Community Options Gains New Leadership in Maryland
July 29, 2019 | Press Release.pdf
Aaron Atkinson - Maryland State Director
Princeton, NJ- On June 3, 2019, Community Options, Inc. appointed Aaron Atkinson as the Maryland State Director. Community Options, Inc. is a national non-profit that serves over 3,500 people with developmental disabilities across 10 states by providing them with housing and employment services.
In his role as Maryland State Director, Atkinson will be committed to Community Options’ mission to develop housing and employment supports for people with disabilities. His scope of responsibilities includes the oversight of Community Options’ programs and operations in Rockville, Baltimore, and Frederick that combined, support over 150 people, and employ 275 staff. Community Options has provided services in Maryland for over three years and owns 16 homes and four day programs state-wide.
Atkinson began his career 25 years ago as a Direct Support Professional supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their home settings. There, he developed a passion for the disability community and has never left the field. Prior to joining Community Options, Inc., Atkinson served as the Assistant Executive Director at The Arc of Baltimore. He oversaw a 20-million-dollar program that provided a range of community-based supports to 300 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and employed 400 staff. Atkinson was previously a CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) International Surveyor, where he conducted on-site reviews of social service and rehabilitation agencies that request accreditation to determine compliance with CARF standards. He is also a licensed master social worker. Atkinson received his bachelor’s degree from Prescott College and his master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland. It’s also noteworthy that Atkinson recently graduated from Leadership Baltimore County, a prestigious leadership institute that is focused on bringing leaders in the community together to create positive change in both the Baltimore community, and the workplace.
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About Community Options, Inc.:
For over 30 years, Community Options has developed housing and employment supports for people with disabilities – serving thousands of people through over 40 offices across 10 states. Community Options provides advocacy assistance to empower people with disabilities because all people – regardless of ability level – should live and work in the community with dignity, choice and self-determination. For more information please visit our website: www.comop.org and to follow along with the #AllItTakes campaign, search #AllItTakes on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.