 |
About the Project |
|
Events & Egroup |
| Focus on the Family |
|
Resources |
| Creating Change |
| Updates |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Photo credit: P.Sue Kullen |
"Diligence is the mother of good luck."
~ Ben Franklin Employment
INCLUSION, EMPOWERMENT, INDEPENDENCE. All of these words are frequently used to describe outcomes or goals for individuals with disabilities. Many people associate independence, empowerment and economic self-sufficiency with work. Many people with disabilities strive for competitive employment, which can be a direct route to greater income, social prospects, and the opportunity to fully participate in mainstream society. In the past, employment for people with disabilities meant a "sheltered workshop' or segregated setting. Many times this kind of setting provided repetitive, and often unpaid labor. Individuals were expected to complete a continuum of competencies before being considered for employment. Today, while it is generally understood that people with disabilities deserve equality and greater opportunities to develop meaningful careers and secure competitive employment, many barriers to this still exist. 
Maryland Resources
ACCEPMI (Active Citizens Coalition for Employment of Persons with Mental Illness) Phone: (410) 838-8898; (410) 879-9880 A grassroots organization (representing consumers, state/local, and public/private business organizations) working The ADA Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region Phone: (800) 949-4232 V/TTY; (301) 217-0124 V/TTY Fax: (301) 217-0754 E-mail: adainfo@transcen.org The ADA Information Center for the Mid-Atlantic Region is one of ten regional centers established to provide training, information, and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to businesses, consumers, and state and local governments. Best Buddies Maryland Phone: 410-539-0615 Email: bestbudmd@aol.com This is part of an International program whose mission is to enhance the lives of people with mental retardation by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated employment. Chesapeake Care Resources 410-287-5040 ccr@iximd.com This non-profit agency in Cecil County MD, provides Day Habilitaiton, Residential and Supported Employment services to adults with disabilities. The agency's service range extends from New Castle County Delaware, to Cecil and Harford Counties in Maryland. Employment and Rehabilitative Services in Maryland A comprehensive listing of employment programs throughout the State of Maryland for individuals with disabilities. Epilepsy Foundation of the Chesapeake Region (EFCR) (301) 431-7740 EFCR assists young adults in finding jobs and keeping jobs in their communities through individualized services, including supported employment, vocational support, on the job training, travel training and on-going one-the-job supports. (Be sure this is listed under employment also). Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Baltimore Office Phone: 410-962-3932 TTY: 410-962-6065 The EEOC was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and began operating on July 2, 1965. The EEOC enforces federal statutes. GenesisJobs, Inc. (410) 235-0231 This nonprofit partnership of 500 companies, 80 faith communities and volunteers, provides compassionate support to unemployed adults in their search for entry-level, nonprofessional jobs in metropolitan Baltimore. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) This website provides a central resource for information on relevant options concern job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Provided as a collaborative project with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy and the West Virginia Rehabilitation and Training Center. Job Training and Tryout (JT&T) (301) 949-7930 Offers a transitional employment program for young adults with mild developmental disabilities. Life Experiences Activities Program (LEAP) (301)-589-1777 Program offers assessment, work adjustment training, job placement, and internships for people ages 16 and over with mild mental retardation, neurological impairments, learning disabilities, emotional or physical disabilities. The Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Phone:(410) 554-9385 Toll-free: (888) 554-0334 TTY: (410) 554-9411 E-mail: dors@msde.state.lib.md.us The Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) offers information on employment and economic independence for individuals with disabilities. DORS provides eleven different programs including Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Independent Living Services, and Supported Employment Services just to name a few. The Maryland Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities List Serve A listserv is being created to improve the Electronic Information Dissemination Network created by the Maryland Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. Average number of messages received on a weekly basis will range from 10-15. It will be used to provide updates on resources and activities related to employment of people with disabilities in the state of Maryland as well as national information. Please sign up by following the instructions. Go to http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/mdgcepd and join the group or new members can email mdgcepd-subscribe@smartgroups.com. For additional information email Jade Gingerich at jgingerich@gov.state.md.us Central Region DORS offices Baltimore City Office Phone: (410) 333-6119 TTY: (410) 333-6128 E-mail: doors@erols.com Baltimore County Catonsville Office Phone: (410) 744-8460 TTY: (410) 744-8461 Fax: (410) 744-9071 E-mail: dorscat@clark.net Towson Office 113 Towsontown Boulevard Suite B Towson, MD 21286-5352 Phone: (410) 321-4044 TTY: (410) 321-4035 E-mail: dorstow@clark.net Dundalk Office Phone: (410) 285-7675 TTY: (410) 285-7656 E-mail: ebcodors@erols.com Harford County Bel Air Office Phone: (410) 836-4590 TTY: (410) 836-4593 E-mail: dorsbel@clark.net Howard County Ellicott City Office Phone:(410) 461-0386 TTY: (410) 461-0387 E-mail: dorsec@clark.net Eastern Shore Region DORS offices Cecil and Kent Counties Elkton Office Phone: (410) 996-0620 TTY: (410) 996-0625 E-mail: elkdors@netgsi.com Caroline and Dorchester Counties Cambridge Office Voice and TTY: (410) 228-8080 E-mail: dorsesho@shore.intercom.net Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties Easton Office Phone: (410) 822-1831 TTY: (410) 820-5562 E-mail: dorsesho@shore.intercom.net Somerset, Wicomico and Worchester Counties Salisbury Office Phone:(410) 543-6906 TTY: (410) 546-9171 E-mail: dorsesho@shore.intercom.net Southern Maryland Region DORS offices Anne Arundel County DORS - Annapolis Office Phone: (410) 974-7608 TTY: (410) 974-7742 E-mail: dorsannp@erols.com Glen Burnie Office Voice and TTY: (410) 508-2300 Toll-free: (800) 879-291 0 E-mail: dorsaan@erols.com Calvert County Prince Frederick Office Voice and TTY: (410) 535-8860 DC Metro Area: (301) 855-9667 E-mail: dorsprincefred@olg.com Charles County Waldorf Office Voice and TTY: (301) 645-8882 DC Metro Area: (301) 843-7130 E-mail: dorwaid@olg.com Montgomery County Wheaton Office Phone:(301) 949-3750 TTY: (301) 949-9785 E-mail: dorswhea@clark.net Prince George's County Camp Springs Office Phone: (301) 899-1020 TTY: (301) 899-6712 E-mail: dorspgs@erol.s.com Landover Office Phone: (301) 772-5655 TTY: (301) 772-5547 E-mail: dorspgn@erols.com St. Mary's County Leonardtown Office Voice and TTY (301) 475-2851 Western Maryland Region DORS Offices Allegany and Garrett Counties Cumberland Office Voice and TTY (301) 777-2119 Toll-free: (800) 244-4048 E-mail: dorscumb@mindspring.com Carroll County Westminster Office Voice and TTY (410) 848-4456 E-mail: dors@ccpl.carr.lib.md.us Frederick County Frederick Office Phone:(301) 631-3075 Toll-free: (888) 523-0255 TTY: (301) 631-3075 E-mail: dorsfred@clark.net Washington County Hagerstown Office Phone:(301) 791-4760 Toll-free: (800) 801-4297 TTY: (301) 791-4763 E-mail: dorshagr@intrepid.net Maryland Works, Inc. Phone: (410) 381-8660, x200 Baltimore/Annapolis: 410-551-3130, x2000 TTY (410) 381-1612 Maryland Works, Inc. is a statewide association whose primary members are community service agencies. They provide information about programs for employment for individuals with disabilities as well as professional resources for its members. Reach Independence through Self-Employment Phone: (301) 596-1020; (410) 519-7333 Voice/TTY: (410) 519-1209 E-Mail: rise@tpdgroup.com. Reach Independence through Self Employment (RISE) is a program to help individuals with disabilities seek self-employment opportunities. SEEC (Formerly Supported Employment Enterprise Corporation) 301-576-9000 This nonprofit organization is dedicated to enabling persons with developmental disabilities who have significant needs to live and work as contributing members of the community through individualized advocacy and support. Located in Silver Spring, Maryland. Supported Business Enterprise (410) 519-7333 or (301) 596-1020 A pilot program in the Baltimore/Washington DC metro areas that provides a new option for individuals with cognitive disabilities who need supports in order to operate a small business. An initiative of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Division of Rehabilitation Services and the RISE program. TransCen, Inc. (301)-424-2002 (301)-309-2436 Program facilitate linkage between employers and workers with disabilities. Special emphasis is focused on promoting the employment of graduating special education students through internships. United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Association Prince George's and Montgomery Counties:(301) 262-4993 Southern Maryland: (410) 841-2500 Central Maryland: (410) 484-4540 Provides transition and employment services and support for families of children with cerebral palsy. Career Net Career Net is a service of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. Career Net provides information on job seeking, employer services, and career planning. 
National Resources
Association for Persons in Supported Employment Phone: (804) 278-9187 APSE is a membership organization formed to improve and expand integrated employment opportunities, services, and outcomes for persons experiencing disabilities. APSE has local chapters, and provides advocacy and education to customers of supported employment, resources, products, and linkages to other organizations. Center for IT Accommodations (CITA) Office of Governmentwide Policy, U.S. General Services Administration (202) 501-4906 A website offering Federal employees and the public the ability to access resources for understanding and implementing Section 508 which requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Change, Inc. Phone: (410) 876-2179 Change, Inc. provides services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities including vocational services and supported employment. disABILITY EMPLOYMENT AND INITIATIVES UNIT Phone: 202-693-3800 This project operates with Within the Department of Labor,Employment and Training Administration: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Phone: (202) 663-4900; (800) 669-4000 TTY: (202) 663-4494; (800) 669-6820 The EEOC was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and began operating on July 2, 1965. The EEOC enforces federal statutes. iCan Career Center An on-line national career center for persons with disabilities. Options include on-line job searches, posting your resume, assistance in writing your resume, conducting a job search, and more. Independence: Program on Employment and Disability, Cornell University For anyone interested in a quick tutorial of federal disability policy in the US, Cornell University's Independence project is a good summary of basic programs and initiatives. Institute for Community Inclusion's Center on State Systems and Employment, a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Phone: (517) 355-6506 TTY: (617) 355-6956 Fax: (617) 739-5853 Email: ici@tch.harvard.edu Currently funded through 2003, the mission of the Center is to improve the employment outcomes of people with disabilities by describing and promoting responsive and effective state delivery systems. The Job Accommodation Network The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is not a job placement service, but an international toll-free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations and the employability of people with disabilities. JAN also provides information regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult provides training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and information to improve access in workforce development system. Concrete information on helping people with disabilities find jobs, do's and don'ts of supporting customers or employees with disabilities, and much more. National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth) NCWD/Youth assists the workforce development community in addressing issues affecting the employment of people with disabilities. The site contains useful information and resources for youth with disabilities and their families, service providers and other front line workers, administrators, policy makers, and employers. You'll be able to access materials such as the Information Brief entitled "How Young People Can Benefit from One-Stop Centers," links, resources, answers to your questions, and much more. National Council on Disability (NCD) Voice: (202) 272-2004 --- FAX: (202) 272-2022 --- TTY: (202) 272-2074 E-mail: mquigley@ncd.gov NCD's overall purpose is to promote policies, programs, practices, and procedures that guarantee equal opportunity for all individuals with disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the disability; and to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve economic self-sufficiency, independent living, and inclusion and integration into all aspects of society. The National Supported Employment Consortium The purpose of the National Supported Employment Consortium (SEC) is to critically evaluate supported employment programs nationally and provide technical assistance to state and local agencies. The site provides a newsletter, employment list serve, resources, and courses over the web. Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities Phone: (202) 693-4939 TTY: (202) 693-4920 Fax: (202) 693-4929 E-mail: ptfead@dol.gov The mission of the Presidential Task Force on the Employment of Adults with Disabilities is to create a coordinated and aggressive national policy to bring adults with disabilities into gainful employment at a rate that is as close as possible to that of the general adult population. The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities is a federal agency whose goal is to communicate, organize and encourage public and private efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. The Committee provides many related publications and links on employment of individuals with disabilities. Project SOAR (Searchable Online Accommodation Resource) allows you to find accommodations for people with disabilities in a work setting. Rehabilitation Services Administration The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) oversees formula and discretionary grant programs that help individuals with physical or mental disabilities to obtain employment and live more independently. RSA acts as an advocate to assure the rights of individuals with disabilities and serves as a resource and clearinghouse of information for service providers at national, regional, state and local levels in the development of national programs to reduce or eliminate social and environmental barriers experienced by persons with disabilities. The Small Business and Self-Employment Service (SBSES) provides information, counseling, and referrals about self-employment and small business ownership opportunities for people with disabilities. Ticket to Hire: New Recruiting Resource for Employers TICKET TO HIRE is a free national referral service to assist employers in hiring motivated, qualified workers with disabilities from the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work Program. TICKET TO HIRE links employers to Employment Networks in their community that have job-ready candidates. U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy Phone: (202) 376-6200 TTY: (202) 376-6205) Fax: (202) 376-6219 The mission of ODEP, under the leadership of an Assistant Secretary, will be to bring a heightened and permanent long-term focus to the goal of increasing employment of persons with disabilities. This will be achieved through policy analysis, technical assistance, and development of best practices, as well as outreach, education, constituent services, and promoting ODEP's mission among employers. WorkSupport.com This site offers information, resources and research to connect employers with qualified individuals with disabilities. 
Publications
The ADA: Your Employments Rights as An Individual with a Disability 800-669-3362 This comprehensive booklet provides an overview of your rights as an employee under the Americans with Disabilities Act (?). Also available on-line through Medscape Health. The Family as a Critical Partner in the Achievement of A Successful Employment Outcome This publication explores how families can be critical partners in the achievement of successful employment outcomes for individuals receiving vocational rehabilitation services. It addresses issues of interest to multiple audiences including consumers of rehabilitation services and their families as well as administrators, counselors and advocacy groups. Guide to Successful A Employment for Individuals with Autism By Marcia Datlow Smith, PhD, Ronald g. Belcher PhD, and Patricia D. Juhrs (1997) A Guide to Supported Self Employment This guide was created by the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council to assist consumers, practitioners and family members through the self-employment planning process. For more information visit www.nhddc.com. How The SSA Helps Prepare You for Adult Living, Learning, and Earning Work can have a positive impact on independence, self-sufficiency, and financial freedom. This website provides information about two programs available through the Social Security Administration that can help prepare youth for adult living, learning and earning. The website features a learning guide to assist with understanding disability programs and work incentives; case studies demonstrating how SSA can help prepare for adult living, learning and earning; and helpful resources, including an index of terms and acronyms, a searchable database of work incentives, liaisons and PASS specialists. More than a Job: Securing Satisfying Careers for People with Disabilities Edited by Paul Ehman, Ph.D. & John Dregel, Ed.D. Brooks Publishing (800) 638-3775 A consumer driven book providing step-by-step guidelines to help individuals with disabilities identify their own interests, decide what kind of career they want to pursue and identify employment options. Self Directed Employment: A Handbook for Transition Teachers and Employment Specialists By James E. Martin, Ph.D., et. al. (May 2002) Brooks Publishing, (800) 638-3775 A "how-to" guide for employment self-determination. Social Security Administration WORK! CD-ROM This employment and disability video and resources CD-ROM was created by the Social Security Administration, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, and the Institute for Child Health Policy. It contains two videos by SSA, one on PASS Plans and the other on the Ticket to Work. Both are very viewer friendly and aimed at young adults. The CD-ROM also has web links to other helpful resources. The CD-Roms are available via the internet by clicking on the heading above. The first copy is free. |
 |