See ME. See My Ability

Sarah and Ed Escowitz weren’t afraid to make trouble. That’s why they made history. In Part 2 of our conversation, Sarah reflects on their work building The Arc in Calvert County, fighting for better special education and helping parents use IEPs in schools to advocate for their children.

Sarah and host Rita Rich discuss the challenges of securing local special education and services, their move and continued advocacy in Virginia, and the lasting recognition of their work through an ARC volunteer award in their name.

Sarah Eskowitz recounts raising her son with significant disabilities in 1970s Calvert County, noticing developmental delays and rejecting institutional care in favor of community-based, family-sized homes.

She and other parents successfully advocated to shift funding and policy toward smaller supported homes; today her son lives in a supportive group home, socially engaged and well cared for, illustrating how grassroots advocacy transformed services for people with disabilities in Southern Maryland.

Host Rita Rich interviews Jim Vail, co-creator of My25, about using a meal-planning platform to improve nutrition and health for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They discuss practical tools like videos, smart grocery lists, plate rebalancing, and moderation over deprivation, plus measurable outcomes such as improved BMI and reduced medication needs.

Learn how My25 saves staff time, supports healthier choices in group homes, and where to find the platform and ARC Southern Chesapeake resources.

See Me, See My Ability is the podcast of the ARC Southern Chesapeake. In this episode, Rita Rich celebrates summertime activities while spotlighting the work supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The episode explains the Olmstead Supreme Court decision and a recent Department of Justice opinion that could weaken community living protections, featuring warnings from disability advocates about the potential consequences for home and community‑based services.

ARC Southern Chesapeake affirms that disability rights are human rights, shares how advocates are monitoring these threats, and invites listeners to find the podcast at arcsoch.org an...

See Me, See My Ability presents a look inside the ARC Southern Maryland’s new sensory room in Lexington Park with Beth Wolfe, the director of nursing. In this episode Beth describes the room’s calming features — subdued lighting, music, a lava lamp, a chalkboard mural by a program participant, and flexible seating — designed to offer quiet and choice.

The episode highlights hands-on activities like shaving cream play, weighted blankets, music stations, therapy balls and gentle stretching that help reduce anxiety and support sensory needs. Staff explain how the room is used by day program participants and resident...

Kayla Carter, director of ARC Southern Maryland’s Waldorf day programs, describes how she creates community partnerships, meaningful volunteer opportunities, and a lively activity calendar to help clients gain skills and independence.

The episode covers outreach to local businesses, hands-on learning (money management, languages, Zumba, knitting), family feedback as a measure of progress, and the importance of a sensory room for calming and self‑regulation.

Three-D printers are all the rage and The Arc Southern Maryland is teaching its clients to use them to create assistive technology. Listen as Nora Walker, with the State Department for Disabilities visited with us in Prince Frederick and showed us some of the many possibilities.

Hear this conversation with a parent, and a longtime advocate for IDD students in Charles County, Donna DePamphelis, who is being honored next month by the statewide Arc Maryland. This mom of the soon-to-be 34-year-old Rashawn, one of our residents, talks about all that the Arc Southern Maryland has done for her and her daughter. 

At last! It’s Baseball Season! For the past couple of decades that meant that Arc Southern Maryland clients and personal support staff get a field day with members of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs professional baseball team!  Listen to the fun and comradery and get yourself to a game!

One of the things that happens during the podcasting classes at the Arc Southern Maryland is that our instructors and staff talk with clients about all sorts of neat things. One of those things was this past week's Artemis II spaceflight to the far side of the Moon, or the side of the Moon we do not see when we look up in the sky. We discussed how this moon mission harkens back to the time of the first moon flights, which coincided with the very first Earth Day, April 22, 1970.  Back then that was the very first time the w...

Our podcasting class in Prince Frederick hosted the lady in charge of the State of Maryland's Autism Strategy, Victoria Rodriguez-Roldan.  She heard some of our participants' personal stories and answered questions from staff. You can find out more about where Victoria works here: https://mdod.maryland.gov/

Music: Ron Davis, jazz pianist, "All God's Children."

Arc Southern Maryland students in Waldorf recently participated in a conversation with podcast host Rita Rich about St. Patrick's Day. Listen as the class talks about being proud of their ancestry and of being an American. Hear how they learned about prejudices persisting against those considered different decades ago. Another lesson learned: If you want people to understand the prejudices and misconceptions of others about your own intellectual or developmental disabilities, you need to be compassionate about the prejudices others face.

Episode 75 of the See Me. See My Ability: The Podcast of The Arc Southern Maryland features a conversation that podcast host Rita Rich had with 77-year-old Tim Gowen and his sister during DD Day in Annapolis. We met after members of our Arc and Tim spoke with State Senator Jack Bailey of St. Mary's County. 

Tim is a prime example of a guy who doesn't know what it means to quit! He's thinking about his next goals as an athlete and is proud to represent our state, Maryland.

Our DD Day preview: Throughout the day on the 18th, podcast host Rita Rich will be filing updates from our state Capital that will be available on the Arc Southern Maryland’s Facebook page. We’d like our people to check that page and click on our content throughout the day. Our guests are once again Senator Sara Love and Delegate Michelle Guyton. And, we bring back our ”siren song” from our last podcast episode which features Ronnie Hammond of Statewide Broadband.

See Me. See My Ability. The Podcast of the Arc Southern Maryland recently talked with Ronnie Hammond, the director of the Maryland office for Statewide Broadband Development. He provides messages for our Arc Southern Maryland Advocates to share with state lawmakers on Developmental Disability Day on February 18th. 

#arcmaryland #annapolis #love #guyton

#dontyouforgetaboutme#breakfastclub #ddday 

See Me, See My Ability Podcast of the Arc Southern Maryland talked with the two organizers of the Art in Full Spectrum exhibition on the fourth floor of the Maryland House of Delegates. Listen as two colleagues, State Delegate Michelle Guyton and State Senator Sara Love talk about their lives as mothers of neurodiverse kids, and advocates for other families and friends of the IDD.  Our episode art is inspired by original art that is one of the 60 pieces on display now through mid April, 2026. Shout out to Akeem Young! 

Artificial Intelligence helped podcast host Rita Rich in...

Rita Rich talked with Arc SO MD clients about their wishes and hopes for 2026. For some, it was maintaining what made them happy. For others, they hope for big changes. Others quietly asked others to do their best to petition their government for a better life.  In the end, we are all asked to try harder to listen and hear what others are saying.   #2026 #resolutions #wishes #hopes #arc #southernmaryland.  

These are just samples of some of our sound-rich podcast episodes released in 2025. It highlights podcasting class lessons of Arc clients, and others, about the use of background and other sounds and how podcasts can be created outdoors. It's another way that we learn to meet our community "where they are," whether it's via Zoom, or going out and about to interact with them. It also highlights our teaching about how horrible conditions have been for people all sorts of handicaps in our country and how our people are advocating that "we will not go back."   #arc #maryland #disabilityrightsarehumanrights #SouthernMaryland #S...

Welcome to our first podcast of December, 2025. It's been a hard year and financially for Arcs around Maryland. Thank goodness for some good news and positive developments for the Arc Southern Maryland and it's longtime support staff and the people we serve.  Listen as one of our friends Malek Stover stands up and speaks in front of the whole podcasting class, and our our executive director, Terry Long, explains how our Arc is  growing and taking on new turf.

It's been a rough fall for intellectual and developmental disabilities caregivers and support organizations. But we are so thankful to be doing the jobs we are doing and for the people we serve. Laughing with your friends is the best medicine.

#thankful #thanksgiving #Washington #Commanders #laughterguru #arcsouthernmaryland #dba #arcsouthernchesapeake #boyfriendgirlfriend

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Host Rita Rich is joined by Jane Bachman of Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center of Solomons Island to talk about the importance of this year's giving day, Tuesday, December 2nd.  There are over 800 nonprofit organizations throughout Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's Counties, and now, more than ever, they are stepping up to help us during the Federal Government Shutdown.  Our Arc is serving people regardless of our access to funds, thanks to you. Please consider donating dollars to us via our website. We can use help with our dental fund and to fund unforeseen needs that pop up at...

Our guest has experience as both a client and a leader of community charitable organizations. She's used her passion for service to earn a law degree and consult with numerous non-profit organizations throughout Maryland, DC, and Virginia.

Meet Michelle Sullivan, the Southern Maryland liaison for the Chesapeake Charities Community Foundation. This foundation supports organizations that, in turn, support our communities and help keep our non-profit running.

"See Me See My Ability" gets the lowdown on what Spark is from the leading expert on Autism and Autism Services in our state, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, and its Dr. Erika Wodka. Listen as we discuss what you've been reading about all over social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Find out if the online community and aspects of research would be a good fit for you and your family, and get to know native Marylander Dr. Erika Wodka.

The Arc Southern Maryland's Gene Nice is a Blue Ribbon champion numerous times at the Calvert County Fair. He encourages others who bake, create art, raise animals, and make things to enter their stuff in the fair because they just might get a ribbon!

Gene Nice really is nice! He's an example of why those with disabilities need to be seen and heard.

Joyce Allen, a native of southern Maryland, has been with the Arc Southern Maryland for a combined 30 years. Joyce says her mother told her to come back to the Arc after she left after her first five years. Joyce tells podcast host Rita Rich why she is so devoted to her people at the Arc.

This is the first episode of Season Three of the See Me, See My Ability Podcast. 

Mary's celebrating over 35 years of working at the Arc Southern Maryland. It's more than a job for Mary. Mary says she doesn't have a job. She has a mission. It's not just about the paycheck.  She shares with host Rita Rich her reasons for joining the team and working to improve how others learn to do their jobs.

https://arcsomd.org/its-not-just-a-paycheck/

Schools out for Summer and teachers and students are worried about forgetting everything they learned last semester. We get some tips from Dr. Emma Cole, Pediatric Neuropsychologist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. One of the take-aways from host Rita Rich's conversation: Reading is fundemental.

Maryland and Virginia Arcs spoke this past Thursday at the 60-Hour Vigil to Save Medicaid near the Capitol Building on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The consensus: It's not too late to save those (now cut)  federal funds that support state and local Medicaid programs. And, all should fight to do so as the effects of the cuts are detrimental to able-bodied persons as well as those in the IDD community.

Host Rita Rich also spoke with Ande Kolp, the executive director of the Arc Maryland; Gray Persons, the President of the Board of Directors o...

Welcome to this special episode of See Me, See My Ability, where we shine a spotlight on the incredible athletes of Arc Southern Maryland who recently competed in the Special Olympics! We’re celebrating determination, teamwork, and the power of inclusion as we hear from participants and supporters who made this unforgettable experience possible. From countless practice and training sessions to competition and the friendships built along the way, this episode is all about how competition enriches all our lives.

#specialolympics #eunicekennedyshriver #southernmaryland #inclusion #arc 

A conversation with Tracy Wright, the Deputy  Director of Training, Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities, People On the Go, Maryland, with Arc So MD podcast host, Rita Rich.

While we're enjoying the fireworks and the cookouts, remember that educating others about disability rights and the abilities of the IDD community is still a great topic of discussion on American Independence Day.  

Photos: Tracy Wright and People on The Go Maryland.

https://www.pogmd.org/anti-fascism-training

https://www.pogmd.org/

https://arcsomd.org/ 

Communications skills, or using one's voice, adaptive technology, mobile apps, and the written word, have been emphasized in recent See Me, See My Ability Podcasts.
This episode, Horses Know Us Best, a visit to the Greenwell Foundation in Hollywood, Maryland, is all about horses' magical abilities to know what we want and need without using any sounds. For many in the IDD community, this is a godsend. The director of Equestrian programs at the Greenwell Foundation Melisa Kennedy, explains what makes the human/horse relationship special and beneficial.

Photo credits:

Photos of B...

Meet advocates and Arc allies, Lance McLemore is a member of ImpAACt Voices’ Board of Directors, and ImpAACt Voices volunteer and advocate Chris Klein, who recently authored a book titled My Big Toe: A Story of Perseverance. There's a reason why ImpAACt is spelled with two letter A's in the middle, as well as a capital C. Those A's stand for Augmentative Alternative and the "C" stands for Communication-such as devices and technology. Both of our guests have physical disabilities that affect their ability to speak, and they have plenty to say about their community of AAC users.  Click her...

There's nothing that puts the brakes on your social life like not having some wheels at your disposal. But, the participants of Arc Southern Maryland, thanks to generous grants from The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) and the Maryland Department of Aging, have wheels. It's called the Ability Cab. Two St. Mary's County residents are in love and have grown their relationship thanks to the Ability Cab. You have to reserve it in advance.  Listen to how this pair says it's been an important part of their time together and how they'll continue to use it.

Meet 29-year-old Chri...

The IDD community loves to be social and together. But, sometimes those with intellectual or developmental disabilities have problems picking up on when people are flirting with them, or want to have a conversation with them, or just want to hang out. If you’ve ever watched programs on cable TV featuring those on the Spectrum, you’ll be interested in this podcast. It’s about the people who advise that show, and train hundreds the skills they need to get conversations, and hopefully, friendships started with others. Our guest is, Elina Veytsman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and the Director of Cli...

We're always in training at the Arc Southern Maryland. Our personal support staff and others are always learning how to be better teachers and aides to those who use our services.  

An expert named Emoke Fox, a seventeen-year veteran of working with those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, from a company specializing in teaching safe ways to have all sorts of relationships, visited our campuses through Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties.  Both staff and our program participants were taught how to have fun and be careful while forming relations in online communities, such as dating applications, gam...

There's still time to plan to attend our Day at the Derby on Saturday, May 3! It's at the beautiful Perigeaux Winery in St. Leonard, in Calvert County, Maryland.  https://perigeaux.com/  This is our Fourth Annual Day at the Derby and promises to be better than ever! Find out more here at arcsomd.org/derby

New this year, we're naming the Queen and King of the Derby! You'll get an introduction to them in this podcast!

Find out why they are committed to being our supporters and advocates.,

Also, find links for our si...

Suppose you are a parent or relative of a person who was diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability, and you want to learn more about post-grade school/public school help. In that case, Stacey Warner is your go-to person. 

Ms.  Warner spoke to our podcast's host, Rita Rich, about the services she is helping families navigate in our three-county region of Maryland. Listen and learn more about what financial and other types of assistance may be available!   Here's a link for a brief description of Stacey's services for you and your family

CORRECTION FROM STAC...

This is the second of two episodes celebrating Women's History Month with Arc St. Mary's resident and lifelong St. Mary's County resident Cheryl Knott. Both sides of Cheryl's family tree have called Southern Maryland home since the 17th Century before there was even a United States of America. Cheryl's own experiences as a woman with birth defects and physical disabilities show how social barriers were broken down by the advocacy of parents, teachers, and organizations such as the Arc. Listen to Cheryl's experiences from 50 years ago of going to Annapolis to advocate for other disabled people, and how interconnected...

In honor of Women's History Month, this is the first of two episodes featuring one of our friends and residents, Cheryl Knott. Cheryl has roots in St. Mary's County Maryland that go back to the rule of King Henry VIII of England, when the state was one of the English colonies. Listen as Cheryl talks about growing up with physical disabilities and how her family and others advocated for her, and others, to be seen and heard in Maryland.  

Credit to the St. Mary's Historical Society for providing a quiet space for us to talk with Cheryl, an...

If you have new cell phones or Pad-type personal computers consider downloading Voice-to-Text apps. They help people who, for many reasons, have trouble speaking. One types words into a gadget and an artificial voice speaks out loud for them. This episode was produced at the Twin Beaches Branch of the Calvert County Library and features Connor Porecki, his parents Benjie and Kathleen, podcasting students of the ARC Southern Maryland and the Calvert Country School.  It also features the voice of James Whitney of the Maryland Department of Disabilities and its assistive Technology program.

List of Text To V...