By Their Side

01/24/2026

You are cordially invited to By Their Side’s Annual Meeting of Families

Saturday, February 7, 2026

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

TOPIC: How Parents and Providers Can Work Together

SPEAKER: Renae Kosmides, Vice President of Education and Technical Assistance with the Maryland Association of Community Providers (MACS)

LOCATION: This is a virtual meeting. Join us from the comfort of your own home.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? By Their Side parents, siblings, and friends. Guests are always welcome.
This is an important topic!
Please feel free to share this invitation.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Register by Wednesday, February 4, 2026

To receive the Zoom meeting link, email your name, and relationship to [email protected] by Wednesday, February 4, 2026. You can also register by visiting https://www.bytheirside.org/events-1/annual-meeting-1

Attendance is Free.

Contributions to support Annual Meeting expenses are always appreciated.

By Their Side is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Donate now at www.bytheirside.org

Thank you!

By Their Side's mission is to provide personal advocacy, supporting the needs and interests of Marylanders with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities now or when parents are no longer able to do so.

06/17/2025

The Sibling Leadership Network supports siblings of people with disabilities to advocate and create change. Their board is hosting a meet and greet this Friday at Heavy Seas Brewery in Baltimore County. Join them to learn more about their organization!

01/11/2025

You are cordially invited to By Their Side’s Annual Meeting of Families.

Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Understanding How an ABLE Account can Help You Plan for Your Child's Future, with speaker Maryland ABLE Ambassador John Shatto

This is a virtual meeting. Join us from the comfort of your own home. Attendance is free.

This meeting is appropriate for all By Their Side parents, siblings, and friends. Guests are always welcome.

This is an important topic! Please feel free to share this invitation.

Be sure to register for the annual meeting by Wednesday, January 29, 2025

To receive the Zoom meeting link, email your name, and relationship to [email protected] by Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
You can also register by visiting https://www.bytheirside.org/events-1/annual-meeting

Although attendance is free, contributions to support Annual Meeting expenses are always appreciated.

Please donate now at www.bytheirside.org

By Their Side is a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization and donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Thank you!

By Their Side's mission is to provide personal advocacy, supporting the needs and interests of Marylanders with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities now or when parents are no longer able to do so.

01/20/2024

By Their Side is Hiring Personal Advocates!

Seeking Personal Advocates, January, 2024

About By Their Side

Founded in 1965, By Their Side (BTS) is a family funded non-profit organization that advocates for Maryland adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities whose parents are no longer able to do so.

Over the past 58 years, By Their Side has provided advocacy for hundreds of people. Our advocates have also provided short term, focused advocacy for families and information and referral services for others.

Position Summary

The By Their Side Board of Directors seeks hands-on personal advocates to help our well-respected non-profit fulfill its promise to families of lifelong advocacy for their loved one. These are contractual, part-time positions. Advocates report to the BTS executive director or designee.

Required Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position is someone with excellent planning and organizational skills, and a demonstrated ability to engage and interact with persons supported by By Their Side and their families. They will have a deep commitment to the organization’s mission and to the community that By Their Side supports.

The Personal Advocate will have the following skills and experience:

Bachelor’s degree. Four years of advocacy experience in the field of intellectual/developmental disabilities. Three years of additional experience may be substituted for a degree.
Proven advocacy experience with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; knowledge of Maryland resources for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration service delivery system.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

This is a contractual, part-time position. Compensation will be negotiable based on the applicant’s skills and experience.

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to [email protected].

Include ”Advocate search“ in the email subject line. In your cover letter, please describe how your interests, experience, and skillsets could help advance By Their Side’s mission.

Thank you!

01/19/2024

The Board of Directors of By Their Side, a nonprofit which provides lifelong advocacy for Marylanders with developmental disabilities when their parents are no longer able to do so, announces the retirement of Kathy Vecchioni as its executive director, effective February 29, 2024.

Kathy has served as the executive director for the past 11 years. She has served with passion and an unwavering commitment to the families and people that By Their Side serves. Her knowledge of the service delivery systems in Maryland and her superior clinical skills have enabled her to guide By Their Side advocates as they provide support and information to enrolled families. She has created relationships in the community among service providers, schools, families and businesses. She has always stayed focused on the mission of By Their Side: to provide personal advocacy supporting the needs and interests of Marylanders with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities now or when parents are no longer able to do so.

Although relinquishing her duties as executive director, Kathy will continue with By Their Side as a personal advocate. We wish her well in this next phase of her life and thank her for her many of years of service to the organization.

03/02/2023

Join us at the Get Connected: Special Needs Resources Fair on Saturday, March 25 (at St. Elizabeth School). This FREE event will have up to 50 exhibitors on hand to share their resources, services and products for all ages--all connecting the special needs community to the resources they may need! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Join us at the Get Connected: Special Needs Resources Fair on Saturday, March 25 (at St. Elizabeth School). This FREE event will have up to 50 exhibitors on hand to share their services and products--all connecting the special needs community to the resources they may need!
Achieving True Self, Inc. Special Olympics Maryland Hussman Center for Adults with Autism - Towson University Behind Behaviors Educational Consulting Helping Hands Family Karina Association Maryland ABLE Independence Now, Inc. WMAR-TV (Baltimore) Brighter, Stronger Foundation Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities The Arc Baltimore The Parents' Place of Maryland Maryland Technology Assistance Program Aspire Living Camp Inclusion Autism Society of Baltimore Chesapeake Optimal Health Care Inc. Trellis Services Chimes International Baltimore Recnparks Taking the Lead at Timberbrook Farm The League for People with Disabilities Pathfinders for Autism Maryland Family Network Athelas Institute, Inc. Maryland Insurance Administration St. Peter's Adult Learning Center, Inc. Service Coordination, Inc. Baltimore Lab School The Maryland School for the Blind League of Dreams Soaring Stars Therapy and Learning Center, Inc. Summit Camp & Travel By Their Side The Coordinating Center Rose of Sharon Equestrian School, Inc. Benedictine Evaluation and Tutoring TALMAR MCF - Maryland Coalition of Families Disability Rights Maryland Athletes Serving Athletes Surehands lift and care systems Civic Works

03/02/2023

Join us at the Get Connected: Special Needs Resources Fair on Saturday, March 25 (at St. Elizabeth School). This FREE event will have up to 50 exhibitors on hand to share their services and products--all connecting the special needs community to the resources they may need!
Achieving True Self, Inc. Special Olympics Maryland Hussman Center for Adults with Autism - Towson University Behind Behaviors Educational Consulting Helping Hands Family Karina Association Maryland ABLE Independence Now, Inc. WMAR-TV (Baltimore) Brighter, Stronger Foundation Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities The Arc Baltimore The Parents' Place of Maryland Maryland Technology Assistance Program Aspire Living Camp Inclusion Autism Society of Baltimore Chesapeake Optimal Health Care Inc. Trellis Services Chimes International Baltimore Recnparks Taking the Lead at Timberbrook Farm The League for People with Disabilities Pathfinders for Autism Maryland Family Network Athelas Institute, Inc. Maryland Insurance Administration St. Peter's Adult Learning Center, Inc. Service Coordination, Inc. Baltimore Lab School The Maryland School for the Blind League of Dreams Soaring Stars Therapy and Learning Center, Inc. Summit Camp & Travel By Their Side The Coordinating Center Rose of Sharon Equestrian School, Inc. Benedictine Evaluation and Tutoring TALMAR MCF - Maryland Coalition of Families Disability Rights Maryland Athletes Serving Athletes Surehands lift and care systems Civic Works

09/11/2022

Save the Date!!!

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO
BY THEIR SIDE’S VIRTUAL* ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday, November 5, 2022 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
When you're not there, By Their Side will be, but let's face it, parents do everything!

Learn what By Their Side can (and can't) do and how Advocates work with those they serve and their families.

*In consideration of the health challenges faced by many, we will meet virtually by Zoom.

Attendance is free.

We hope you will join us, and encourage siblings to attend. Guests are always welcome.

Look for your invitation this fall!

12/31/2021

Sending wishes for happiness, peace and health in 2022!
We appreciate
your continued support!

12/23/2021

By Their Side wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season!
Enjoy celebrating!