Maryland Delegates Visit Melwood Headquarters for Legislative Discussions

October 18, 2024

Upper Marlboro, MD – Melwood, a leading employer, advocate and service provider for people with disabilities, hosted key members of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Prince George’s County. Delegates met with Melwood to discuss advancing disability employment and to start discussions around how the state can support efforts to hire and retain more direct support professionals (DSPs).

The event, held during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, highlighted Melwood’s commitment to providing jobs and services to people with disabilities, while facilitating discussions around the critical role of DSPs in Maryland’s workforce. With 1,018 employees in Maryland, and most of them working in Prince George’s County, Melwood plays a vital role in the county.

“This event was not only an opportunity to showcase Melwood’s impact but also to start meaningful conversations about initiatives that will further support the disability community, particularly through hiring and retaining direct support professionals who play a vital role in ensuring independence and dignity for many,” said Larysa Kautz, Melwood’s President & CEO. “We were honored to host our state’s delegates for this discussion.”

Delegate Nicole A. Williams, Chair of the Prince George’s County House Delegation, also highlighted the significance of Melwood’s work in the state. “Melwood is a leader in inclusive employment, and it’s clear that their programs are changing lives. As we look to the future, we must support direct care workers and create more opportunities for people with disabilities to thrive in the workforce,” Williams said.

Other attendees from the Prince George’s County Delegation included Delegates Adrian Boafo, Kevin M. Harris, Jamila J. Woods, Denise Roberts and Kent Roberson and Carol Malveaux from Delegate Jazz Lewis’s office and Wanda Gotham and Gloria Albright from Delegate Diana M. Fennell’s office.