Despite a cold and rainy start to the day, supporters showed up in full force for this year’s Golf Fore Kids tournament at Queenstown Harbor Golf—umbrellas in hand, ready to support children with disabilities and their families.  

By the afternoon, the clouds began to clear, the sun came out, and the day ended the same way it began: with a community showing up for one another.  

This year’s Golf Fore Kids tournament welcomed 248 golfers and raised an incredible $271,170 to support Fello’s Children, Youth, & Their Families programs.  

Supporting Children and Families 

While the event is built around a day on the course, the impact reaches far beyond golf.  

Funds raised through Golf Fore Kids help children with disabilities and their families access advocacy, resources, inclusive opportunities, and critical support systems throughout the year. For some families, that means guidance in navigating school supports and services. For others, it means connection to community, resources after a new diagnosis, or opportunities for children to build confidence, friendships, and independence.  

At its core, Golf Fore Kids ensures that children and families know they are not navigating these challenges alone.  

A Community That Shows Up 

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came out and supported this year’s tournament,” said Jonathon Rondeau, President & CEO of Fello. “The support we saw throughout the day will create lasting impact for children and families across our community.”  

From the course to the clubhouse, the day reflected a shared commitment to equity and access for children and families. “Every golfer, sponsor, and volunteer helped create opportunities for children and families to be seen, supported, and included,” added Sara Pease, Assistant Director of Children, Youth & Their Families.  

The community also generously showed up in moments throughout the day, including a 50/50 raffle that raised $5,380 in support of Fello’s Family Fund, with the winner donating $1,000 of the winnings back to Fello—further extending the impact for children and families. 

Throughout the tournament, golfers enjoyed on-course contests, food and refreshments, and an afternoon celebration as the weather finally turned in everyone’s favor. The day also featured plenty of friendly competition across both the River and Lakes courses, with golfers competing for top honors and contest prizes. 

Fello extends a sincere thanks to every golfer, sponsor, volunteer, donor, and supporter who helped make this year’s tournament possible.  

Tournament Winners 

River Course – First Place

• Bob Park  
• Tim Park  
• Anthony Hanagan  
• Jimmy McCartin  

River Course – Second Place 

• Chris Chick  
• Pat McIntyre  
• Jim Schaefer  
• Doug Gentilcore 

Lakes Course – First Place

• John Shearin  
• John Camden  
• Larry Simmons 

Lakes Course – Second Place

• Matt Ruby  
• Aaron Matty  
• Nick Gary  
• Kenny Gary

Contest Winners 

River Course

• Women’s Longest Drive: Kinsey Shifrets  
• Men’s Longest Drive: Dylan Neperl  
• Closest to the Pin: Lucas Grabbe  

Lakes Course 

• Men’s Longest Drive: Jonathan Heaton  
• Closest to the Pin: Ben Smith 

See You Next Year 

Mark your calendars now—Golf Fore Kids returns on May 10, 2027. We look forward to welcoming golfers and supporters back for another unforgettable day supporting children and families across our community.

This year, as Fello celebrates 65 years of supporting people with disabilities and building inclusive communities, we’re reflecting on the history of the disability rights movement and the milestones that helped shape the work we do today. 

The 1980s were a decade of resilience. Advocates defended hard-won victories while continuing to work toward the changes needed to empower people with disabilities to participate more fully in their communities. 

That determination paid off. The 1990s brought groundbreaking civil rights protections at the national level and meaningful progress closer to home—achievements that continue to shape the lives of people with disabilities today. 

A Victory Decades in the Making 

On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law, marking a historic victory for people with disabilities. The ADA extended civil rights protections across key areas of public life, helping ensure that people with disabilities had the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. 

The victory didn’t come easily. The ADA was rewritten multiple times and faced opposition from some lawmakers and business groups. But advocates understood what the ADA would mean for everyday life—and they refused to let its potential slip away. 

Self-advocates played a critical role. By openly sharing their stories and describing what life looked like without basic protections, they helped lawmakers better understand the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity. 

The movement reached a turning point on March 12, 1990, when hundreds of advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., to demand action. In a moment that captured the nation’s attention, attendees left behind wheelchairs, crutches, and other mobility aids to climb up the Capitol steps—a powerful symbol of what the law would mean for their dignity and freedom. 

That sustained advocacy carried the ADA across the finish line, earning bipartisan support, expanding civil rights protections, and reshaping public understanding of disability nationwide. 

Taking the Lead 

The momentum created by the ADA energized advocacy efforts nationwide. At the same time, decades of grassroots organizing helped expand access, visibility, and civil rights protections for people with disabilities. 

In Maryland, organizations like Fello helped move that work forward. Founded by families advocating for greater opportunity and inclusion, Fello continued to encourage policies that supported people with disabilities and their families in communities across the state.  

By the early 1990s, Fello’s advocacy was focused on strengthening community support services, supporting the workforce that assists people with disabilities, and promoting full implementation of the ADA in Maryland. 

Fello also supported changes in education. In 1990, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act was reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Fello advocated for stronger transition support services from school to work and to adult life, while also supporting more inclusive educational opportunities for students with disabilities.  

As advocacy efforts expanded, so did the self-advocacy movement itself. During the decade, the phrase “Nothing About Us Without Us” became widely adopted, capturing the growing demand for self-determination, representation, and belonging. Decades later, that phrase still rings out at rallies and in legislative halls as people with disabilities work to shape the decisions that affect their lives. 

That spirit continues today at Fello through programs like Living Boldly, where self-advocates continue to speak up, influence policy, and help create more inclusive communities across Maryland. 

From Institutions to Community 

As civil rights protections expanded, the 1990s marked a clear shift away from institutionalization toward true community living. 

In 1955, more than 550,000 people lived in state institutions across the United States. By 1998, that number had declined to approximately 57,000. More people with disabilities were finally living and participating in their communities.  

In 1999, the Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead v. L.C. decision—built on the foundation of the ADA—ruled that unjustified institutionalization of people with disabilities is a form of discrimination. The decision affirmed that people with disabilities have the right to receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. 

Change was happening fast—and it was far-reaching. Between 1990 and 1999, the number of people receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) grew by 558% as states expanded alternatives to institutional care.  

Maryland experienced that demand firsthand. Growing waitlists led the state to establish the Waiting List Equity Fund in 1994. In 1998, Maryland launched an initiative to place nearly 6,000 people into services over five years—early steps toward closing a gap that still exists today. 

Fello responded to those needs at the local level. In the early 1990s, Fello expanded our Individual Support Services Program—sending Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) directly into homes to stabilize families in crisis, prevent out-of-home placements, and support people in building the skills they needed to live more independently. 

That work reflected a growing understanding that inclusion starts with community. Having access to support, housing, education, and meaningful relationships gives people the opportunity to live the lives they choose. 

A Decade That Changed Everything 

The 1990s were a defining decade for the disability rights movement.

From the passage of the ADA to the Olmstead decision advancing the right to community living, the progress achieved throughout the decade continues to shape everyday life for people with disabilities today. 

These victories were built on decades of advocacy and a growing understanding that people with disabilities deserve the same rights and dignity as everyone else. The country wasn’t just listening to what advocates had to say—it was acting. 

The progress of the 1990s laid the foundation for even greater change in the years ahead—and reinforced a truth that continues to guide our work today: inclusive communities are stronger communities. 

Next in the series: The 2000s—more inclusive language, the rise of self-direction in Maryland, and the closing of Rosewood Center. 

This year, as Fello celebrates 65 years of supporting people with disabilities and building inclusive communities, we’re reflecting on the history of the disability rights movement and the milestones that helped shape the work we do today.

The 1970s marked a turning point for disability rights. Effective advocacy led to landmark legislation. People with disabilities were finding their voice in greater numbers. Community-based housing was expanding. The future pointed toward greater inclusion. 

But progress isn’t always linear. The 1980s brought new challenges—requiring advocates to protect what they’d achieved while continuing to push for expanded rights and access.

Advocates didn’t step back. They continued the work—defending important protections and pushing for the changes people needed to live more independently in their communities. 

Responding to Early Challenges 

A shift in federal priorities tested the disability rights movement early in the new decade. 

The Reagan administration tightened disability reviews for Social Security benefits, sending termination notices to nearly half a million recipients. Roughly 200,000 people successfully appealed. Public outcry moved Congress to pass the Social Security Disability Reform Act of 1984, raising the standard for termination and strengthening protections during the appeals process. 

At the same time, existing legislation faced new threats. The administration proposed regulatory changes that would weaken the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act—two of the most important disability rights laws of the previous decade.

Parents, self-advocates, and allies mobilized. A nationwide letter-writing campaign sent more than 40,000 messages to the White House. By 1984, those efforts had made an impact—proposed rollbacks on both laws were abandoned. 

The disability rights movement was growing stronger—and harder to ignore. 

Legislative Victories Continue 

While advocates worked to protect existing rights, they also continued to push for new opportunities that would allow people with disabilities to fully participate in community life. 

In 1984, the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act helped reduce barriers to voting by requiring greater physical accessibility, making it easier for people with disabilities to exercise their right to vote. Decades later, that right still matters. At Fello, members of Living Boldly, our self-advocacy group, learn to use voting machines, supporting confident, informed participation in the democratic process.

Housing also remained a priority. The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 extended protections to people with disabilities—reinforcing the idea that everyone deserves a place in the community and supporting the broader shift toward independent living.  

At the same time, legislation also addressed conditions in institutions. The Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), passed in 1980, gave the Department of Justice the power to investigate abuse and neglect in public institutions. In the years that followed, facilities like the Rosewood Center in Maryland came under increased scrutiny for failing to provide adequate care. Rosewood’s population would continue to decline as community-based living alternatives grew. 

These changes mattered because they made everyday life more accessible, giving people greater access to housing, community, and the ability to make their own choices about how they live.  

Progress on a Local Level 

The national energy was only part of the story. Closer to home, Fello was advancing this work in meaningful ways—creating new pathways for people with disabilities to live more fully in their communities. 

In 1981, we opened Langton Green, increasing access to community-based housing and advancing the shift away from institutional living. It was part of a broader commitment to creating places where people could live with independence, stability, and connection. 

As the need for community-based supports increased, Fello expanded. In 1980, we launched a summer vacation program—creating opportunities for people to have new experiences, strengthen relationships, and be part of the community in different ways.  

That focus on opportunity and inclusion continued in 1982, when we co-sponsored College for Living with Anne Arundel Community College, opening doors to learning and personal growth beyond traditional settings. 

By 1987, as the Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) increased support for community-based services, Fello broadened its family and individual support services, paving the way for what would become our Children, Youth & Their Families program—helping families live more independently and build lives rooted in the community. 

National advocates and local organizations like Fello were more determined than ever. Together, they were laying the groundwork for a transformation that was just around the corner. 

The Beginnings of the ADA 

Amid the victories and setbacks of the 1980s, one of the movement’s greatest achievements quietly took shape—the foundation for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

In 1986, the National Council on the Handicapped released Toward Independence, a report that outlined the barriers people with disabilities faced and made a clear case for comprehensive civil rights protections. In 1988, the Council published a follow-up report, On the Threshold of Independence, which included a draft of what would help shape the ADA. 

These reports were part of a broader push for civil rights legislation, highlighting the gap between existing laws and everyday experiences. The ADA was first introduced in 1988 and reintroduced in 1989, gaining momentum as advocates across the country rallied behind it. 

After years of effort, the ADA was signed into law in 1990, securing civil rights protections that the movement had fought decades to achieve. It was a victory built on generations of advocacy, and proof that a movement determined enough can change everything. 

The Movement Moves Forward 

The 1980s were a decade of resilience and progress for the disability rights movement. 

The decade brought challenges, but each one reinforced what advocates already knew: lasting progress requires persistence, and communities grow stronger when people continue to speak up, even in the face of setbacks.

By the end of the 1980s, the movement’s momentum was undeniable—setting the stage for one of the most defining decades in disability rights history.

Next in the series: The 1990s—the impact of the ADA, the expansion of education rights with IDEA, and a landmark Supreme Court decision that affirmed the right of people with disabilities to live in their communities.