What is the Access Maryland Program?
Access Maryland provides funding to state-owned facilities, university system of Maryland campuses, and state owned parks to make continued accessibility upgrades, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessible Design Standards of 2010.The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires that all programs, activities, and services of state and local governments be programmatically accessible to persons with disabilities.
Access Maryland works closely with project engineers, architects, and construction managers to ensure that individuals with a range of physical disabilities can fully interact and engage with buildings, parks, universities, and other state-owned facilities across the State of Maryland.
How Does the Program Work?
The Maryland Department of Disabilities:
- receives requests from State agencies;
- prioritizes the requests;
- recommends projects for funding; and
- then provides oversight through the design and construction phases.
Policies and Procedures
Access Maryland maintains a set of Policies and Procedures that outline the application process, the review process, project & funding timeline, and other relevant information.
Three Simple Facts about Transition Plans
- ADA Transition Plans are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act (Section 504). State agencies and state universities fall under Title II of the ADA, therefore requiring that each have a Transition Plan in place.
- A Transition Plan provides an outline for the removal of physical barriers, which impact access to programs, services, and activities, identified in the self-evaluation. The Transition Plan should include a budget and schedule for those improvements and barrier removals.
- The Transition Plan should be updated every 3-5 years in general, and specifically, as buildings, properties, and spaces (indoor and/ or outdoor) come into or fall out of an agency's or department's management, purview, or occupation.
For more information, view the Transition Plan slideshow from the Federal Highway Administration and Access Maryland's Self-Evaluation & Transition Plan slideshow.
To learn more about developing and/or updating your Transition Plan in the state of Maryland, contact Keyonna Baker.
Past Project Highlights
- Rocky Gap Accessible Path and Water Fountain-
- Wheelchair ramp at the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services DD Building at Patuxent Institution-
