Arc Baltimore Honors MD Developmental Disabilities Council Head

The Arc Baltimore has presented its 2019 Award for Advocacy Leadership to Brian Cox, the Executive Director of The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council for the past 19 years.

“The Award for Advocacy Leadership recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding advocacy, scholarship, and leadership on behalf of persons with developmental disabilities, and who develop new advocates,” explains Kathleen Durkin, Executive Director of The Arc Baltimore.

As Executive Director of The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, Cox has overseen the activities of the organization whose sole mission is to advance the inclusion of Marylanders with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. He has also served as Chair of the Developmental Disabilities Coalition, which leads a comprehensive agenda that is taken to the General Assembly and the Developmental Disabilities Administration each year.

Under Cox’s watch, the Council and Coalition have been successful in closing institutions, bringing people off of the State’s Waiting List for services, improving funding for community supports that will ensure quality services, and initiating ABLE accounts.

“Both behind and in the forefront of all Brian’s work has been his commitment to empowering people with developmental disabilities and their families,” Durkin says. “He has encouraged and nurtured them as advocates, and made sure they had opportunities for their voices to be heard. Indeed, many of these individuals and family members have gone on to take statewide and national roles, ever-widening the impact of his support.”

The Arc Baltimore’s Award for Advocacy Leadership is presented annually in memory of Stanley S. Herr, whose career of advocacy spanned more than 30 years at the University of Maryland School of Law and Clinical Law Office.

Dedicated to providing advocacy and high quality, life-changing supports since 1949 in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, The Arc Baltimore currently supports more than 6,000 adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The Arc Baltimore’s programs and services allow individuals with disabilities to live independently in the community, work in meaningful jobs, enjoy friendships and activity in the community, and support their families in the challenges they face. For more information, call 410-296-2272 or visit www.thearcbaltimore.org.