The theme for this year’s Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council’s (the Council) third annual photo contest was Side-by-Side: Relationships. Congratulations to the first, second, and third place winners, and “Fan Favorite” who successfully captured close, enriched relationships between people with and without developmental disabilities, and received $200, $175, and $125 respectively. The Fan Favorite received $100.00.
The first place photo was submitted from Essex in Baltimore County by Nicol Hudson of her son Alex, assistant coach of the Archbishop Curley High School’s Junior Varsity football team. Hudson said, “It is truly a great representation of inclusion at its finest. He is treated with respect just like the other coaches.” Deborah Mark of the Arc Montgomery County took second place with a photo of two friends reading together at a child care center in Silver Spring. “Wyatt has the comfort and security of knowing that someone cares about him. As Everett gets older, he will be more understanding of people with differences who will remind him of his buddy Wyatt.” In third place was a photo of Brad working with his boss, Sal, of Denton’s own Sal’s Italian Restaurant in Caroline County. Sal says Brad is fun to work with and very dependable, “He is part of the family now, and was voted the best employee of 2015.” Facebook fans voted for the Fan Favorite from five runner-up photos. This year’s Fan Favorite was submitted by Brittany Vance.
Russell Young, one of three Council members judging submissions said, “The photos showed me scenes from a more inclusive world. It’s a world where people with developmental disabilities are co-workers on the job, fellow team members on sports teams or assistant team coaches, or just good friends to spend time and have fun with. The photos inspire me to do what I can to make the world we live in look more like the one I saw in the photos.”
Citing a recent National Core Indicators survey, Brian Cox, Executive Director, said 72% of people with developmental disabilities in Maryland reported having friends other than family or paid staff, with 40% reporting feeling lonely at least half the time. “Despite the importance of having enriched relationships, developing and maintaining relationships often gets little, if any, attention in our service system. Our hope is that this contest provides an easy and fun way to raise awareness of the importance of quality relationships between people with and without developmental disabilities.” The Council thanks all those who participated in the contest, and congratulates the winners.
The Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council is a public policy and advocacy organization working to advance the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. For more information on how the Council works to improve quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and their families in Maryland, or to receive updates on issues impacting people with developmental disabilities and their families, sign up for emails or contact the Council at www.md-council.org. Find the Council on Facebook and Twitter at @MdDDCouncil.
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