See ME. See My Ability

St. Patty's Day Lessons for All from the Arc Southern Maryland

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.
 

Tim Gowen: The Historic Special Olympian from Charles County

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.

DD Day Preview with Love & Guyton

Ronnie Hammond: Don't You Forget About Me

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 
 

Art In Full Spectrum on Display!

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 insert the headshots of our guests. See the original piece of art and our guests during Developmental Disability Day in Annapolis next month!
#arcmaryland #ddday #ArcSoMD 
 

Wishes and Hopes for 2026

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.
 

2025 Highlights of See Me. See My Ability: The Podcast of the Arc Southern Maryland

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 #SouthernChesapeake #2025
 
 
 

The Queen and Terry of the Arc Southern....

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.

Thankful and Happy

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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It's Not Too Soon To Give For Giving Tuesday!

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 these stressful times.
Please consider joining our nonprofit friends associated with Leadership Southern Maryland and check out their website to find out how you can participate in the one day virtual fundraiser they are organizing for Giving Tuesday. You have a deadline of November 15th to sign up!
Do you like the jazz we sampled in this podcast? There's much more where that came from. Rita Rich has produced this podcast with the permission of Ron Davis, the composer and pianist, who is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.