Responsibilities of Council Members

The Maryland Statewide Independent Living Council (the Council) is composed of members appointed by the Governor. A majority of the voting members must be individuals with disabilities who do not work for a center for independent living or any state agency.

The Council functions as a partner with the Maryland Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) to ensure the existence of appropriate planning, financial support and coordination, and other assistance to appropriately address, on a statewide basis, the independent living needs of Marylanders’ with disabilities.

The Council meets every other month beginning in January, usually in Silver Spring, Maryland. Council members are reimbursed for travel, lodging and other approved reasonable and necessary expenses for attending meetings. A term of appointment is three years and council members may not serve more than two full consecutive terms.

It is the responsibility of each council member to: Support the Council's mission “to ensure persons who have disabilities have access to community-based resources that promote personal choice and facilitate the achievement of their independent living goals" by:

• Actively participating in Council meetings;
• Staying informed about the issues and priorities of the Council;
• Providing information to the Council on relevant issues based on personal and/or professional knowledge and experience;
• Serving on committees, contacting policy-makers, and supporting and demonstrating the independent living philosophy; and
• Assisting in the development of the State Plan by assessing unmet needs in their communities.

Council members should:

• Be committed to the philosophy of “consumer control,” meaning that people with disabilities should have control over their lives and decision-making;
• Believe in the principles of equal access and equal opportunity;
• Be committed to full integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of society;
• Be honest and respect the values of others; and
• Possess a strong personal code of ethics, including maintaining confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest