The Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities (MCDD) at Kennedy Krieger Institute continues to support and engage the community through events, conferences and advocacy efforts. Here is what has happened over the past few months:
On Nov. 8, Christopher Mason-Hale, BSW, MCDD community advocate, hosted an exhibitor table for the MCDD at Baltimore City’s second annual Open Enrollment Community Day at Port Discovery. Mason-Hale provided attendees with information about the MCDD’s programs, projects and activities, and he disseminated MCDD resources to individuals with disabilities.
On Nov. 18, the National Center for Dignity in Healthcare and Community Living for People with Disabilities published an infographic created by Kendall Eaton, Esq., staff attorney for Project HEAL (Health, Education, Advocacy, and Law), titled “A Complete Guide to Guardianship History and Modern Decision-Making Alternatives.” The center also published an article written by Tracy Waller, Esq., MPH, MCDD staff attorney, “The First Amendment and Freedom of Speech.
On Jan. 20, the MCDD held its quarterly Community Advisory Council (CAC) meeting. MCDD staff members and trainees attended the meeting, as did participants from various community organizations and state agencies that serve people with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities.
On Jan. 21, Mirian Ofonedu, PhD, LCSW-C, director of training for the MCDD, hosted the first virtual coaching and feedback session for the Promoting Family Engagement in Special Education training series, “Family-as-Host Model: Coaching & Feedback Session 1.” This session provided participants with an opportunity to reflect on their learning, share experiences and receive guidance on applying the Family-as-Host (FAH) model in practice.
Also on Jan. 21, Jennifer Falter, Esq., Project HEAL attorney, gave a presentation, “Guardianship and Less Restrictive Alternatives,” to staff members of the Powder Mill Campus of Kennedy Krieger School Programs.
On Jan. 22, Maureen van Stone, Esq., MS, assistant vice president and director of the MCDD, and Brittany Shields, RN, former Project HEAL law trainee, attended the Baltimore City Sitting Judges Reception at James Joyce Irish Pub and Restaurant in Baltimore.
On Jan. 27, Mallory Legg, Esq., director of Project HEAL, and van Stone gave a presentation, “Medical Decision Making/Informed Consent and People with Intellectual Disabilities,” for Kennedy Krieger’s Maternal and Child Health Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) Program.
On Jan. 28, Dr. Ofonedu hosted the second School-Family-Community Learning Collaborative (SFCLC) virtual session for school administrators participating in the Promoting Family Engagement in Special Education initiative. This collaborative space allowed participants to reflect on progress, share insights and strengthen strategies for engaging families and communities in support of students with disabilities.
On Jan. 31, Kayla Velez, MCDD administrative services coordinator, participated in the Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge as part of Team Kennedy Krieger, personally raising $145 in support of Special Olympics Maryland.
On Feb. 2, van Stone gave a presentation about the Maryland State Department of Education’s Maryland Elevates Grant Program to staff members at Beaver Run Elementary School in Salisbury, Maryland.
On Feb. 2, Dr. Ofonedu delivered a presentation, “Being the Best Advocate for Your Child With or Without a Disability at School and in the Community.” Other presenters included Ann Scholz from Howard County Public Schools and LaVon Adkins from Wicomico County Public Schools. This was the first session of the 2026 Annual Learning Series.
On Feb. 4, Mason-Hale and van Stone participated in the enrichment preparation session for Maryland Developmental Disabilities Day (DD Day) at the Legislature in collaboration with the LEND Program, People On the Go Maryland and Kennedy Krieger’s government relations team.
On Feb. 5, Legg and David Mervis, Esq., staff attorney for Project HEAL, attended the University of Baltimore’s public interest career networking event at the University of Baltimore School of Law.
On Feb. 9, Project HEAL and Kennedy Krieger’s Office of Philanthropy hosted Corine Godine, a Social Security Administration attorney, for a campus tour and overview presentation of Project HEAL.
On Feb. 10, Dr. Ofonedu delivered a presentation at the Maryland State Department of Education regional meeting, with over 50 family support coordinators in attendance.
Also on Feb. 10, Dr. Ofonedu led a Kennedy Krieger Core Course presentation, “Advocacy Skill Building,” in collaboration with staff members from People On the Go Maryland.
Also on Feb. 10, Legg gave a presentation, “Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) in Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs),” for the Maryland Early Childhood Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) program at Kennedy Krieger.
On Feb. 13, Kristine Nellenbach, MS, program coordinator for the Resource Finder, delivered an overview presentation on the Resource Finder to the directors of Kennedy Krieger.
On Feb. 18, MCDD staff members and trainees participated in DD Day at the Legislature, including a catered lunch-and-learn event featuring guest speakers.
On Feb. 19, Legg presented an online seminar, “IEPs Aren’t One and Done,” to staff members of Experiential Life.
On Feb. 21, Mervis presented an overview of Project HEAL and Social Security Administration disability benefits to parents of children participating in The Talent Machine Company’s Penguin Project.
On Feb. 23, Legg presented on the Alternate Education Framework and certificate and diploma pathways during a Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation (CASSI™) neuropsychology group supervision session.
On Feb. 23, 24 and 25, van Stone attended the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) board meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland.
On Feb. 24, Mervis presented an overview of Project HEAL and Social Security Administration disability benefits to a group of professionals at the Maryland Department of Human Services’ Frederick County location.
On. Feb. 24, van Stone gave a guest lecture, “Restraint and Seclusion: An Overview of Law and Practice,” for the Senior Seminar in Disability Studies at the University of Delaware.
On Feb. 25, Dr. Ofonedu and Toni Scott, MEd, MA, director of Kennedy Krieger’s Early Childhood Development and Education Center, gave a presentation, “Early Screening of Children for Developmental Delays: Strategies for Successful Outcomes.” The session explored strategies to improve early screening, increase referral confidence and share resources with families. This presentation was repeated on March 11.
On Feb. 27, Mason-Hale exhibited a table for the MCDD at an event for Rare Disease Day, hosted by Johns Hopkins Medicine and Kennedy Krieger.
On March 2, Legg provided a Project HEAL overview presentation for a donor tour at Kennedy Krieger.
On March 3, van Stone delivered a Project HEAL overview presentation for the pediatric residents at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
On March 4, the National Center for Dignity in Healthcare and Community Living for People with Disabilities published an article written by Nellenbach, “SSI Age Redetermination for Disabled Children.”
On March 5, Mervis participated in a public health panel discussion at the University of Maryland School of Law.
Also on March 5, van Stone participated in the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA) in-person board of directors meeting in Crystal City, Virginia.
On March 6, Nellenbach volunteered as a fellowship alum for a skillCONNECT session hosted by Business Volunteers Maryland, offering pro bono consultation to support nonprofit organizations facing business challenges.
On March 7, Mason-Hale exhibited a table for the MCDD at the Special Needs Resource Health Fair held at the Breath of God Lutheran Church, hosted by Brown on the Spectrum.
Also on March 7, Legg, van Stone and Dan Hoover, PhD, ABPP, clinical child and adolescent psychologist at CASSI, presented “Designing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for Children with Trauma: Addressing Trauma Through an IEP” at the COPAA annual conference in Crystal City, Virginia.
On March 8, van Stone and Andrew Feinstein, Esq., COPAA board member and a private special education attorney in Mystic, Connecticut, presented “Use of IQ Score to Determine Eligibility for Adult Services vs. Qualifying for Adult Intellectual Disability Services: Use of IQ” at the COPAA annual conference in Crystal City, Virginia.
On March 9, three Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine pediatric residents with an interest in advocacy shadowed Legg and van Stone at Project HEAL.
On March 10, van Stone; Miya Asato, MD, Kennedy Krieger’s vice president of training; AUCD policy team members; and Cornerstone, AUCD’s federal lobbyist firm, met with Rep. Andy Harris’ staffer Matthew Arthur to discuss appropriations and disability priorities for fiscal year 2027. Rep. Harris represents Maryland’s 1st District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
On March 11, van Stone provided a Project HEAL overview presentation for a donor tour at Kennedy Krieger.
On March 11, van Stone, Dr. Asato, AUCD policy team members and Cornerstone met with Rep. Steny Hoyer’s staffer Quinn Hirsch to discuss appropriations and disability priorities for fiscal year 2027. Rep. Hoyer represents Maryland’s 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
On March 13, Legg gave a presentation, “Transition Planning for Students with Disabilities,” at The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP) conference in Phoenix, Arizona.
On March 16, Nellenbach gave a Resource Finder overview presentation to members of the East Montgomery County Community Initiative Parent Youth Engagement Committee.
Also on March 16, Legg presented “Legal Requirements for Behavior Supports” to the Maryland State Department of Education’s Maryland Elevates Grant Program.
On March 19, Eaton; Logan Ewing, Esq., Project HEAL staff attorney; Legg; and van Stone participated in a bimonthly virtual meeting for Maryland special education lawyers.
On March 21, Mason-Hale exhibited a table for the MCDD at the Get Connected: Special Needs Resources Fair at St. Elizabeth School, a nonpublic school for students with disabilities.
Also on March 21, Cindy Ibarra, MCDD intermittent employee and former administrative services coordinator, along with other Kennedy Krieger representatives, hosted a vendor table at the Black Family Wellness Expo in Baltimore.
On March 22 and 23, Ewing and van Stone attended the national Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C.
On April 7, Legg presented “Exclusion, Restraint, and Seclusion in Public Schools” for the Maryland Early Childhood ECHO program at Kennedy Krieger.