ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced the formation of a new Task Force on Disability Inclusion, Safety, and Crisis Response, with the signing of Executive Order 2026-08.
In Howard County, we place a high value on protecting the safety, health, dignity, and wellbeing of people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals, and we are committed to fostering a community where all residents are supported, included, and empowered to thrive. It is imperative that our policies and procedures governing crisis response to all individuals, including people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals, are appropriately effective and reflect community values of equity, dignity, safety, and inclusion.
The Task Force is being formed to evaluate and develop recommendations that will strengthen the County’s response to crisis situations involving people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals throughout Howard County. Now through November 2026, the Task Force will review, discuss, and make policy and programmatic recommendations across the following four focus areas:
- Training for County Employees, specifically frontline employees, including but not limited to law enforcement, EMS, social workers, and community health workers, who interact with people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals;
- Education, Outreach, and Partnerships, specifically, the Task Force shall identify strategies to improve coordination, alignment, and communication among all organizations and partners that support people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals;
- On-Scene Response Protocols, specifically, the Task Force shall review relevant Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations, and policies that govern protocols when responding to a behavioral health crisis involving a member of the disability or neurodivergent community; and
- Emergency Response and Prevention Protocols, specifically, the Task Force shall review the County’s current 911 communication protocols as it relates to mental health crisis response for people with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals, as well as use of 988 and specialized mobile crisis response teams in Howard County and in other jurisdictions.
The Task Force, which will be co-chaired by the Autism Society of Maryland and Howard County Government, is comprised of members from local and state government, local and state nonprofits, local and state councils, and individuals and family members with lived experience.
The Autism Society is encouraged to see the formation of this Task Force which is an important first step in helping the county and state re-evaluate their approach to mental health emergencies, from the training of dispatchers to the deployment of crisis intervention. Its members represent a broad cross section of the community that includes significant representation from self-advocates, family members, and professionals. By coming together we can make changes to protect members of the disability community wherever they live.
The Task Force is composed of representatives from the following organizations and entities:
- County Government Co-Chair designated by the County Executive;
- Autism Society of Maryland (Co-Chair);
- Office of Human Rights and Equity;
- Office of Consumer Protection;
- Department of Community Resources and Services;
- Department of Social Services;
- Department of Fire and Rescue Services;
- Department of Recreation and Parks;
- Howard County Police Accountability Board;
- Local Behavioral Health Authority;
- Howard County Commission on Disabilities;
- Howard County Public School System;
- Sheriff’s Office;
- Maryland Department of Disabilities;
- Ethan Saylor Alliance;
- Maryland Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration;
- Developmental Disabilities Council;
- Behavioral Health System Baltimore;
- Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center;
- Sheppard Pratt;
- Association of Community Services;
- Horizon Foundation;
- Arc of Howard County;
- Arc of Maryland;
- Disability Rights Maryland;
- Humanim;
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention;
- NAMI Howard County;
- NAMI Maryland;
- NAACP;
- Community Action Council of Howard County;
- African American Community Roundtable of Howard County;
- L.O.V.E. Is the Answer;
- Advanced Centers for the Specially Enabled;
- Pathfinders for Autism;
- Disability and neurodivergent community representatives (8);
- Neurodiversity-affirming clinician (e.g., physician, psychologist) (2).
The Task Force will present its recommendations to the County Executive by no later than November 2, 2026 and will dissolve by December 31, 2026.
To learn more about the Task Force on Disability Inclusion, Safety, and Crisis Response, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions/task-force-disability-inclusi…/boards-commissions/task-force-disability-inclusion-safety-and-crisis-response.