Creating Change across the Nation

Maryland Developmental Disabilities Chair (Dee Sapp), Executive Director (Rachel London), Director of Engagement (Chris Rogers) and Administrative Coordinator (Shawan Pearson) pose with Governor Wes Moore after the Maryland Department of disabilities disability, culture, and achievements awards ceremony in Annapolis at the Maryland State House.

Videos

Judicial Proceedings Committee Hearing

On 3/5/2024, I testified in Annapolis before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee at their hearing for Senate Bill 1096 ( Vehicle Laws - Licenses, Identification Cards, and Moped Operator's Permits - Identification of Nonapparent Disability).

This bill requires that an application for a license, an identification card, or a moped operator's permit allow an applicant to indicate the applicant's nonapparent disability; and requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to ensure that the license, identification card, or moped operator's permit of an applicant who indicates that the applicant has a nonapparent disability includes an "ND" notation.

2024 Maryland legislative session is open

The 2024 Maryland legislative session started on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. As the Chair for the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, I speak (in Plain Language) about what it means when we announce that a Legislative Session is open as well as how you can be an advocate.

Media Articles

Dee Sapp being interviewed by Stephon Dingle of WJZ-TV (CBS-Balt.)

An autistic man kept failing Maryland’s driver’s test. Officials changed it.

The Washington Post published an article on a change to the Driver's Manual due to the work that my son and I did to advocate for a more equitable and accommodating test for community members with cognitive impairments. The changes introduce plainer language to make testing more accessible to everyone

Read Article Here

Maryland MVA changes learner's permit test to make more equitable for aspiring drivers

News spot on WJZ-TV (CBS-Balt.) highlighting the Maryland MVA changes to the learner's permit test to make more it equitable for aspiring drivers to include those with developmental disabilites. I am interviewed about the role I played in these changes being made.

Watch interview here

Maryland simplifies language of learner's permit test -

NBC 4 WASHINGTON highlighting how Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration determined that some questions asked on the learner’s permit test may have been too complicated. I am interviewed about the role I played in these changes being made.

Watch interview here

Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

Our Mission and vision

OUR MISSION We create change to make it possible for people with developmental disabilities to live the lives they want with the support they need. OUR VISION People with and without disabilities in Maryland live, learn, work, and play together.

More about Dee's Work

Partners in Policymaking 2022 Yearbook Photo - Dee Sapp

2022 Graduate of Arc Maryland's partners in policymaking

The Arc Maryland's Partners in Policymaking 2022 class

Partners in Policymaking®! is Maryland’s year-long program that prepares adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), parents, and family members of children and adults with IDD to be effective advocates at the local, state, and federal levels.