Hogan Declares July Disability Culture Achievement Month

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Gov. Larry Hogan enacted an executive order Monday declaring that every July will be Disability Culture Achievements Month in Maryland, and he punctuated the announcement by presenting a Governor's Citation to Paralympic swimmer Becca Meyers, a Timonium resident and one Team USA's most decorated Paralympians.

According to a release, the event coincided with the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law that reaffirms equality for all by increasing access and opportunity for people with disabilities. Hogan said that from now on, the month of July would celebrate the societal achievements and cultural contributions of Marylanders with disabilities.

"Today, the State of Maryland is taking another step forward to ensure that all of our citizens are confident in their ability to contribute to their communities and assured that those contributions are valued by all," Hogan said. "Every July, we will promote and enhance events and activities all across the state focused on disability pride, culture and contributions to society."

Maryland is the only state in the nation with a cabinet-level department - The Department of Disabilities - focused on cross-disability policy, according to the state.

Meyers, 26, was born deaf as a result of Usher syndrome and has gradually lost her vision. Despite this, she has won six medals as a Paralympic swimmer: three gold medals and a silver in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and a silver and bronze at the 2012 London Games.

However, last week, Meyers announced that she has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, which are scheduled for Aug. 24 to Sept. 5, because the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) would not allow her to bring her mother, who acts as her personal care assistant (PCA).

At Monday's ceremony, Hogan lauded Meyers for her achievements and willingness to speak out about the situation involving her PCA.

"Becca deserved to be able to compete, and while we are all so disappointed for her, we are unbelievably proud of Becca for having the courage to speak up and speak out against this injustice," Hogan said. "Becca, you are an inspiration to so many people—including me."

At the time of her announcement to withdraw from the Games, Meyers explained in a social media post that the USOPC told her that she did not need a trusted PCA because there will be one on staff available to her and 33 other Paralympic swimmers, nine of whom also are visually impaired.

"The USOPC has approved me having a trusted PCA (my mom) at all international meets since 2017, but this time it's different," Meyers wrote. "With COVID, there are new safety measures and limits of non-essential staff in place, rightfully so, but a trusted PCA is essential for me to compete."

Meyers recently told the Washington Post that her discussions with the USOPC about her PCA concerns did not go as she had hoped.

"They talked right over, me," Meyers said. "They dismissed me. They said 'this is what we have; you're going to have to deal with it.'"