Living The Life
You Want
Welcome To Our Official Website
SDAN VISION STATEMENT
We envision people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living self-directed, fulfilling lives with access to all the long-term services and supports they need.
SDAN MISSION STATEMENT
SDAN-Maryland’s mission is to advocate for participant choice, control, flexibility, and the sustainability of self-directed services and supports. We do this through education, training, legislative advocacy, maintaining partnerships with state agencies and divisions, and collaborating with organizations committed to supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Your Life, Your Choice
Recent Information
News
IMPORTANT HEARING DATES
In addition to DD Day at the legislature on Thursday, February 13th, here are other important dates to add to your calendar. More on coordinating with others in our community for DD Day and one-pager talking points will follow in a separate email. BUDGET HEARINGS -...
2025 LEGISLATIVE UPDATES for SELF-DIRECTED SERVICES
In his fiscal 2026 budget proposal, Governor Wes Moore recently called for a $200 million reduction in funding for the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). If you witnessed the unprecedented denials and other actions taken by the Department of Health (MDH)...
SDAN Membership Meeting – Prepare for Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature with SDAN
In support of your personal advocacy, SDAN hosted a DD DAY PREP SESSION via Zoom on Friday, January 17 at 12PM. Learn what to expect in Annapolis and learn how to create your personal one-pager to share with legislators on DD Day, or another day! The meeting...
Developmental Disabilities Day At The Legislature
YOUR HELP IS DESPERATELY NEEDED TO ENSURE SELF-DIRECTION IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION IN ANNAPOLIS! Last November, with its "Self-Direction Manual" MDH-DDA showed us all the future that it envisions for Self-Direction... less funding, lower wages, limited IFDGS... we...
SDAN Membership Meeting – Building Relationships with Elected Officials for Effective Advocacy
SDAN held a General Membership Meeting on Friday, January 10, 2025, featuring guest speaker Heather Sachs, Policy & Advocacy Co-Director for the National Down Syndrome Congress. If you've ever been intimidated by the idea of speaking with your elected...
HEAR OUR VOICES – STOP THE DDA POLICY
Join us for a rally to stop the self-direction policies that were developed without input from stakeholders—YOU, and all the other people who will be hurt by them. DOWNLOAD AND SHARE THE FLYER TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19th 11:30-12:30 LAWYERS MALL, ANNAPOLIS DIRECTIONS...
SDAN Membership Meeting – Issues/Advocacy on New DDA Policies
SDAN held a General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 to discuss issues and advocacy on the new DDA policies. On October 24, 2024, the DDA announced sweeping new changes to Self-Direction, without any real input from the Self-Direction community on...
DDA Community Meeting – November 14 @ 2:30 ACTION ALERT!
SDAN ACTION ALERT! It is important for all who self direct to attend this meeting with DDA at 2:30pm on November 14. To join the DDA Community Meeting, please click the link below: Meeting Link: meet.google.com/ygz-iauk-owt Time: November 14, 2024, from 2:30 to 3:30...
SDAN Membership Meeting: Community Living and Olmstead Rights
SDAN Membership Meeting: Community Living and Olmstead Rights July 12, 2024 SDAN’s July meeting featured a presentation and listening session with the Olmsted Section team of The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The...
SDAN Membership Meeting – Participant Rights, Clarification Requests and Appeal Rights
Thursday, March 28th at 12PM Our March General Membership Meeting was a discussion of Participant Rights, Clarification Requests and Appeal Rights. We introduced our newest Board Members and enjoyed a presentation from guest speaker, Randi Ames, the Managing Attorney...
More Lives, More Choices!
SDAN Statement: Clarifying MIDSEC and Urging Action on Proposed DDA Budget Cuts
We want to speak directly to you about the concern and confusion many are feeling right now. We wish to clarify the role of the (MIDSEC) and to ask for your continued advocacy in response to the Department of Disabilities Administration’s (DDA) proposed budget...
Seen, Supported, and Included: Abby’s Story
For Abby, self-direction means living a life that is active, connected, and centered upon her own choices. Before self-direction, Abby participated in a traditional program with rigid schedules, limited flexibility, and frequent staff changes. While those settings...