services Through Medical Assistance. (Microsoft Word) Sept 2009
4a. Maryland’s Autism Waiver; A Practical Guide for Families - a 33-page guide for families to use in order to get medically necessary services for a child under age 21 who is diagnosed with autism. December 2004.
4b. Maryland’s Autism Waiver: Summary of Rights: a 2-page summary of your child’s rights in the Autism Waiver program.
4c. Sample Service Request Letter for the Autism Waiver (Microsoft Word document) – this document is also included in the Practical Guide as Appendix C.
4d. Sample Hearing Request Letter for the Autism Waiver (Microsoft Word document) – this document is also included in the Practical Guide as Appendix D.
5. Evidence-Based Practices for Delinquent Youth with Mental Illness in Maryland: Medicaid Must Cover These Cost Effective Services. (PDF format) This public report issued January 31, 2007 makes the case that Maryland must cover three evidence-based practices (EBPs) for delinquent youth with mental illness who need them under the State’s Medicaid program. These practices — Functional Family Therapy, Multisystemic Therapy, and Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care — have been demonstrated to reduce juvenile violence and delinquency, thus improving outcomes for youth and saving states money at the same time. MDLC makes recommendations for state agency action to add these practices to its State Medicaid Plan and take advantage of federal matching funds that other states have been able to receive for these services.
6. Assistive Technology: School to Community Transition Project. A short pamphlet describing MDLC’s work in this area. January 2011.
Adult Medicaid Services
1. Accessing Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities through Maryland Medical Assistance/ Medicaid - A 10-page handbook in “question and answer” format. June 2008
2. Get the Health Care and Other Services You Need Under Medicaid/ Medical Assistance – a 6 page document for self-advocates. This is also available as a folded booklet by calling our office. September 2008
3. Money Follows the Individual Accountability Act of 2004 (Microsoft Word)- A 2-page summary of a new law effective July 1, 2004 to help people who want to move out of a nursing facility.
4. How to Obtain Assistive Technology Communication Devices from Medical Assistance. January 2011
Developmental Disabilities
1. Guide to DDA and Waiver Services: This 3-pg handout will help people who already are part of a DDA waiver to obtain necessary services.
2. Rosewood Center: A Demand for Closure. (PDF format) This public report issued February 1, 2007 documents violations of rights, inadequate treatment, illegal use of restraint and seclusion, failure to protect from harm, continued illegal segregation of persons with intellectual disabilities, the failed mission within the forensic program (including individuals determined “incompetent to stand trial”) and unjustifiable institutional costs. MDLC makes recommendations for closing the institution and taking advantage of new federal money to transfer individuals to the community.
Voting
1. Voter Hotline Bill of Rights
2. Ensuring the full particpation of people with disabilities in the voting process
3. Voting Rights for People with Mental Disabilities fact sheet (PDF from the Bazelon Center and NDRN)
4. Voter Assistance fact sheet (PDF from Bazelon Center and NDRN)
Students in Sports
1. Physical Activity for Students with Disabilities: Leveling the Playing Field. A 2-page fact sheet about student athletes with disabilities.
2. Fitness and Athletic Equity law (Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, § 7-4B)
3. Corollary Athletic Programs (Code of Maryland Regulations, COMAR 13A.06.04)
Guardianship
1. Guardianship and Its Alternatives: A Handbook on Maryland Law. (PDF format) An 88-page handbook by University of Maryland School of Law, Law & Healthcare Program, and the Maryland State Bar Association.
MDLC DVDs
1. SunShineFolk: The Sun Shines Brighter at Home. (2007) A link to YouTube website to view a 10 minute film by people with disabilities who left nursing facilities to live in their own homes.
2. Living Free. (2006) A 12 minute film about people with disabilities choosing to live in their own homes rather than in institutions.
3. Behind Closed Doors (2007). A 20 minute film about 4 women struggling to reconcile violnce within the psychiatric system.
4. Healing Neen (2010). A 54 minute film following one woman’s powerful transformation from homelessness, addiction, and incarceration to becoming a nationally renowned speaker on the devatating effects of untreated trauma ….. and the hope of recovery.
MDLC Annual Reports and general material
1. 2009-2010 Annual Report to the Community (PDF)
2. 2007-2008 Annual Report to the Community (PDF)
3. 2006-2007 Annual Report to the Community (PDF)
4. Client grievance policy (PDF) and grievance form (PDF)
Spanish
1. Click on these links for the Spanish version of Special Education Rights handbook, 2009: Educacion especial, derechos (Text).
2. Acceso a Servicios de Salud para Niños con Necesidades Especiales Maryland Medicaid or MCHP (Microsoft Word) medical
3. Acceso a Servicios de Salud Mental para niños que reciben Medicaid/ Medical Assistance y MCHP en Maryland (Microsoft Word) mental health