In January 2013, Ethan Saylor, a 26-year-old man with Down syndrome, died following an altercation with off-duty police officers at a movie theater. This incident highlighted the lack of training law enforcement had on how to appropriately and effectively interact with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since then, Maryland has made lots of progress through regulatory and legislative efforts. This presentation covers the state’s efforts to improve interactions between these two groups through the standardization of training objectives, the development of a model curriculum, and the inclusion of self-advocates in training.
Presenter: Jennifer Eastman
Since 2014, Jennifer Eastman has served as the Director of Community Living Policy at the Maryland Department of Disabilities. In addition to her work with the Ethan Saylor Alliance project, she oversees the state’s Attendant Care Program; manages the Money Follows the Person Peer Outreach and Support Program which supports the transition of people from nursing facilities; serves as the team lead for a caregiving learning collaborative; and assists the Department of Health with its efforts to improve the health outcomes of people with disabilities through public health programming. Prior to coming to the Department, Jennifer was a Service Coordinator for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Frederick. She received her Master’s in Business Administration from Mount Saint Mary’s University.
Recording of the Independence Amplified Maryland event from October 25, 2021.
Don’t forget to visit our registration website to donate to support these events or register for upcoming calls!