TransCen MD/DC

The Montgomery County Project consists of a series of employment-focused workshops presented to rising upperclassman with intellectual, learning, physical, and emotional disabilities in Montgomery County Public Schools. Students engage in activities relating to topics ranging from self-advocacy and assertive communication to career exploration and disability employment law throughout the school year. Youth develop their professional presentation, their post-secondary plans, and strategies for accommodations and disclosure. In the 2015-2016 school year, students from 6 high schools across the county were served. Several students were also trained to conduct their own lessons to rising middle schoolers to encourage continued learning and youth empowerment. Additional activities include participation on the Montgomery County Commission for People with Disabilities Employment Committee and outreach to parent and advocacy groups. For more information or to schedule a workshop for your school contact Darrell Burns at darrell@transcen.org

The Montgomery County Public Intern Project was established in 2007 to create flexible and customized work opportunities in County agencies and departments for individuals with disabilities. All County departments have had the opportunity to work with a customized employment career specialist from TransCen to identify tasks and create part-time positions based on the department’s need. Our staff recruits and pre-screens potential candidates and works with County HR and medical departments to prepare the candidate to start work if the individual is a good fit. Initial on-site job coaching is provided by our staff and job coach training is offered to all those employees interested in supporting a candidate in the MCPIP. To date, over 85 individuals with disabilities have benefited from County employment through their participation in the program. A number of individuals have gone on to obtain County merit positions or other permanent employment opportunities.

The success of the Public Intern Project has been a catalyst for Montgomery County Government to enhance the County’s disability initiatives. With TransCen’s assistance and other county advocates, the county has established a disability hiring preference and a Non-Competitive Hiring Initiative. MCPIP continues to be a model for best practices, leading and inspiring other jurisdictions locally, nationally, and internationally by its example. Montgomery County was honored for the program in 2009 by the National Association of Counties and received an Achievement Award for MCPIP.

TransCen has worked with DORS since 2011 assisting eligible youth in Maryland gain work experience and explore career opportunities through a six-week paid summer internship. TransCen staff assist the youth with job search and placement services, short-term job coaching services, outreach to employers, and uses customized employment techniques to target employers based on each youth’s interests, skills, and abilities. The youth interns receive on-site, post-placement job supports, and follow-up services. With the new skills gained through their SYE participation, many youth are directly hired by their summer employers. SYE aims to serve 30 individuals each summer.

For more information, contact Marie Parker at mparker@transcen.org