By Navya Pandit
With Maryland lawmakers making cuts to the Developmental Disabilities Administration, many members of the disability community have responded with fear and uncertainty.
Some individuals have also criticized lawmakers, and advocacy groups have condemned instances of hostile behavior.
According to KFF, nearly 15 million people in the United States rely on Medicaid. However, with recent cuts to disability aid at both the federal and state levels, many Marylanders are afraid of what that means for the future.
In April, lawmakers cut nearly $126 million from the DDA for fiscal year 2027, down from nearly $150 million Gov. Wes Moore originally proposed in his annual budget.
These changes affected people who depend on Medicaid and other disability services, leaving them vulnerable to anxiety and uncertainty.
“These services aren’t really ‘extra’ services — they’re things people rely on every day to live independently and safely,” wrote freshman mechanical engineering major Allison Everett in a statement to Stories Beneath the Shell.
More than 1.5 million people use self-directed services that allow them to manage their own care and hire caregivers to assist them.
“I understand that Maryland is dealing with budget issues, but I think a lot of families feel like disability services are one of the first things that get targeted when cuts happen, and that creates a lot of fear and uncertainty,” wrote Everett, who is a member of the Visibility Project Club which is dedicated to reshaping the conversation around chronic illnesses.
According to Everett, these cuts could reduce these vital services and also impact caregivers, leading to burnout, physical strain and financial instability, causing many to reduce their hours or leave the workforce entirely.
This sparked further outrage among members of the disabled community, prompting many to harass lawmakers through hurtful comments, lawsuit threats and, in some instances, death threats.
Many also posted AI-generated images of Moore as a cartoon character holding up a March Madness bracket, while protesters behind him yelled to protect DDA services. Another image showed him making balloon animals while a dumpster labeled “disability services” was engulfed in flames behind him.
“Passion and urgency are absolutely appropriate given the life-altering impact these decisions can have, but there is an important distinction between strong advocacy and interactions that become hostile or inflammatory,” wrote Melissa Rosenberg, executive director of the Autism Society of Maryland.
The nonprofit organization works to support, promote awareness, and advocate on behalf of members of the autistic community.
Rosenberg said individuals must understand that lawmakers are working tirelessly to preserve support despite fiscal realities and they must remain respectful and calm throughout the process.
Everett also urged lawmakers to invest long-term in disability services, provide better support for caregivers and increase accessibility for people seeking these services. She also wants people with disabilities to be more involved in policymaking, as these laws directly affect them.
According to Rosenberg, “advocacy is most effective when it combines heartfelt personal stories, clear facts, persistence and respectful engagement. Several organizations leading these efforts [urge] advocates to maintain respectful interactions, not to diminish the pain families are experiencing, but to ensure the message remains unified and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes.”