ARC Baltimore urges housing and transportation fixes for people with developmental disabilities
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Summary
An ARC Baltimore vice president told Baltimore County commissioners that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities still face housing scarcity, inaccessible units, long paratransit rides and workforce shortages; she urged commissioners to increase social capital and supports.
Swanisha Hinton, vice president of quality enhancement at ARC Baltimore, briefed the Baltimore County Human Relations Commission on barriers facing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and on supports that help them live more independently.
Hinton recounted the region's history of institutionalization and cited the Rosewood Center's closure as context. Quoting a summary of the moment, she told commissioners that "leaving the past behind means no longer asking if people with disabilities belong, but ensuring they lead the way." She emphasized that meaningful belonging requires not only access to housing but also housing choice, affordability and in‑unit accessibility—wider doorways, bathroom adaptations and appropriate ramps.
Hinton said transportation and public infrastructure remain obstacles; she noted a 2021 lawsuit over sidewalk and curb maintenance in Baltimore City and said paratransit scheduling sometimes causes rides of two to three hours for trips that should take 30 minutes. On employment, Hinton said employers frequently limit job duties based on assumptions about ability, constraining opportunities for meaningful employment.
Workforce shortages in direct support professional roles also reduce continuity of care, Hinton said: high turnover undermines stable relationships and consistent supports. She described follow‑up practices after institutional transitions—individualized plans, behavioral and psychological assessments, nursing supports, and 60‑day check‑ins—and said ARC uses surveys and self‑advocacy groups to monitor outcomes.
Commissioners thanked Hinton and discussed possible county actions, including inviting regional partners such as the Baltimore Metropolitan Council to brief the commission on fair housing strategies.
Next steps: Commissioners signaled interest in further presentations on fair housing and public accommodations and in partnering with community organizations to improve outreach and supports.