Ethan Saylor Alliance
About the Ethan Saylor Alliance
In April 2015, Maryland passed the Ethan Saylor Alliance. Its goal is to teach police officers and public service workers how to better support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
What makes this program unique is that people with disabilities themselves—called self-advocates—lead the training and share their experiences directly with the community.
To make this happen, the Maryland Department of Disabilities brought together a team of:
- Self-advocates (people with disabilities)
- Family members
- Disability specialists and educators
- Police officers
Together, this group builds the plan and tools that help self-advocates teach law enforcement and first responders.
Upcoming Meetings
Meetings are held the second Wednesday of even months from 10am - 12pm.
Date: To Be Announced
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Location: Virtual
Teleconference Access:
Video Call link
Meeting ID: 83112148766 Passcode: 899670
Past Meeting Minutes
Steering Committee Members
Theresa (Teri) Sparks, Co-Chair -
Senior Paralegal, Disability Rights Maryland
Erica Wheeler, Co-Chair
Senior Paralegal, Disability Rights Maryland
Appointed by Secretary of Disabilities:
Patti Saylor, Parent
Elizabeth Benevides, Associate Director of Outreach Hussman Foundation / Hussman Institute for Autism
Thomas Curtis, Parent
Rachel London, Executive Director - Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
Ex officio:
Carol A. Beatty, Secretary - Maryland Department of Disabilities
Bernard A. Simons, Deputy Secretary, Developmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland Department of Health
Robert Wagner, Training Director - Police & Correctional Training Commissions, Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services
Senior Trooper Katherine Follin - Maryland State Police
Jennifer Eastman, Staff, Director of Community Living Policy, MD Department of Disabilities
(410) 767-7901; e-mail: [email protected]