UPCOMING EVENTS
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
TO
BY THEIR SIDE’S VIRTUAL*
ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday, November 6,
2021 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
REVISITING YOUR FUTURE
PLANS
The
past 18 months have highlighted the urgency of
future planning like never before. Our
meeting this year reflects these changing
times: we are meeting virtually by Zoom*
because your safety is paramount. In concurrent
sessions, speakers will address considerations
for Estate Planning, and Sibling Advocacy.
Attendance
is free.
We
hope you will join us, and encourage siblings
to attend. Guests are always welcome.
Is
Your Estate Plan Up to Date?
- How have Special Needs Trust (SNT) Rules
and Laws changed?
- Benefits of self-funded vs 3rd party
SNT
- Will an ABLE Account be needed in the
future?
Whether you set up
your Special Needs Trust years ago, or are
planning to do so soon, this review will
provide important food for thought.
Presenter: Sage
Hart, Esq., Estates and Special Needs Attorney
with the O’Byrne Law Office.
Moderator: Mary
Scott
Siblings:
Starting the Conversation
- How does By Their Side work with
siblings?
- Siblings: How can By Their Side best
serve you?
- How do parents involve siblings in
advocacy work: when and how to begin the
conversation?
This discussion,
facilitated by By Their Side sibling advocates,
will address these key questions.
Share what you know
and learn from other siblings. Parents are
welcome at this session.
Presenters: Joan
Chevalier, Louise Bond Heck, and Calvin
Simpson
Moderator: Kathy Vecchioni
Register by
Wednesday, November 3.
Email your name,
email address, address, and relationship (eg
parent, sibling, guest parent) to
info@bytheirside
Or CLICK HERE
for registration form to mail to By Their
Side.
PAST
EVENTS
2020 Annual Meeting -
Cancelled due to COVID pandemic.
November 2, 2019
Annual Meeting
Angela Strauch/Unified Community Connections
Assistive Technology Center and Denise
Schuler/Maryland Technology Assistacne Program
discussed new opportuniites for support for
people with I/DD (and even aging caregivers)
ranging from single button communication
devices to aids for daily living, blindness,
memory, and computer access.
An Advocacy Panel discussed questions and
concerns facing the people we serve and their
parents and sibling advocates. Self
Advocates, parents, siblings, and By Their Side
was represented by Mat Rice, Judy Volkman, Joan
Chevalier, Cathy Raggio, and Kathy Vecchioni,
with Mary Scott facilitating.
Mary Scott, M.Ed. was recipient of By Their
Side's Martin Lampe Leadership Award. In
addition to her invaluable support to parents
and transitioning youth in Baltimore County,
Mary has been a trailblazer as an advocate for
her daughter, who enjoys living in the heart of
her hometown with self directed services.
October 2020
Family Radio WBMD
By Their Side was featured in 3 segments
that aired each week in October on Family Radio
WBMD, informing families of future planning
options including future advocacy.
November 3, 2018
Annual Meeting
Joanna Pierson, Ph.D., Executive Director of
Arc Frederick discussed innovative person
centered services in Frederick County,
providing a vision of what is possible and how
to advocate for your relative..
Beth Greenland, PCP Coach Approach Partners
and Monica McCall, PhD Executive Director of
Creative Options discussed the Coach
Approach--asking someone what should happen and
their ideas for how to accomplish that.
Developed as an interactive training for direct
care staff, this approach is valuable to
families and advocates alike.
Joanna Pierson was presented with By Their
Side's Martin Lampe Leadership Award in
recognition of her leadership, innovation, and
significant contribution to people with
disabilities and their families, not only in
Frederick County but across Maryland and the
country.
November 4,
2017 Annual Meeting
Gail Godwin Executive Director of Shared
Supports Maryland discussed Person Centered
Planning.
Lori Markland of Maryland ABLE discussed the
ABLE program which allows people with
disabilities (and their familie) to save now
for disability related expenses while
protecting benefits ilke SSI and Medical
Assistance. Sage Hart, Esq with O'Byrne Law
provided a comparative overview of Special
Needs Trusts. Since DDA requires Medical
Assistance eligiblity before funding services,
an ABLE account may be a good resource for
saving assets in excess of $2500.
Patti Saylor was the recipient of the By
Their Side Martin Lampe Leadership Award, for
her courage and effectiveness in addressing
training needs of police officers in Maryland
and elsewhere in the nation.
February
19, 2017 Insight on disABILITY
Talk Radio 680 WCBM AM featured
By Their Side on it's Sunday evening program.
Host Michael Gerlach and Kathy Vecchioni
discussed By Their Side's founding parent's
desire to assure future advocacy, 50 years ago,
and the range of advocacy services currently
available. Mark Wagner, Board President and
parent, talked about his plans for By Their
Side advocacy support for his son and his out
of state siblings. Board member and sibling
Joan Chevalier discussed the advocacy services
she arranges for her brother when she travels
for work. Listen
to the archived program; the interview
begins 13 minutes into the recording.
Pictured: Lou Botteon, Insight on disABILITY
announcer, Kathy Vecchioni, Mike Gerlach,
Insight on disABILITY host, Joan Chevalier,
Board Member, and Mark Wagner, Board
President.

November
5, 2016 By Their Side Annual
Meeting and Luncheon. Brian
Cox, Maryland Developmental Disabilties Council
discussed ABLE accounts, which will offer
families an opportunity to save up to $14,000 a
year ($100,000 total) for disability related
expenses. Karen Lee, Executive Director of SEEC
and recent DDA Public Policy Fellow, discussed
DDA's plans to shift from center based
vocational services and activities to jobs and
community based activities, by 2019, as
mandated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services which funds about half the cost of
services. Toni Webster and Nicole Hazel of The
Arc Northern Chesapeake Region discussed how
the Arc closed its segregated workshop and
activity centers over 10 years ago, in favor of
jobs and community based activities. Board
member Judy Volkman presented Ken Capone with
By Their Side's Martin Lampe Leadership Award.
Ken lead People on the Go's successful effort
with the Maryland Legislature to end
sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities.
Pictured: Ken Capone and Judy Volkman, Board
Member.
October
19, 2016The Baltimore County
Commission on Disabilities Award
Presentation. By Their Side was
delighted to receive the Commission's 2016
Family Support Award.
November
2015By Their Side Annual
Meeting and 50th Anniversary
Celebration. Christine
Marchand/Arc Maryland gave an overview of the
history of services in Maryland and new
opportunities for people with intellectual
disabilities. A panel of parents and
professionals discussed the issues and
resources identified by By Their Side's
multi-disciplinary focus group exploring Planning for
the Future of an Only Child.
October
2015 MD
Sibs 2015 Statewide Conference
Maryland's first sibling
conference, was attended by
over 180 siblings of all ages. By Their Side helped plan
the conference and participated in a panel
discussion of advocacy strategies.By
Their Side also partnered with the Maryland
Developmental Disabilities Council and Arc
Maryland to support the development of the Maryland Sibling
Network.
April
2015 By Their Side met with
representatives from the United Arab
Emirates to discuss advocacy
for people with intellectual/developmental
disabilities by a non-government organization.
Pictured: UAE delegates, Board members Judy
Volkman and Tracy Wright, and Kathy
Vecchioni.

November
2014 Annual Meeting and
Luncheon. A panel of By Their
Side Advocates discussed their work, and the
differences between the Lifelong Advocacy
Service and Annual Advocacy Plan Services.
April
2014 BJ's Wholesale
Club selected By Their Side for a Community
Service Grant, replacing old
computers and providing supplies to support
outreach to Maryland families.
Pictured: Martin Lampe, Board President,
Kathy Vecchioni, Executive Director, BJ's Team
Member, and Kelly Trizzino, BJ's General
Manager

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