Maryland invests $13.9 million in workforce development for people with disabilities

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Congressional Delegation this week announced $13.9 million in federal funding to support workforce development and postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities.

The funds will be administered by the Maryland Department of Disabilities and will help increase access to resources, promote data sharing, and improve employment outcomes for people living with disabilities, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“Leave no one behind’ is not just a talking point for us, it’s a governing philosophy,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement. “Today’s action reaffirms Maryland’s commitment to building a state where every person is seen and supported.”

The U.S. Department of Education is providing $9.4 million through the Disability Innovation Fund Program to develop a tool connecting students with accessible services like vocational rehabilitation and long-term support.

The tool will serve as a data-sharing system that will allow school and state agency personnel to share information about student applications, eligibility, and services.

The Maryland Department of Disabilities will also receive $4.5 million from the Social Security Administration’s Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program. This funding will be used to determine the impact of outreach and assistance for children with disabilities who qualify for both Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income.

The aim is to improve access to transition services and improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities through competitive, integrated employment, according to the press release.

Both grants begin this month and run for five years.

“Everyone can work with the right support and services and jobs are a critical element of independence,” said Maryland Department of Disabilities Secretary Carol Beatty in a statement.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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