As Fello continues to grow its presence across Maryland, we’re opening a new kind of door—one that meets people right where they are. 

In Episode 9 of the Fello Thinking Differently podcast, Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO, and Sara Pease, Assistant Director of Children, Youth & Their Families, explore the vision behind Fello at The Mall. Located inside Annapolis Mall, the 5,900 sq. ft. space provides people with disabilities and their families a place to drop in for resources, support, and connection. No appointment needed. 

In this episode, Jonathon and Sara also discuss: 

• What inspired Fello to open a space in Annapolis Mall 
• How the space is designed to be welcoming and accessible to all 
• What families can expect when they walk through the door 
• How Fello at The Mall strengthens community connection in Annapolis

Listen Now: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify 

Increasing Access in Everyday Spaces 

Fello’s work has always centered on meeting people with disabilities and their families where they are: in their neighborhoods, communities, and lives. We build services around each person’s unique goals and needs, reducing barriers to information and support along the way. 

Access shouldn’t require multiple steps. With Fello at The Mall, we’ve created a place where people can walk in, ask questions, and receive the resources they need without an appointment. 

“Here at the Annapolis Mall, where there is still traditional mall shopping, there’s also a richness of community,” said Jonathon. “We want to be where people are coming anyway and create that level of accessibility so we can include people with disabilities and their families right here.” 

Opening a space in a familiar public setting makes support easier to access and part of everyday life. 

Designed with Accessibility in Mind 

From the moment you arrive, Fello at The Mall feels different. An Information & Resource Specialist greets each visitor and learns about their interests, needs, and how Fello can support them. 

“From there, we can offer information, resources, and referrals to other team members within Fello—making it a person-centered approach to working with their families,” said Sara. 

The space was intentionally designed to be accessible—physically and operationally. It’s not a traditional office setting; it’s an open, welcoming environment where people and families can start a conversation about their goals and explore what support looks like. 

“It doesn’t feel like a storefront at the mall,” said Jonathon. “It feels like an intentional space that people can come for resources.” 

And because the focus is community, there’s something for the entire family. 

“We want to support the whole family, so we want to make sure that the resources we’re offering support not just the children, but any family members, parents, and everyone involved,” said Sara. 

A Continued Commitment to Annapolis 

Fello has long been part of the Annapolis community.

“Annapolis has been a big part of who we are, who we’ve been, and who we will be in the future,” said Jonathon. 

Fello at The Mall builds on that foundation. The space is a hub for creating new connections, strengthening partnerships with neighbors and community partners, and opening new pathways for people to learn about and access services, advocacy, and community engagement. 

“Families are really used to having to jump through hoops to be able to access services and resources for their children,” said Sara. “And I think having a space here at the mall is going to break down one more barrier for them, creating an accessible space where they can come in at their time and on their schedule, and get the support they need for their children.” 

Listen to the Full Conversation 

Listen to Jonathon and Sara talk about what Fello at The Mall means for families and the future of community connection in Annapolis. Tune into Episode 9 of Fello Thinking Differently today. 

Listen Now: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify 

Every March, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) invites communities across the country to recognize the contributions, leadership, and experiences of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

At Fello, DDAM reinforces what guides our work every day: building communities where people with disabilities are included, heard, and empowered to lead.  

That commitment comes to life through Living Boldly, Fello’s self-advocacy group led by people with disabilities who are strengthening their voices and supporting one another in driving change.  

Finding a Voice 

Fello launched Living Boldly in 2022 to ensure people with disabilities are not just included in conversations about policy and community life—they are actively shaping them. What began with a focus on legislative advocacy has grown into a leadership space where members build confidence, develop practical skills, and learn how to advocate for themselves across all areas of life.  

“Self-advocacy looks different depending on the goal, something Living Boldly members understood from the very beginning,” said Rylie Shewbridge, Director of Government Relations. “They committed themselves to embracing a comprehensive approach to advocacy that prepares them for any situation or conversation.” 

Through peer-led meetings, skill-building workshops, and direct engagement with policymakers, members strengthen public speaking skills, deepen their understanding of issues that affect them, and practice navigating systems independently. They challenge themselves to step out of their comfort zones—whether by participating in financial literacy courses to better understand their purchasing power or by partnering with Fello’s behavioral health team to stay connected to their well-being.   

Each experience reinforces a powerful truth: self-advocacy is learned, practiced, and lived. 

Growing Leadership 

What began with just 10 members has grown into a dynamic self-advocacy group boasting 36 members across Maryland, organized into two chapters—Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore—with elected peer leaders guiding each chapter. 

Living Boldly is intentionally structured to center leadership. Members help set priorities and determine where their collective energy should focus. Fello provides support and guidance, but direction comes from within the group.  

“Fello’s role is to support Living Boldly, not direct it,” said Joan Green, Director of Community Engagement. “The members shape everything from meeting agendas to upcoming activities—and they lead with genuine enthusiasm and a deep awareness of their influence in the community.” 

As the group has grown, so has its vision. Members have expressed interest in expanding outreach and building connections with other self-advocates beyond Fello’s services, strengthening the network of disability leadership across Maryland.  

Proving What’s Possible 

In just four years, Living Boldly has built a reputation for showing up for the community, ready and willing to make a difference. 

Each year, members travel to Annapolis for Developmental Disabilities Day at the Legislature to share their experiences and advocate for policy priorities. In 2026, they joined hundreds of advocates rallying against proposed cuts to the Developmental Disability Administration—standing together to protect critical services thousands of Marylanders rely on.  

Living Boldly also shows up in their local communities. During Volunteer Day last October, Living Boldly members gave their time and skills to local organizations—and several have continued volunteering long after the event ended.  

Whether influencing policy or serving their neighbors, the message is the same: self-advocates are leaders, contributors, and changemakers.  

Awareness in Action 

DDAM reminds us that inclusion is built when people have opportunity, confidence, and support to advocate for themselves and one another.  

At Fello, we believe people with disabilities belong at the center of decisions that affect their lives. Living Boldly demonstrates what’s possible when that belief is put into practice. 

This DDAM, we invite you to join us in strengthening self-advocacy across Maryland.  You can make a difference by: 

• Speaking out against budget cuts to critical services 
• Supporting policies that expand access and opportunity 
• Following Living Boldly’s journey and other important updates on policy by engaging with Fello on social media 
• Amplifying stories that highlight leadership within the disability community

Awareness starts in March. Leadership, advocacy, and community impact continue all year—and together, we can help ensure every voice is heard. 

Fello is excited to bring back its annual 50/50 raffle, a fun and easy way to win big while supporting children with disabilities and their families. Every ticket purchased directly contributes to Fello’s Family Fund, which provides financial grants so families can access therapies, equipment, and other educational and life-enriching opportunities for their children. The raffle prize grows larger each year, with last year’s winner taking home over $3,000. Every ticket gives you an opportunity to win big while making an even bigger difference in our community. 

How to Participate 

While the winning ticket will be drawn at Fello’s annual Golf Fore Kids Tournament on May 11, you do not need to attend the tournament to be eligible to win.  

Tickets are now available for $5 each or five tickets for $20. Each ticket you purchase increases your chances of winning and your impact on the lives of families and children throughout our community. 

To get your tickets:

1. Click here or complete the form below.  
2. Select the number of tickets you’d like to purchase.  
3. Complete your payment securely online.

The raffle drawing will take place on May 11 during the tournament. Winners will be notified directly, and you don’t need to be present to claim your prize.

The Power in Your Purchase 

All proceeds from the raffle support Fello’s Family Fund, a 100% donor-funded program that helps families pay for essential services that are often expensive or not covered by insurance.  Founded in 2021, the Family Fund has distributed over $382,000 to 239 families, with 2025 being the most successful year for the program yet.  

Behind every grant is a child with unique goals and the resources that help build the right support around them.  

For Christa, watching her nine-year-old daughter Della’s mobility decline was heartbreaking. As her bones grew faster than her muscles could keep up, Della lost the ability to straighten her legs fully for more than four years.  

As Della approached her pre-teen years, Christa knew this was a critical moment. Children often experience rapid growth during this stage, and the right intervention can make all the difference for their future independence.  

After years of research, Christa found a specialist who offered a less invasive procedure, called PERCs, with the potential to preserve Della’s strength and mobility. Insurance deemed the costly procedure ‘cosmetic’. 

With a grant from the Family Fund, Della was able to receive the surgery over summer break, giving her time to heal and focus on physical therapy without missing school.  

The results were immediate and remarkable. Within weeks, Della was doing things once thought impossible—like standing up by herself. The impact of the surgery was more than physical.  

“This really reduced my stress as a mother,” said Christa. “Having to watch my child struggle just to move her own body every day just hurt. This surgery that my daughter had will essentially affect her whole life. She has greater movement, more comfort, and better stability.”  

Hundreds of children like Della rely on the access the Family Fund provides, and the need grows steadily each year. Since the 2026 application opened in February, Fello has already received over 360 applications, a record high. 

“High-impact resources that empower children with disabilities to meet their potential are unfortunately out of reach for many families in our community,” said Sara Pease, Assistant Director of Children, Youth & Families. “The Family Fund helps close the gap by expanding access for families and creating opportunities for children to set and achieve their unique goals specific to their needs.” 

When you purchase a raffle ticket, you are not just entering to win. You are helping provide access, opportunity, and life-changing resources to children, like Della, who need them most. Join us in participating in the 50/50 raffle and help us reach more families through the Family Fund. Read more about how our grants change lives.

On February 18, Fello joined hundreds of Marylanders for Developmental Disabilities (DD) Day at the Legislature, an annual advocacy event dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of people with disabilities across the state. 

DD Day brings advocates and community leaders to Annapolis each year to meet with legislators, learn about the legislative process, and raise awareness of issues affecting people with disabilities. It’s an event that energizes advocates and amplifies the community’s needs. 

But beneath DD Day’s energy is a sense of urgency—proposed budget cuts threaten vital services for people with disabilities and their families. In response, Fello participated in a spirited community rally that encouraged attendees to raise their signs and speak their minds. 

What’s at Stake 

Many Marylanders with disabilities depend on resources from the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) to build lives around their goals. The DDA oversees the approval of waiver services that empower people with disabilities to live, work, and connect in the community on their own terms.  

More than 18,000 people with disabilities access self-directed and community-based services offered by the DDA—services that form the foundation for independence, stability, and opportunity. 

Proposed cuts to the DDA budget surfaced last year and returned this year. In the past, advocacy from Maryland residents has helped protect vital funding. But past success does not guarantee future stability. 

State lawmakers are considering cutting more than $155 million in general funds from the DDA’s budget, totaling $310 million in lost funding when federal matching funds are included. Cuts that large would significantly limit the DDA’s budget, forcing people with disabilities to go without essential services that allow them to live independently. 

Showing Up, Together 

This year, the depth of the proposed cuts meant strong action would be needed. 

Advocates and disability rights organizations planned a rally in Annapolis that would send a clear message to lawmakers: cuts to DDA funding would have real consequences for real people. 

Immediately following DD Day, attendees took to Lawyers Mall. Among the hundreds of participants were Fello team members and members of Living Boldly, Fello’s self-advocacy group made up of people with disabilities who represent themselves, their ideas, and their interests to create change in their lives and their communities.  

Together, they reminded lawmakers that policy decisions affect real lives. 

“Advocacy is the heart of Fello,” said Rylie Shewbridge, Director of Government Relations. “Our team understood that this change would negatively impact people in the community, and we came together to make sure voices were heard.”  

Sustaining the Momentum 

The legislative session continues through April 13, and conversations with lawmakers are ongoing. While outcomes remain uncertain, one thing is clear: the disability community is organized and united. 

“I was inspired by what I saw following DD Day—there’s no doubt our movement is strong,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of Fello. “But what matters now is maintaining momentum. A single day of large-scale advocacy helps, but advocacy every day is what will lead to a truly inclusive, accessible community for everyone.” 

At Fello, advocacy doesn’t begin and end with one event. It’s part of how we build systems that expand housing, strengthen services, improve health outcomes, and create opportunities. We will continue tracking the legislative session and advocating for policies that protect and expand access to support.  

If you want to stay engaged:

• Sign up for Fello’s Action Alerts to stay informed and make an impact.  
• If you identify as a person with a disability and want to access tools to help you self-advocate, learn more about joining Fello’s Living Boldly group.

This year, as Fello celebrates 65 years of supporting people with disabilities and building inclusive communities, we’re honoring our legacy by looking back at the movement that started it all.  

Fello was founded in 1961 by a group of families who believed their children deserved a different future than what was available at the time. They came together to advocate for opportunity, dignity, and belonging—fighting for their children’s rights and creating the foundation for the work we do today. 

A Response to Institutionalization 

For much of the 20^th century, if you had a child with a disability, doctors told you there was only one option available: institutionalization. By 1955, over half a million Americans lived in facilities that isolated them from the community and denied them the ability to make decisions. 

Families knew their children deserved more. They believed lives defined by connection, opportunity, and choice were not only possible—they were essential. 

In 1953, these families formally organized as the National Association for Retarded Children (NARC) to advocate for their children’s right to live, work, and thrive in the community. In Maryland, local families were taking action—laying the groundwork for what would become Fello. 

They weren’t alone. Across the country, a movement for disability rights was beginning to take shape, fueled by parents, self-advocates, and allies who refused to accept the status quo. 

Building a Movement 

The early 1960s marked a shift in how the nation viewed disability. President John F. Kennedy, moved by his sister Rosemary’s experiences, brought disability policy to the national stage. His administration launched the first presidential panel on disability and, in 1963, passed legislation that strengthened a community-based approach to supporting people with disabilities. This move signaled a growing acknowledgement that people with disabilities belonged in their communities, not institutions. 

As disability rights activists organized alongside other civil rights movements, people with disabilities began winning their own legal victories. In 1965, Title XIX created Medicaid, providing access to health care services for people with disabilities. Three years later, the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 required that federal buildings be accessible, removing a major barrier to employment, education, and public life. 

Inspired by this growing national movement, Fello’s founders championed rights for children with disabilities in their communities. They built connections, provided resources for families, and offered community activities that created spaces where people with disabilities could belong.  

Their early efforts helped foster a local movement rooted in belonging, equity, and equal rights for people with disabilities. 

In these foundational years, Fello’s work reflected the simple but powerful idea: community is something that you build together. 

From Then to Now 

The grassroots advocacy of Fello’s founders paved the way for an organization that has grown dramatically over the past 65 years. What began as a group of parents advocating for their children has become a statewide network of services, housing, and advocacy designed to support people with disabilities to live the lives they choose. 

Today, Fello carries forward the legacy and vision of its founders by creating opportunities for inclusion, dignity, and choice. Through programs like Living Boldly, our inclusive housing initiatives, and community-focused services, we provide the supports and spaces where people thrive—just as our founders intended. 

Fello’s founding and the civil rights movements of the 1960s were about challenging assumptions and creating new possibilities. That same spirit of innovation and commitment to equity continues to guide Fello today—shaping our programs, driving our advocacy, and strengthening the communities we serve. 

As we celebrate our 65th anniversary throughout the year, we continue to explore and honor the work of our founders. Next month, we’ll take a look at the 1970s, when Fello opened its first home and disability rights activists achieved major victories in the movement.