Governor Wes Moore, along with the U.S. Senators from Maryland and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey announced Wednesday $13.9 million in federal funding to support workforce development and postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities.
The funding will be administered through the Maryland Department of Disabilities and will help increase access to resources, promote data sharing and improve employment outcomes.
The U.S. Department of Education allocated $9.4 million from the Disability Innovation Fund program to develop a tool that connects students with accessible services. The tool pioneers a data sharing system that will allow school and state agency personnel including Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitative Services and the Developmental Disabilities Administration at the Maryland Department of Health to share information about student applications, eligibility and services.
The Maryland Department of Disabilities also received $4.5 million from the Social Security Administration’s Interventional Cooperative Agreement Program. The funding will assess the impact of outreach and assistance for children with disabilities who qualify for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. These two grants begin this month and will continue for over five years.
“’Leave no one behind’ is not just a talking point for us, it’s a governing philosophy. Today’s action reaffirms Maryland’s commitment to building a state where every person is seen and supported,” said Gov. Moore. “I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their partnership. Together, we will open paths to work, wages, and wealth for Marylanders; grow our economy; and create an equitable future for all.”
