Gov. notes strides on anniversary of disabilities act
Gov. Martin O'Malley celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act yesterday by highlighting his administration's strides in that arena and presenting citations to advocates of the issue.
O'Malley told hundreds of disabled people and their families and caregivers, who'd gathered at Camden Yards, that "there's no such thing as a spare individual" and "God loves even partial victories."
The Democratic governor, who is seeking reelection this fall, echoed themes of his stump speeches, saying jobs are key to protecting Maryland families and even leading the group on a "we move forward, not back," chant.
His administration, he said, has overseen a 200 percent increase in enrollment in the state's Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program.
He said he has also increased by more than 50 percent investments "to create employment and higher education opportunities for young people with disabilities," beefed up a program for infants and toddlers and helped integrate former Rosewood residents into the community.
In 2008, O'Malley shuttered the Rosewood Center in Baltimore County, which had been the controversial home to as many as 3,000 patients at its peak, many of them disabled. The aging property had largely fallen into disrepair.
But one sticky issue for O'Malley has been his unwillingness to back an increase in alcohol taxes as a way to provide more funding to disability programs. The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, which has been pushing the "dime a drink" plan for years, recently vowed to revive the issue next year and is asking legislative candidates to pledge their support.
