Commission on Disabilities

Meetings

  • 5 p.m.
  • Fourth Monday of every month 
  • Meetings are open to the public 

Public Calendar
2023/2024 Meeting Schedule

Agendas & minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings.  Minutes are available following approval.
View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Members

Agency representatives

  • Parnell Barmer
    Aspire Living and Learning
    Term expires: March 15, 2025
  • Jaimie Brunner
    Chimes
    Term expires: March 15, 2025
  • Stephanie M. Schwartz
    The Image Center
    Term expires: April 5, 2025
  • Sarah Ortiz-Brown
    ARC
    Term expires: April 4, 2026

Citizens with disabilities

  • David B. Pickett
    Term expires: November 3, 2023
  • James L. Morrison
    Term expires: March 15, 2025
  • Michael F. Raidt
    Term expires: October 18, 2025
  • Kirk Vollmecke
    Term expires: April 4, 2026
  • Malcolm Whyte
    Term expires: April 4, 2026

  
County citizens

  • Rebecca A. Cook
    Term expires: March 15, 2025
  • Andrea L. Beichler
    Term expires: April 5, 2025

Family members of individuals with disabilities

  • Marc J. Weinstein, Chair
    Term expires: March 15, 2025
  • Michael B. Mathias
    Term expires: March 15, 2025

Local business

  • Charles E. Kelly Jr. (District E)
    Term expires: March 15, 2025

County council member

  • Councilman Dion Guthrie
    Term expires: Dec. 7, 2026

Student Representative

  • Vacant
  • Rachel Trovato
    Harford County Office of Disability Services


About the commission

This commission was created by Harford County Code Article XIVA to monitor services and activities of government agencies that provide services to individuals with disabilities. The commission acts as a catalyst for positive change for citizens with disabilities by assessing needs, investigating opportunities for improvements in quality of life and supporting community participation.

Membership

This commission consists of 16 members: five county citizens with disabilities; a member of the county council, appointed by the council; two family members of individuals with disabilities; one county citizen who owns or operates a local business or who is an employee of a local business, recommended by the Harford County Chamber of Commerce; two county citizens with an interest in assisting individuals with disabilities; and four individuals representing agencies serving individuals with disabilities. The term of office is three years. The county executive shall annually appoint one of the members of the commission as chair and one member as vice-chair. 
 
A student representative is chosen annually by the commission either in the student's junior year to serve during the senior year or in the sophomore year to serve during the junior year, beginning in July of each year. 

Duties

A summary of the duties for the Commission on Disabilities includes:

  1. Review overall services and activities for collecting data regarding the needs of and review of reports and publications of existing governmental agencies providing services to individuals with disabilities.
  2. Review legislation by the county, state, or federal governments that concerns or would impact individuals with disabilities.
  3. Identify and review specific and overall programs and services for all individuals in the county with disabilities to formulate recommendations for a data pool for the purpose of identifying areas of unmet needs in services and programs for individuals with disabilities.
  4. Advise and promote the development of an information and referral service for all services and programs for individuals with disabilities.
  5. Advise the county executive on the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  6. Annually submit a report to the county executive and county council.

Additional Documents

Harford County Notice under Americans with Disabilities Act (PDF)