An important part of Maryland ABLE’s outreach is to support people with disabilities on their journey to employment through a multifaceted approach of educating their community about ABLE accounts and how they can support and promote employment for people with disabilities. Maryland ABLE’s outreach includes awareness and education opportunities through presentations and materials provided to people with disabilities at various access points such as schools, advocacy organizations, government agencies and service providers.

Maryland ABLE has developed partnerships with private and public-school systems throughout the state to educate transitioning age youth about opening an ABLE account as a first step in preparing for future employment. Partnerships with the schools’ Special Education Resource Centers, Family Support Services and Transition teams have created ongoing opportunities to participate in transition fairs and provide presentations to educators, transition coordinators, students and families throughout the school year. Maryland ABLE’s newest initiative with the school system included a collaboration with three school systems and the University of Maryland Extension Program to include ABLE accounts as part the Smart Cents curriculum adapted and facilitated through PAATH (Promoting Adult Achievement in Transition and Health), a program specifically adapted for certificate track students aged 18-21. For people with disabilities who are preparing for employment with college as their pathway, we have partnered with the University of Maryland Hub for Inclusive Higher Education Terps EXCEED Program and College Living Experience (CLE) to educate students with disabilities about using their ABLE accounts to help pay for courses that will prepare them for competitive employment. For young adults with disabilities who are preparing for employment through internships, Maryland ABLE has partnered with Project SEARCH at Kennedy Krieger Institute to educate their interns about the value of establishing an ABLE account to save or invest their earnings as they are exploring job interests and learning about the world of work.

Maryland ABLE has partnered with Maryland State agencies such as the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), Maryland Department of Disabilities Assistive Technology Program (MDTAP), the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA), and the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council to increase awareness of how ABLE accounts support employment for people with disabilities. Through ongoing outreach opportunities and their efforts to educate the disability community about the benefits of ABLE accounts through their communication channels and social media platforms, Maryland ABLE is reaching more eligible individuals statewide.

Connecting directly to people with disabilities is very important to Maryland ABLE. Partnerships with disability advocacy groups and self-advocacy groups such as Independence Now and People on the Go of Maryland has been helpful in reaching more eligible people and expanding opportunities to have conversations with ABLE account holders and those just learning about ABLE accounts.

Maryland ABLE has identified people with qualifying mental health diagnoses as a priority for increased outreach as this population is less likely to self-identify as having a disability. To increase awareness about eligibility, Maryland ABLE has partnered with Maryland Benefits Counseling Network, local offices of SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) and local chapters of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to provide training to front line staff that can offer information about ABLE as a way to promote employment, financial stability and independence. 

Maryland ABLE promotes community awareness about the importance of fostering a more inclusive workforce by educating employers about ABLE accounts and the value of including ABLE program information as part of their employee benefit package. Some of Maryland ABLE’s effective employer outreach strategies have included connecting with employers through events sponsored through the Chamber of Commerce or providing presentations to employer facilitated inclusion and diversity groups such as ENABLED, an employee led resource group for BGE/Exelon employees with disabilities or their caregivers.

Maryland ABLE is excited to see outreach efforts expanding awareness about the important role that people with disabilities play in the workforce and we are proud of the achievements of Maryland ABLE account holders who are working and pursuing their goals. Currently 484 Maryland ABLE account holders are making ABLE to Work contributions and since 2018, together they have saved and invested over $2.2 million.

Please visit https://www.marylandable.org/ to learn more about Maryland ABLE.