La Plata, MD (July 26, 2017)- In celebration of the 27th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Maryland Department of Disabilities will host a traveling disAbility History Tour during July and August of 2017. Maryland’s disAbility History tour will host a reception at the P.D. Brown Memorial Library in Waldorf on August 15th at 4 p.m.
Advocacy: A History of People Speaking Up for Themselves will be on loan from the Museum of disAbility History for six weeks. This four panel display traces the advocacy movement from early educational facilities to the development of organizations established for and by individuals with disabilities. In addition to the loaned panels, the department will add a fifth display designed by the Maryland Association of Centers for Independent Living outlining disability history in Maryland.
Governor Hogan will kick off the tour with a reception on August 4th in Annapolis at the Lowe House Office Building beginning at noon. The public can also view images of the panels, ASL translation, audio files, text only, text image descriptions, and large print versions of the displays on the Maryland Department of Disabilities website ADA 27 event page at www.mdod.maryland.gov.
“Charles County Public Library is a go-to place for people of all abilities. As a system, we view ourselves as indispensable to our community, being a place where people can come to learn, engage and make connections,” said Mariana Sprouse, P.D. Brown Memorial Library branch manager. “As the Branch Manager, I see just how often those living with various disabilities come here to be in the community, use our technology, attend programs and even simply sit and color or do a puzzle. Knowing our community trusts us, comes to us because we can help them and that we welcome them made it really important to us to be part of the traveling disAbilities history tour,”
The Museum of disAbility History is located in Buffalo, New York and was established in 1998 by Dr. James M. Boles, president and CEO of People Inc. The museum is dedicated to advancing the understanding, acceptance and independence of people with disabilities. The museum’s exhibits, collections, archives and educational programs create awareness and a platform for dialogue and discovery. In addition to offering an expansive collection on location in New York, the museum offers numerous traveling displays which highlight various aspects of disability history and culture.
For press coverage or information on the event, contact Tisha Tyler at 301.934.9001, ext. 132 or ttyler@ccplonline.org.
About Charles County Public Library
Charles County Library System has four physical buildings and a Mobile Library. The Waldorf West and P.B. Brown Memorial branches are both located in Waldorf. The La Plata branch serves as the headquarters and in located in the town of La Plata. The western side of the county is served by the Potomac Branch located in Ruth B. Swann Park. The CCPL mobile library launched in the spring of 2017.
About the Maryland Department of Disabilities
The Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD) is charged with coordinating and improving the delivery of services to individuals with disabilities in the state of Maryland. By working collaboratively with all State government agencies, MDOD provides advocacy and guidance to ensure that State entities deliver services in the most integrated settings possible, develop consistent policies affecting those with disabilities, and consider the diverse needs of all when making decisions which impact Marylanders.