Contact Information

8503 LaSalle Road
Suite 1103
Towson, MD 21286
Telephone: (410)828-7700
Toll Free: 1-800-492-2523
FAX: (410)828-7708
E-mail:
Web Address: www.abilitiesnetwork.org

Other Office Locations:

Annapolis - Parole Professional Center
132 Holiday Ct., Suite 211
Annapolis, MD 21401
Telephone: (410)226-7941

Charles County - Potomac Square Condominium
9375 Chesapeake St., Suite 103
Laplata, MD 20646
Telephone: (301)392-3554

Frederick
5300 Westview Drive, Suite 408
Frederick, MD 21703
Telephone: (301)695-9505

Garrett/Allegany
994 National Highway
LaVale, MD 21502
Telephone: (301)387-7723 or (301)729-7892

Silver Spring - Excutive Court
1738 Elton Rd., Suite 205
Silver Spring, MD 20903
telephone: (301)431-7740

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Services Offered

Supported Employment, Family Support Services, Individual Support Services, Community Supported Living Arrangments

Individuals have the Following Disabilities:
Autism, Blindness/Severe Visual Impairment, Epilepsy/Seisure Disorder, Mental Disorder, Orthopedic Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech/Language Impairment, Spina Bifida, Cerebral Palsy, Mental retardation, Multiple Sclerosis, other neurological Disorders, and other undetermined disabilities

Number Individuals Currently Being Served: 1390

Ages Served: All ages

Home Region of DDA: Central, Western, Southern

Counties Served: Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore City, Baltimore, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's, Washington

Year Established: 1964

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Mission Statement

The Abilities Network provides customized services to children, adults, and families of differing abilities that focus on one-on-one supports to foster broadened, more inclusives communities through education, training, and advocacy.

Unique or Distinctive Qualities

SHARING THE SKILLS LIVING.
Community Partners supports individuals interested in living in their own homes to gain the life skills essential for maintaining a home, budget, health, and hapiness. With a strong emphasis on personalized service, Community & Employment partners Associates inform consumers about available resources for meeting day-today needs. They also help consumers find stride and contribute to the communities they call home.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT
Employment Partners provide program participants with connections to potential employers and the opportunity to develop a variety of job skills. Associates serve as liasons between consumers and participating employers. Because of its experience in matching consumers with jobs and its ongoing committment to support and training, Abilities Network offers assistance to employers considering the advantages of hiring a person with a disability.

SUPPORT SERVICES
Family/Individual Support Services are person-centered, focusing on the unique needs and preferences of adults and families that include a child with a disability. Assistance is provided to help individuals become active in planning, designing, accessing and evaluating services. Information and resources are provided to assist with meeting everyday needs that will reduce stress and prevent crises.

Participants are supported so that they can be involved in community life in the broadest sense. Abilities Network believes that adults and parents of children its serves are in the best position to identify their own needs and it respects individual choices and preferences.

Abilities Network provides adults and familiies with essential information to make choices and decisions for themselves and it helps with decision-making when asked. Its services recognize each person's unique abilities, needs and preferences. Abilities Network works to create environments, relationships and resources that encourage learning and growth.

Discuss How Your Agency Has Utilized The "Ask Me!" Survey Results.

As one of the orginal pilot agencies for "Ask Me!", Abilities Network has learned early on the advantages of having a separate body collect data regarding consumer satisfaction as it relates to one's life. At present "Ask Me!" helps Abilities Network to create the annual QA plan, identifying areas where support delivery requires more attention to heighten satisfaction.

The "Ask Me!" Survey Results is available for the general public.

Discuss your quality assurance practices, including any agency accreditations

In addition to participation in "Ask Me!", Abilities Network has developed internal surveys to monitor employment and community services delivered to people with disabilities. The combination of questions on its surveys based on specific services provided and "Ask Me' has lead to the development of training curricula that strengthens and embraces the domains identified within the "Ask Me!" reports. Understanding the connection between each domian and its importance in creating a greater satisfaction in one's life, direct care and managerial staff remain focused on identified areas that reinforce growth and independence within the work place, the home and community.

Abilities Network has been accredited by the Maryland Non-profit Standards of Excellence since November 2000.

How Does Your Agency Support People In Becoming Active Members Of Their Community?

For most of us, our homes and jobs are sources of identity that bolster our self-esteem. With support, amny adults with disabilities can master the skills necessary to enhance connections within their communities and work as independently as possible. All supports, regardless of whether they are for working or living in the community, are based upon the preferences and desires conveyed by each consumer. Participants partner with staff and others to direct their lives as they see fit. Community Partners focuses on supports to individuals at home and in the community, while Employment Partners assist individuals at work. Together, these programs enable people to find and maintain homes, jobs, and, just as important, a sense of pride.

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Steps Individuals Must Take to Apply for Services

Please contact Joan Rumenap at (410)828-7700 or 1-800-492-2553 or by e-mail at in order to schedule an initial meeting to discuss services.

Special Considerations/Comments: None

Funding Sources: Developmental Disabilities Administration, Maryland State Department of Education, Generous contributions from corporate and private foundations.

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