The Campaign

What is the End the Wait Now! Campaign?

The campaign is a targeted effort by individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in collaboration with the Developmental Disabilities Coalition.*  Through public education and grassroots advocacy our goal is to convince the Governor to reduce, and eventually eliminate, the Developmental Disabilities Waiting List for thousands of people with disabilities in Maryland, who need supports and services in the community. To do this, Maryland must make this a top funding priority and commit to funding a multi-year Waiting List initiative. This must begin this year.

What is the Developmental Disabilities Waiting List?

Children and adults with significant developmental disabilities throughout Maryland need essential services to remain with their families and in their communities. These services have not been adequately funded, so individuals with developmental disabilities and their families have been placed on a Waiting List for community services kept by the Developmental Disabilities Administration. The list has grown to crisis proportions.

Over 17,000 children and adults in Maryland are stuck on the Developmental Disabilities Waiting List for community services, over half of them are in a crisis category for at least one service. Action is needed. Families can’t wait any longer.

* Developmental disabilities are significant, life-long disabilities that begin at birth or during childhood (through the age of 21). Some examples are autism, intellectual/cognitive disability, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain jury.

What YOU can do

Explore this website to see why funding the DDA Waiting List is so important to so many people – and why action is critical. Learn about the people on the Waiting List and share information with others – especially those in positions of power to impact this issue. Join our efforts to advocate for Waiting list funding.

Go to the “Get Involved” page and join the End the Wait Now! Campaign

* The Developmental Disabilities Coalition is comprised of the leading statewide organizations in Maryland dedicated to the rights and quality of life of people developmental disabilities. Member organizations include: People On the Go of Maryland, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, The Arc of Maryland, Maryland Association of Community Services, and Maryland Disabilities Law Center.