Since 2014, my life suddenly changed due to an illness. Later, I was diagnosed with an incurable disease which caused me to become disabled. I was a pro se litigant at District Court in Maryland with visible and invisible disability. I applied for ADA accommodations under the American Disability Act to ensure that I have access to court services and participate in my trial like an average person.
I request for a postponement because of scheduling conflict for surgery. Right after the surgery, I had a surgical procedure and I was informed by Maryland Courts that I could no longer postpone after the 2nd surgery. I really did not have any assistance to fill out the ADA/reasonable accommodations documents however I filed the necessary paper work for ADA accommodations. The District Court ADA Coordinator stamped my ADA accommodation request and I never heard from her again. During trail, the Judge refuse execute my ADA accommodations nor did the ADA Coordinator attend court to ensure I receive my ADA requests. I reminded the Judge about my ADA accommodations, he suddenly became very rude and refused my disability/ ADA accommodations which was granted to me by the Coordinator.
I filed an appealed to Maryland Circuit Court and the discriminatory treatment became worse. The security at the entrance door took my cane which I use it to balance to keep me from falling. They yelled at me because I walk too slow in line due to the medication I take; I couldn't comprehend why they was yelling at me so abusively. I brought this issue to the Court administrator and I was informed to file a complaint to the Sheriff office which is located in the basement of the court. The Sheriff department made me sit for almost two hours until my legs became numb while they ignored me. I also wanted to report to them that the Circuit Court entrance door disability button get stuck and the door is hard to open. Since they treated me as if I was invisible and that "Disabled Lives Don't Matter" especially a person of color, I left.
I contacted Maryland Disability Law Center, a non-profit organization who advocates for disabled person civil rights; the agency responded to me after 4 months and still refused to communicate with me, maybe because I am black disabled person. However, alone I proceeded to file for ADA accommodations in Circuit Court with the ADA Coordinator and she communicated with me more than the District Court ADA Coordinator; she approved my ADA accommodations. I postponed the first court date due to another surgery because my health was deteriorating. The accumulation of medication and chronic pain limited my mobility and the medication mentally impaired me. I had supportive documentation from the doctors informing the Circuit Court Judge that my condition disabling me from comprehending court procedures and my chronic impairments limits my mobility. The Judge acted bias and ignored the doctor's request for postponement. The Maryland State prosecutor requested to the Judge to dismiss the trail. The State prosecutor was more concern with my health and impairments than the Judge. The Judge read my medical information violating the HIPPA law which also covers a person in non-covered entities. While my health got worst during trail, the Judge told me I can leave the court and they would proceed with the trial without me. The trial was about a one ticket but I was treated like a criminal or murderer. I became so weak I laid outside the court room and the Judge refused to call for an ambulance; my friend came and assisted me to her car. This whole incident was tape recorded. I was informed to contact Maryland Judicial Committee but later I was warned that the Judge who discriminated against me in Circuit Court, his co-worker is on the Judicial Disability Board. Therefore, ethnics and conflict of interest is a great concern on Maryland Judiciary Board, all of the members are friends are co-workers.
The State of Maryland face obstacles biases against the disabled and black community. Especially, mass incarceration because of the increased number people of color in Maryland prison system. Maryland Judiciary should be held accountability because of the lack of court access to disabled person, ADA accommodation and discriminate against the disabled person. Maryland SB 853 Ethan Saylor Alliance bill enforced Maryland public entities to promote collaborative efforts that support community inclusion and sensitivity training to the disabled community, however that failed.
A Maryland disabled man, Ethan Saylor died in police custody. Maryland was the first State to create an executive order by the Former Governor O'Malley who created the Commission of Effective Community Inclusion of Individuals of Intellectual and Development Disabilities. They were in charge of developing public policy for the State. The Ethan Sayler Alliance was created to implement the Commission's recommendations for increased training for members of law enforcement and other public entities (Mighty newsletter). The Maryland State Assembly should include the Maryland Courts personnel to take this insensitive training to communicate with the disabled community. I contacted the democratic led Maryland State Assembly but they ignored my letters. They had legislated mass incarceration and it was led by former Governor O'Malley. Presently, Governor Larry Hogan who had advanced form of cancer stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and in remission, thank God! But according to the "Disability Blue Book" he might be still considered disabled. You have to wonder if the Governor was treated or experience negative treatment like the average citizens by the State of Maryland public entities; cold, insensitive and discriminatory. MCCR Maryland Commission Civil Rights refuses to execute civil rights protection to individuals with disabilities however silent concerning to these abuses and then use disabled person impairments against them.
If States refuses to enforce these disability laws, who do the disabled persons supposed to go to? A lawyer? Most disabled person can't afford a lawyer due to limited funds? Therefore advocate in Courts as pro se litigants with Judges who are insensitive and bias. The State of Maryland has limited advocacy organization and some don't return or exchange communication. Have to wonder how many disabled persons abused by Maryland public entities who remain1 insensitive to disabled persons and refuses to comply with ADA regulations.
No comments:
Post a Comment