Skip to Content Accessibility Information

Resources for Job Seekers - Information for Individuals with Disabilities - Workforce Development & Adult Learning

Welcome: Job seekers with disabilities enjoy the same opportunities for meaningful participation in the services provided by Maryland's American Job Centers, as do all job seekers who come through American Job Center doors.

Reasonable Accommodations: Materials in alternate formats and reasonable accommodations are provided to job seekers upon request (advance notice may be required). Please check with the local American Job Centers for specific accommodations request deadlines. Job seekers are welcome to bring a job coach or other support person with them. If additional assistance is required to understand the full range of services offered, just ask! Feel free to request accommodations such as:

  • Materials in alternate formats
  • An individual meeting rather than group orientation
  • Assistance with filling out forms

Assistive Technology: Maryland's American Job Centers have a variety of accessible equipment. Each American Job Center has different equipment so checking in with the local Centers about the availability of equipment is advised. Examples include:

  • Screen reader and magnification software
  • Word prediction software
  • Text to speech software
  • Document scanner
  • TTY
  • Braille translator
  • Alternate access/input devices (i.e. one-handed keyboards, trackball mice, on-screen keyboards)
  • Large monitors
  • Headsets
  • Document holders
  • Adjustable desks
  • CCTV's

Maryland Workforce Exchange: The Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) provides online information about job opportunities, career choices, labor market information, and training. Individuals with disabilities can take advantage of the MWE at their local American Job Centers or from any public or personal computer.

Local Partnerships: Each Maryland's American Job Center maintains mandated partnerships as well as unique local partnerships that provide programs and services to job seekers with disabilities. To inquire about these unique partnerships, contact the local American Job Centers directly.

State Partnerships: Maryland has a network of State partnerships that benefit job seekers with disabilities:

  • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) - The mission of the DDA is to provide leadership to assure the full participation of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in all aspects of community life. Services include vocational and supported employment. To find the closest regional office, visit their website.
     
  • Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Behaviorial Health Administration (BHA) - The mission of the MHA is to create and manage a coordinated, comprehensive, accessible, culturally sensitive and age-appropriate system of publicly funded services and supports for individuals who have psychiatric disorders and in conjunction with stakeholders, provide treatment and rehabilitation in order to promote resiliency, health and recovery. Services include supported employment. To find a service provider, visit their website and select the Core Service Agencies (CSA) link.
     
  • Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)- The mission of Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD) is to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal and professional goals in the communities where they live. MDOD offers an array of programs and resources including those specific to employment:
     
    • Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) Program - EID provides full fee-for-service Medicaid for employed individuals with disabilities who have no other insurance, and wrap-around services for those individuals with employer-sponsored health insurance or Medicare. For more information and to apply, visit their website or call 443-514-5034, TTY/Toll free 800-637-4113.
       
    • Job Seeker Fact Sheets - A variety of fact sheets are available that discuss common questions and concerns about employment and disability. The fact sheets are entitled: Assistive Technology, Career Options, Disclosure, Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program, Employment Options, Frustrated? Options for Action, Getting the Job You Want, School to Work, Supports and Services, Think You Can't Work? Think Again, Where the Jobs Are, and Your Rights and Responsibilities. These fact sheets are available in several of Maryland's American Job Centers and can be downloaded at MDOD website.
       
    • Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MD TAP) - Provides tools and assistive technology (AT), to help Marylanders with disabilities and seniors enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other citizens in order to live, work or learn more independently. For more information about AT assistance, visit their website or call MD TAP at 1-800-832-4827, TTY 1-866-881-7488.
       
  • Maryland State Department of Education - Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) - The mission of DORS is to provide leadership and support in promoting the employment, economic self-sufficiency and independence of individuals with disabilities. DORS provides personalized support and employment services to eligible job seekers with disabilities. To locate the closest DORS office, visit their website and select the DORS locations link.

National Resources and Information: Below is a highlighted list of national resources and information that further assist job seekers with disabilities:

  • Social Security Administration (SSA)
     
    • Ticket to Work Program - Provides most people receiving Social Security benefits (beneficiaries) more choices for receiving employment services. SSA issues tickets to eligible beneficiaries who, in turn, may choose to assign those tickets to an Employment Network (EN) of their choice to obtain employment services, vocational rehabilitation services, or other support services necessary to achieve a vocational (work) goal. For more information about Ticket to Work and to locate an EN, visit their website.
       
  • US Department of Labor (US DOL)
    • Employment and Training Administration (ETA) - Within the ETA, the Disabilities Program develops and implements workforce disability policy and program initiatives to address structural, programmatic, and systemic employment barriers for people with disabilities. The Disabilities Program supports the New Freedom Initiative to improve career and employment outcomes for job seekers with disabilities.
        
    • Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) - Provides national leadership on disability employment policy by developing and influencing the use of evidence-based disability employment policies and practices, building collaborative partnerships, and delivering authoritative and credible data on employment of people with disabilities.
       
      • Disability Resources - Provides quick and easy access to comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws and benefits.
         
      • Job Accommodation Network (JAN) - Facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing employers, employment providers, people with disabilities, their family members and other interested parties with information on job accommodations, self-employment and small business opportunities.

Disabled Veterans:

  • The Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) - The Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) Advisor provides veterans and transitioning service members wounded and injured as a result of the War on Terrorism, and their family members, with the resources they need to successfully transition to a rewarding career. Developed by the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), the REALifelines Advisor provides valuable information and access to contact information for one-on-one employment assistance and online resources to assist wounded and injured transitioning service members and veterans in their reintegration into the civilian workforce. While this site is intended for use by wounded and injured transitioning service members, it offers extensive information and resources that can benefit all veterans.
     
  • Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP) - Service members leaving the military with a service-connected disability are offered the Disabled Transition Assistance Program (DTAP). DTAP includes the normal three-day TAP workshop plus additional hours of individual instruction to help determine job readiness and address the special needs of disabled veterans.
     
  • Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) - The Department of Veterans Affair's Veterans Benefits Administration's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) service is vested with delivering timely, effective vocational rehabilitation services to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Enabling our injured soldiers, sailors, airmen, and other veterans with disabilities for a seamless transition from military service to a successful rehabilitation and on to suitable employment after service to our Nation. For some severely disabled veterans, this success will be to live independently, achieving the highest quality of life possible with a realized hope for employment given future advances in medical science and technology. The Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment service strives to exceed the service delivery expectations of veterans and their families.