Developmental Disabilities

SUSAN AND DAN Dotson weren't thinking wills and trusts eight years ago when their son, Matt, was born with cerebral palsy.Initially, the Columbia couple was swept up in doctors' visits and physical therapy for Matt, who can't walk and communicates through gestures and body language. They lobbied to get him into preschool and then into a neighborhood grade school, where the Dotsons thought Matt had the best chance to make friends.But two years ago, with Matt a popular kid in school, the Dotsons began financially planning for the time when they would no longer be alive to care for their firstborn.

For 87 days, Mark Wheatley has been locked in a psychiatric ward at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Baltimore man was ready to leave two months ago, but no person, no agency would take him: In addition to having a psychiatric problem, he is also mentally retarded.While waiting for a home, Wheatley, 29, endured the taunts of other patients, who were troubled mentally but of normal intelligence. He was restrained and shut in seclusion rooms. He had to watch everyone else go home.Today, Wheatley, who has a mental age of 5, may finally leave.

LIKE ANY 12-YEAR-OLD, Sarah Brintnall doesn't want her mother hanging around when she ventures to sixth grade this fall at Baltimore County's Pine Grove Middle School -- her first experience with the big kids in the scary land beyond elementary school.Smiling, Sarah spells out the message in 2-inch letters on her computer screen: "My mom is banned the first month."Sarah, who has cerebral palsy, cannot speak or handle a pencil or crayon. But she can read, says her mother, Ruth, and she can write by tapping her head against a red, cloth-covered switch attached to the headrest of her wheelchair that serves as a mouse.

Robert Goldstick, a man with mild retardation and a strong sense of purpose, signed on to the computer, made sure videos were in their boxes and logged them in quickly.Then he put the boxes in alphabetical order so he could return them to their proper homes on the floor and looked around the Blockbuster Video store in Parkville for other opportunities."Do you need help?" he asked customers, then showed them where to find videotapes: the family section (his favorites), action movies, oldies or the latest releases.

To celebrate its sixth anniversary and thank the community, a Chinese restaurant in Glen Burnie plans a special Sunday opening next month with a $2.99 buffet -- with all proceeds destined for a nonprofit organization helping people with developmental disabilities.The benefit buffet will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Nov. 1 at the Szechuan Cafe, 7400 Ritchie Highway. It will feature appetizers, soups, and entrees including beef with broccoli, orange chicken, vegetable lo mein and pork egg foo yung.

DR. HENRY FASTEAU, a dentist who for many years has provided excellent services to people with developmental disabilities, received the Outstanding Professional award at the awards banquet of the Arc of Howard County Inc. on Friday.The Arc, a United Way agency, provides advocacy and support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.Awards were presented to organizations and individuals who have helped make life more productive for disabled citizens.According to the presentation, Fasteau, who lives in Glenwood and practices in Dorsey Hall, was nominated for the award because "he and his staff are patient and kind and take the extra time and effort that some people may need."

Bernard Marcus, chairman of the Home Depot, announced yesterday that he will give Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute $45 million, seed money that may eventually launch a national network of similar centers for the developmentally disabled.Motivated by concern for this long-neglected group, Marcus sees Kennedy Krieger as a model to replicate around the country, where help is often fragmented and inadequate. His donation is among the largest of individual gifts ever for people with such disabilities as cerebral palsy, autism and mental retardation.

An article in yesterday's Maryland section about a legislative audit of the Developmental Disabilities Administration incorrectly reported that state Budget Secretary Frederick W. Puddester said it was a shame auditors focused on only the negative aspects of the agency's performance. In fact, Puddester said it a shame news media focus on only negative aspects of the agency's record.The Sun regrets the errors.The state agency that cares for developmentally disabled Marylanders lost millions of dollars through mismanagement at a time when thousands of its highly vulnerable clients were languishing on a waiting list for want of money to provide services, legislative auditors have concluded.

Disabilities agency has made strides on management woesThe Epilepsy Foundation of the Chesapeake Region (formerly known as the Epilepsy Association of Maryland) believes the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) has made tremendous strides in improving the management of the agency and its resources, contrary to the comments presented in "Disabilities agency rated unsatisfactory" (Aug. 13).We find it interesting and a little disturbing that no comments from senior management of DDA were included in the article.

After initially balking at the cost, the state Board of Public Works has approved a $21 million airport cleaning contract for an organization that employs the disabled.The board had delayed action on the deal with The Chimes Inc., a Baltimore-based nonprofit group, at its July 17 meeting. Members questioned whether a contract of that size should be awarded without competitive bidding. But after receiving additional information from the Maryland Aviation Administration, the board this week approved the three-year contract.

Man lying on Crain Highway is struck and killed by van 2 A man lying on Crain Highway in Glen Burnie was struck and killed by a van Tuesday night, Anne Arundel County police said. A 73-year-old Ocean City man was driving south about 9:15 p.m. in a Ford Windstar filled with relatives when it hit the man near Sixth Avenue, police said. Police said they do not know why Donald F. Barr, 46, of the 500 block of Crain Highway was lying in the road. The driver did not appear to have been speeding or under the influence of alcohol, police said.

A state agency is sorting through its waiting list of 19,000 developmentally disabled people to see if they still need services, a step that highlights a decades-old backlog of families seeking scarce state funding. Starting with those in the highest need category, the Developmental Disabilities Administration is working its way through the list, a process that is estimated to take six months. "It will help us with planning for services," Executive Director Michael Chapman said. Those services range from behavioral support services to medical day care, but Chapman said most people are seeking home support services or funding for a day care program.

A bill under consideration by the General Assembly would add a 5-cent tax to the purchase of alcoholic beverages ("The enablers in Annapolis," editorial, March 19). It would be easy to argue that this increase only amounts to pennies per drink or to point out that Maryland has the lowest excise tax on distilled spirits in the nation. You could even contend that this tax hike is long overdue - the last time Maryland raised its alcohol tax was 54 years ago during the Eisenhower administration.

While Gov. Martin O'Malley has shown leadership in addressing issues of importance to the developmental disabilities community, he is now considering state budget cuts for the fiscal year totaling some $250 million ("State weighs cuts in critical needs," Oct. 9). Among those is eliminating a 1.2 percent rise in the state's reimbursement rate for community-based developmental disabilities programs. While everyone undoubtedly will bear some of the burden of the budget cuts, the developmental disabilities community is particularly vulnerable because of years of underfunding.

Unreported problems still plague Rosewood The Baltimore Sun created a misimpression in the article "Rosewood families speak out" (Sept. 15). The article said, "In recent months, no significant problems have come to light in the incident reports that Rosewood submits to the Maryland Disability Law Center." But if The Baltimore Sun had contacted MDLC prior to the publication of this article, we would have alerted the reporter to the recent annual survey of Rosewood Center performed by the state's Office of Health Care Quality, a survey mentioned in "Rosewood treatment improves in most areas" (Sept.

The Arc honors Ken Ulman with its President's Award Joseph V. Murray Sr., president of the board of directors of the Arc of Howard County, has presented the 2008 President's Award to County Executive Ken Ulman. The award recognizes a person who has made a significant impact on the quality of life of children and adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities. Ulman was selected because of his support for human service organizations in Howard County, including the Arc. The Arc of Howard County provides housing, employment services and individual and family support programs to people with cognitive and developmental disabilities and their families.

j-ref makes changes to its board Michael A. Mobley, executive director of j-ref, a private not-for-profit funding source for Howard County start-up and emerging companies, has announced changes to the organization's board of directors for fiscal 2009. Rosa M. Scharf, a senior vice president at Howard Bank, is secretary; Stephen F. Wolf of the Ellicott City-based accounting firm, Berman Goldman & Ribakow, is treasurer. Christopher Young of the Business and Technology Law Group was re-elected as chairman, and Charles "Chuck" Breitenother of KLNB was re-elected as vice chairman.

Schumacher named AD of the Year Diane Schumacher, athletic director at Howard Community College, has been named Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics. She is one of 30 athletic directors from four geographic regions to receive the award. Candidates must have served as athletic directors for at least five academic years. They were judged on their demonstrated commitment to higher education and student athletes, teamwork, loyalty and excellence, and their ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of achievement.

Arc offers thanks to county legislators While competitive politics is on everyone's mind, The Arc of Howard County wants to commend each and every one of Howard County's delegation to the Maryland General Assembly for their support of children and adults with cognitive and developmental disabilities and the families who love and care for them. In particular, we would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of State Senators Edward Kasemeyer (D) of District 12 and Allan Kittleman (R)

Arc of Maryland to honor resident The Arc of Maryland will recognize two businesses and an individual from Harford County and two people from Cecil County for their work on behalf of people with developmental disabilities at its annual convention Friday and Saturday at the Marriott Hunt Valley Inn. Those being honored are: Community Dignity Award: Quest Fitness of Harford County for its contribution to the dignity of those with cognitive and developmental disabilities...