| Officially, the annual Developmental Disabilities Day at
the Legislature event is a serious lobbying day. Each year, persons with
developmental disabilities, advocates, supporters, friends and support
agency associates gather at the State Capital in Annapolis to present
their individual and collective agenda to Maryland General Assembly
members in hearings and face-to-face meetings. The idea, of course, is
to influence Delegates and Senators to vote in favor of friendly
legislation and funding, and to oppose measures that might compromise
support for persons with developmental disabilities and their families.
But, Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature (on March 3rd,
2004 this time) is also an old-fashioned political rally that, despite
its serious purpose, is lively, noisy and just plain fun.
Inspiring speeches are made, moving spectators to join in loud and
enthusiastic rallying cries all too familiar to nearby residents and
shopkeepers. This year’s speechmakers included Maryland Governor Robert
Ehrlich, who reiterated his election campaign promise of support for
persons with disabilities.
Also speaking were several Montgomery County legislators long known
as champions of rights and privileges for people with developmental
disabilities. They included State Senator Ida Ruben -- who sits on the
all-important Senate Budget & Taxation Committee, Senator Leonard
Teitelbaum – a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Sharon
Grosfeld, and Delegate Karen Montgomery. What many attendees considered
the most impassioned presentation from a legislator was that made by
Montgomery County Delegate Herman Taylor (left). His support of persons
with developmental disabilities, he intimated, was both public and
personal. “It’s in the cause of simple human rights,” said Delegate
Taylor, “but also in the cause of my sister, who has suffered
unnecessarily in her life just because she happened to be born with
mental retardation.” The young legislator’s emotional remarks elicited
a roar of supportive voices that could not be ignored by even the most
jaded of the State House’s noise-immunized neighbors.
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