Overview of Disability Law Centers
Disability Law Centers, which are funded by the federal government and the states, exist to help individuals with disabilities understand, assert and protect their rights. They provide free legal assistance to eligible individuals and families with disabilities.
These centers offer a wealth of valuable services—many states boast impressive track records. And most operate with some degree of autonomy, meaning that each state’s laws and regulations will largely determine what services its disability law center provides. In Maryland, the Disability Law Center of Maryland provides assistance to the state’s residents. For children and adults with disabilities, the center offers support and guidance in a number of areas. It helps parents and caregivers , too. Services and resources include but are not limited to:
• Information and referrals to other resources and agencies
• Public policy advocacy
• Individual level case representation on cases involving SSI, disability and Medicaid
• Community outreach to identify those in need of legal assistance
• Information to public agencies on the legal rights of people with disabilities
• Training and legal education to members of the private bar, public agencies, and other public and private entities
Cases must have an impact. This means that at least 100 people are affected in the state. Priority is given to under-represented populations, and to cases that lead to system change.
Services Provided by Disability Law Centers in Maryland
In Maryland, Disability Law Centers (DLCs) are non-profit organizations dedicated to providing legal assistance and representation to individuals with disabilities. Although each DLC has slightly different programs and case parameters, almost all of them provide the following services: Advocacy. Advocacy services vary from center to center, but can include everything from legal representation for clients in need of services from third-party disability service providers to advocating on behalf of individuals with disabilities to protective agencies such as the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration. Legal representation. DLCs provide comprehensive legal services for their clients, ensuring that Marylanders with disabilities are represented in any proceedings in which their rights are at stake. This includes representation at least of individuals receiving government benefits, as well as any other venue in which their rights are being called into question. Guidance on disability rights. DLCs understand the complexities of disability law better than likely anyone else within state, local and federal entities, and are available to help individuals with disabilities navigate the maze of disability rights law.
Accessing Disability Law Center Services in Maryland
The process for accessing services from Maryland disability law centers is quite simple. Individuals or families in need of legal services may contact their nearest Maryland disability law center over the phone or via the internet. Centers include the Maryland Coalition of Families for Mental Health and Disability Rights Maryland. The Maryland Coalition of Families for Mental Health focuses its practice area on family related issues while Disability Rights Maryland provides a broader range of legal services including special education issues.
Most centers will recommend contacting them first for a brief discussion as they may be able to provide you with helpful information over the phone. In some cases, eligibility may still need to be confirmed through an online request form or by a personal visit to the center for a short interview. Each center will have its own guidelines so following instructions outlined by the center that fits your needs is important. If you do not qualify for the services provided by a center, you will most likely be provided with information on who else to contact.
Success Stories from the Maryland Disability Law Center
Maryland Disability Law Centers, through their skilled attorneys and dedicated personnel, have achieved some notable successes for individuals with disabilities in the state. One of the most common situations where these centers have made a significant impact is in helping clients obtain necessary benefits and public assistance, often after appeals have been made on their behalf. A well-documented case study involves an individual client whose benefits were wrongfully denied initially, but whose application and appeal was eventually approved by the Social Security Administration after an appeal and hearing. Several disability law centers in Maryland, including the Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC), have worked with community groups to ensure that individuals with disabilities are treated fairly under the law. MDLC, in particular, has numerous success stories reported on its website that involve assisting clients in receiving Social Security benefits by appealing initially denials, winning special education placements for children with disabilities, and representing individuals in guardianship matters. Another way disability law centers have helped clients is through the resolution of workplace disability discrimination cases. Centers across the state have fought for disabled clients who have been turned away from competitive employment situations , or who have filed workers’ compensation claims due to injuries sustained in the workplace. Many disability law centers participate in special efforts to provide full economic opportunities to people with disabilities, facilitating meaningful employment or career advancement by providing representation to remove barriers to employment. Additionally, Maryland disability law centers have positive statistics to demonstrate their overall impact on the rights of individuals with disabilities. For example, in the year 2012, Maryland disability law centers handled approximately 4,000 legal cases, according to the Maryland Disabilities Law Center’s annual report. The majority of cases were filed for issues involving Social Security disability benefits, along with a considerable amount for housing tenancy, discrimination and abusive guardianships. Additionally, disability law centers have tried to uphold the voting rights of individuals with disabilities, protecting their ability to vote while ensuring support services are accessible to them, while also participating in outreach and education efforts to increase awareness about disabilities and the rights of disabled individuals. Overall, disability law centers in Maryland have made a significant contribution to providing legal and financial guidance to individuals with disabilities so they may uphold their rights under both federal and state laws.
Disability Law Center Challenges of the Future
Disability law centers in Maryland often face numerous challenges as they strive to protect and enhance the rights of individuals with disabilities. One primary challenge stems from limited funding and resources. Many disability law centers rely on a combination of federal, state, and private funding, which can be insufficient to meet the growing demand for their services. This can lead to long waiting lists and case backlogs, hindering access to legal advocacy for those in need.
Another challenge is the constantly evolving nature of disability law. Federal and state laws related to disability are subject to change and interpretation, necessitating ongoing training and education of disability law center staff. This can be a resource-intensive process, as staff must stay current on legal developments and trends in order to provide accurate and effective legal advice and representation.
In addition, disability law centers in Maryland often have to navigate complex and bureaucratic processes when dealing with government agencies and institutions. This can be particularly challenging when advocating for disability accommodations, housing rights, or access to healthcare. Legal advocates may face resistance from these entities, requiring additional time and effort to successfully advocate for their clients.
Finally, disability law centers may face public misconceptions and stigma surrounding disability, which can hinder their efforts to raise awareness and promote their services to a broader audience. Despite these challenges, disability law centers remain committed to serving their communities and advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
The Future of Disability Law in Maryland
The future of disability law centers in Maryland will not only depend on the continued future of legal services funding, but also on the continued willingness of the Centers to evolve to meet changing legal issues and needs. Emerging areas of the law, or new and unique ways in which the law and public benefits impact people with disabilities, are always ahead of us.
New legislation or regulations affecting the eligibility standards for government benefits can also have a significant impact. We know, for example, that new laws impacting the public benefits systems are pending. In the coming year, we can expect to see new legislation based on probability for issues like Medicaid Managed Care, Work Incentives for SSDI and SSI Beneficiaries and Housing Access. Strategies for making public benefits relevant to employment is becoming increasingly important, and these conversations include exploring permission granted for businesses to pay a person with disabilities less than minimum wage , though this could also continue to be taked about as an issue of discrimination.
It is hard to predict what the legal landscape will look like in 10, or even 2 years, so we should not count on specific legal areas to develop. In addition to new issues, effective advocacy will continue to require people who are willing to do the detail work of understanding the law, of collecting stories and evidence from real people, and of developing practical solutions to real problems.
A strong network of advocates in Maryland will allow us to continue to address legal issues and problems that arise through administrative processes as they affect our clients. In contrast, a weak network of advocates does not allow us, or our clients, to proactively prevent issues from arising, address the legal problems quickly enough for the people we serve, or effectively pressures state and federal officials to understand and address systemic barriers that affect people with disabilities and their families.