Our
Leadership
Staff
Mat Rice
Public Policy Director, People On the Go Maryland
Mat Rice currently serves as the public policy director and advocacy coordinator at People On the Go Maryland (People On the Go). He is a disability advocate and former student at the Maryland School for the Blind and Parkville High School. Mat has served as a support broker and administrative support assistant for Shared Support Maryland, Inc. where he worked for over four years. Mr. Rice was formerly the public policy director and project lead for the Empowering Partners self-advocacy initiative at The Arc Maryland. He also served as the public policy specialist for People On the Go. Mr. Rice has been instrumental in educating legislators on issues which impact the quality of life for people with disabilities in Maryland. As a leader in the community, he served as the lead facilitator on the Equal Employment Coalition to help pass the Ken Capone Equal Employment Act. Additionally, Mr. Rice served as a board member of Maryland Association of Community Services and MD Works, Inc., and he currently serves as the chair of the Developmental Disabilities Administration Quality Advisory Council.
Tracy Wright
Director of Training, People On the Go Maryland
Tracy Wright currently serves as the director of training at People On the Go. Ms. Wright is currently the Life Enrichment Consultant for By Their Side Maryland, an advisory committee member and a trainer for Expectations Matter, My Life My Choice. Ms. Wright formerly served as the voting advocate for Disability Rights Maryland (DRM) and as a lead trainer for People On the Go. After graduating from Maryland Partners in Policymaking, Ms. Wright worked at The Arc Maryland for over 15 years. During her tenure, Ms. Wright designed and presented trainings on self-determination, self-advocacy, disability rights, risk taking, and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the professionals who support them. She was a project director for the Self Advocacy Network (SAN) Peer Mentoring program. She mentored individuals residing in state residential centers, including the Holly Center (Eastern Shore) and Potomac Center (Western Maryland), and provided education on living in the community. She was the lead SAN mentor during the closure of the Rosewood Center in Baltimore.
James Orman
Program Coordinator, People On the Go Maryland
James Orman serves as the Program Coordinator for People On the Go Maryland (People On the Go). He received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Indiana University and has a passion for social justice and equity.
James is the Vice President of the Autism Society of Baltimore Chesapeake (ASBC) and runs a weekly, virtual group for Autistic adults and organizes in-person events. He believes all people have a right to obtain the resources and support necessary to help them fulfill their potential and works to bring understanding and awareness of disability rights to the broader community.
Cody Drinkwater
Public Policy Assistant, People On the Go Maryland
Cody Drinkwater currently serves as the public policy assistant for People On the Go. He is a proud advocate and is open and transparent about his disability. Cody states, “I am on the Autism Spectrum and have executive functioning disabilities along with mild Cerebral Palsy. This makes the work I do for self-advocacy even more important. My job duties entail assisting individuals in the self-advocacy process, networking with providers, providing outreach and guidance to self-advocacy groups, and creating necessary trainings in the region.” Mr. Drinkwater also facilitates a legislative policy group in which relevant disability legislation is discussed. Mr. Drinkwater enjoys empowering people and working with various community stakeholders. He is always willing and happy to help.
Board of Directors
Matthew Plantz, Board Chairman
Matthew Plantz, vice chair, joined People On the Go in 2016. Matthew is a member of the Community Advisory Council for the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute and is a board member of The Howard County Autism Society. He is a past president of the self-advocacy group People Power of Howard County, as well as a past board member of The Arc Howard County. Matthew previously served as the chair of the Howard County Commission on Disabilities for two years.
Alex Barnes, Vice Chairman
Alex Barnes has been a People On the Go member since 2010. Alex learned of the organization through People Power of Howard County. He wanted to join the People On the Go board to explore his interests in the legal field, and to have the opportunity to work with the organization’s leadership directly. Alex is a past president of People Power of Howard County, and served two terms on the board of The Arc Maryland. Alex has been employed at Wegman’s since 2012.
Aileen O’Hare, Board Secretary
Aileen O’Hare has been a People On the Go member for almost 20 years. Aileen feels that it is important that each region is represented on the organization's board by at least one member. Aileen has also been a co-facilitator of Game Changers, a self-advocacy group founded by CHI Centers, Inc.
Diane Vander Weyden, Board Treasurer
Diane Vander Weyden became a People On the Go member in 2006. She joined the group to strengthen her understanding of advocacy and to help others. Diane is president of Working Together Frederick Maryland, and a member of SARTAC. Diane worked at United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware for 34 years as a book keeper. Her parents were instrumental is creating resources for children with disabilities and their parents, and they helped find United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware along with two camps for children with disabilities.
Amanda Del Riego, Board Member at Large
Amanda Del Riego is from Central Maryland. She joined People On the Go in 2016, and has always loved being a part of such an influential group that does so much for people with disabilities. Amanda reminds us that some people have not yet found their voice to advocate for themselves, and People On the Go’s work benefits all who are members of the disability community. Amanda is involved in the Main Street Community membership.
Kim Vander Weyden, Board Member at Large
Kim Vander Weyden joined People On the Go in 2006. Kim is also the treasurer of Working Together Frederick Maryland, and is a member of SARTAC, a national advocacy group. Kim is a 2004 graduate of Partners in Policy Making, and went from living in an institution to owning his own home.
Josh Delclos, Board Member at Large
Josh Delclos is a recent 2022 graduate of Partners in Policy Making. He serves on The Arc board for three years and serves on their governance committee. He is the president and facilitator of People First, a local self-advocacy group that supports people with differing abilities. Mr. Delclos is a S.T.I.R. trainer for People On the Go, educating people with disabilities on their Rights and Responsibilities, Effective Communication, Problem Solving, and Knowing Yourself.
Lianna Brown, Board Member at Large
Lianna Brown has 21 years' experience in self-advocacy. Ms. Brown is dedicated to all of her commitments and enjoys being involved in all things advocacy. She is also a recent 2022 graduate of Partners in Policymaking.