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For Job Seekers

Helping Youth and Adults with Disabilities Find Meaningful Careers

We provide personalized support to help job seekers explore careers, develop skills, and succeed in meaningful employment. Whether you’re a student, an adult seeking new opportunities, or a Social Security Disability beneficiary, our programs meet your unique needs through training, internships, job development, and on-the-job support.

Ticket to Work: Helps Social Security Disability beneficiaries prepare for, enter, and maintain employment.

Creative Employment Opportunities (CEO): Wisconsin-based program offering customized employment services for youth and adults.

Project SEARCH: 9-month internship within CEO, providing real-world job experience, soft skills, and pathways to competitive employment.

Learn More

Ticket to Work

Ticket to Work (TTW) is a free and voluntary program through the Social Security Administration (SSA) that helps people receiving SSDI and/or SSI disability benefits prepare for, find, and maintain meaningful employment.

Since 2010, TransCen has served as an approved Employment Network (EN), providing individualized employment supports tailored to each person’s strengths, interests, and career goals.

How We Can Help

Services may include:

  • Career exploration and employment planning
  • Job search and job development support
  • Benefits counseling to understand how work affects benefits
  • On-the-job support to help maintain long-term employment

Ready to get started?


Contact us to confirm eligibility and discuss your goals. Together, we will create an Individual Work Plan and connect you with job search support, training, benefits counseling, and workplace support to help you succeed.

Contact Christa Martin, MRC, CRC — Ticket to Work Program Coordinator

Phone: (301) 327-4579


Email: cmartin@transcen.org

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Who can participate?

You are eligible if:

  • Are 18–64 years old, and
  • Receive SSDI and/or SSI disability benefits

You will receive services and supports to prepare for, enter, and maintain employment. There is no physical “ticket,”your SSA benefits automatically make you eligible.

Ticket to Work

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TransCen

Transition & Employment Services in Maryland

We offer individualized vocational services in Maryland for adults and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for students ages 14–21 with documented disabilities. TransCen is a Community Rehabilitation Provider through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) and an approved provider with the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA).

Our services are customized to support competitive, integrated employment by using a person-centered approach that identifies each individual’s strengths, interests, and goals and connects them with meaningful opportunities.

Ready to get started?


For Youth, Ages 14-21

Work-Based Learning Experiences (WBLE)

We provide structured, real-world work experiences that help students explore careers and build essential workplace skills. Through a discovery process, students identify their strengths and goals while TransCen staff connect with employers and coordinate 5–8 week work-based learning experiences. Ongoing support is provided throughout the placement to ensure a positive experience for both students and employers.

Self-Advocacy Instruction

Key topics:

  • Self-advocacy and workplace rights
  • Requesting accommodations
  • Understanding IEPs and transition planning
  • Goal setting and problem-solving
  • Navigating workplace challenges

Job Exploration Counseling

  • Career assessments using tools such as O*NET, CareerOneStop, and My Next Move
  • Research on job requirements and education pathways
  • Informational interviews and job shadowing

Work Readiness Training

Skills to Pay the Bills includes:

  • Communication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and positive workplace attitudes
  • Teamwork, networking, and collaboration
  • Problem solving and critical thinking

Additional training may include:

  • Financial literacy and planning
  • Transportation training (Metro, Metro Bus, Ride On, WMATA Trip Planner, SmartCards)
Call to Action

Skills to Pay the Bills includes:

  • Communication, enthusiasm, professionalism, and positive workplace attitudes
  • Teamwork, networking, and collaboration
  • Problem solving and critical thinking

Additional training may include:

  • Financial literacy and planning
  • Transportation training (Metro, Metro Bus, Ride On, WMATA Trip Planner, SmartCards)

Ticket to Work

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For
Adults

Job Development and Search Assistance

  • Discovery strengths, skills, and career interests
  • Resume and cover letter development
  • Elevator pitch creation
  • Mock interviews to build confidence

What to expect

TransCen’s Vocational Rehabilitation Services support adults in preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining employment. Services include career discovery, resume and interview preparation, job search support, employer outreach, and on-the-job coaching, along with workplace strategies and advocacy to support long-term success.

Job Search Assistance

  • Employer outreach and relationship building
  • Job application and job board support
  • Interview preparation and accompaniment (when appropriate)
  • Professional follow-up support
  • Coordination of job trials and job shadowing

Job Search Assistance

  • Employer outreach and relationship building
  • Job application and job board support
  • Interview preparation and accompaniment (when appropriate)
  • Professional follow-up support
  • Coordination of job trials and job shadowing
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Creative Employment Opportunities (CEO) is TransCen’s Wisconsin-based transition and employment services provider, helping job seekers with disabilities obtain and maintain meaningful, community-based employment. Based in Milwaukee, CEO serves individuals, families, schools, workforce systems, and employers throughout the region.

Founded in 1991 by Laura Owens, CEO was built on a simple belief: all individuals, regardless of disability, can and should work in the community. Since 2017, CEO has operated as a program of TransCen, Inc., strengthening its commitment to competitive, integrated employment across Wisconsin.

Who can use this program?

CEO delivers individualized services designed around each person’s strengths, interests, and career goals.

Subtitle: Services For Job Seekers

  • Person-Centered Assessment & Discovery We begin with a discovery process to identify interests, skills, ideal work environments, and support needs. This information guides each individual’s employment plan.
  • Internships & Work-Based Learning Participants gain real-world experience through internships and work-based learning opportunities that help them explore careers, develop transferable skills, and build confidence in workplace settings.
  • Individualized Job Development Our team conducts customized employer outreach by building relationships with local businesses, identifying opportunities aligned with job seeker goals, and promoting inclusive hiring practices.

  • Job Coaching & Ongoing Support CEO provides tailored coaching and workplace support to help individuals succeed on the job, navigate accommodations, build independence, and maintain long-term employment.

Services For Businesses

CEO partners with businesses to expand workforce diversity and connect employers with talent within the disability community.

 

Employer services include:

  • Disability employment training and technical assistance
  • Inclusive hiring strategy development
  • Workforce diversity consultation
  • Employee retention and workplace support strategies
  • Best practices in disability inclusion
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