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.