Howard County Executive Calvin Ball Seeks Update from Commission on Disabilities on Implementation of Best Practices for Disabilities Servic...

While a member of the County Council, Ball filed Council Resolution 23-2018 requesting the Commission on Disabilities study Howard County Government’s ability to provide services to the county’s residents with disabilities in the areas of: Education; Peer Relationships; Employment; Transportation; and Housing. In March 2019, the Commission on Disabilities issued its Report on the Status of People with Disabilities in Howard County, aimed at providing the County with the best practices for disabilities services and recommendations on how the County can be more responsive.

In its report, the Commission noted the following gaps, when considering awareness about available resources and an individual’s ability to navigate County systems and services. More specifically, gaps in: 

1. Achievement between students and their non-disabled peers, with an even greater divide between African American and Hispanic students with disabilities and Asian and White students; 
2. Resources to meet the social-emotional, academic and transition needs of students with disabilities; 
3. Housing affordability where an individual’s income is derived solely from disability benefits; 
4. Peer relationships which, while present in early childhood, may become exacerbated after high school; and
5. Availability of accessible transportation in certain parts of the county and the need for expanded service hours, increased public transportation options and alternatives, and systemic improvements in bus stops and pedestrian facilities in County rights-of-ways.

While not classified as a “gap”, the Commission’s Report also noted the “need for innovative and integrated, culturally sound programs, that are capable of meeting the needs of people with more significant disabilities.”

In its Report, the Commission made several recommendations that it considered of the greatest need and immediacy. Of these recommendations, the County has completed several actions toward meeting these action items, including:

1. Supporting the continued implementation of the Howard County Public School System’s (HCPSS) Special Education Strategic Plan
   1. In June 2026, the Commission on Disabilities met with the HCPSS Office of Special Education Executive Director Dr. Melissa Brunson to discuss current challenges and initiatives, and plans to meet with the Commission during the 2026-2027 school year to provide an update.
2. Expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities
   1. In March 2020, the County’s Innovation Fund awarded a grant to the Howard County Autism Society (now the “Autism Society of Maryland”) to pilot an Autism Hiring Program with the goal of expanding employment opportunities for individuals with autism. To date, more than 40 County residents with autism have obtained employment. The program continues to be supported, in part, through funding from the County.
   2. On June 15, 2022, the County renewed its support and commitment to Project SEARCH, an internship program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their last year of high school, by signing memorandum of understanding with partner agencies to extend the internship program. The County continues to participate in Project SEARCH.
3. Continuing to address the lack of affordable, accessible housing
   1. In September 2025, a partnership was announced between the Howard County Housing Commission (HCHC) and the Columbia Downtown Housing Corporation (CDHC), providing six accessible and affordable one- and two-bedroom units at The Marlow in downtown Columbia. These units were designed with features to support households with mobility disabilities. HCHC created a separate wait list for The Marlow and prioritized people who needed accessibility features. Tenants of these six apartments pay 30 percent of their income for rent and CDHC pays the difference in rent to HCHC through a unit-based housing subsidy.
   2. Patuxent Commons, an affordable housing initiative of the nonprofit Autism Society of Maryland, received more than $6 million in County funding. This intergenerational community opened in November 2025, with 25 percent of the units reserved for people with disabilities and the remainder of the units made available to older adults and families. 
   3. The County supports eligible low-income renters with disabilities through a grant, administered by the non-profit Accessible Resources for Independence, covering the cost of home modifications to increase the usability, accessibility, and safety of their rental housing units.
4. Developing mechanisms for providing information about disability resources
   In addition to the County’s existing aging and disability resource center, Maryland Access Point, which is housed within the Department of Community
   1. Resources and Services’ (DCRS) Office on Aging and Independence, DCRS consolidated its disability services into an Office of Disability Services. This consolidation of functions serves as a central access point for individuals with disabilities, families, and caregivers in Howard County, connecting residents to programs, services, and community supports that promote independence and inclusion.  
5. Ensuring access to websites and other electronic information
   1. The County has been working to update and improve its websites to comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, in accordance with federal requirements. These updates serve to make the County’s websites more user-friendly and accessible to web users with disabilities who may be using screen readers and other forms of assistive technology.
6. Revising existing legislation and policy to foster a more inclusive workforce 
   1. In October 2025, Ball announced the County’s Disability Hiring Initiative, aimed at identifying meaningful, inclusive County job opportunities and career pathways that allow individuals to fully contribute their talents and to thrive in supportive, accessible work environments.

With the signing of EO 2026-12, the Commission has been tasked with completing the following action items, now through May 2027: 

1. Reviewing the Report on the Status of People with Disabilities in Howard County;
2. Reviewing the issues of greatest need and immediacy and the other Report recommendations;
3. Reviewing the current state of policy and programs in Howard County; and 
4. Providing an update as to the status of those issues and make recommendations on how to address those issues moving forward.

As part of the process, the Commission shall:

• Consult with the: 
  • Commission on Transitioning Students with Disabilities;
  • HCPSS;
  • Howard Community College;
  • Howard County Housing Commission; and
  • The County’s:
    • DCRS 
    • Department of Recreation & Parks;
    • Department of Housing and Community Development; 
    • Office of Workforce Development; and 
    • Office of Transportation
• Conduct outreach to and seek feedback from people with disabilities and their families, as well as the Disability Supports Roundtable.

The Commission will present its findings and recommendations to the next County Executive by May 31, 2027.

“The Department of Community Resources and Services supports this effort and recognizes the importance of having current, reliable information to understand the experiences, needs, opportunities, and challenges facing residents with disabilities,” said Jacqueline R. Sott, Director, DCRS. “The 2019 study provided an important foundation for understanding the lives of people with disabilities in Howard County and helped identify areas where additional attention, resources, and coordination were needed. An updated study will provide current data and community perspectives that will help the County identify gaps in services, evaluate progress, establish priorities, and make informed decisions about future programs and policies. It will also help ensure that the voices and experiences of people with disabilities are reflected in the County's planning and decision-making.”

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