3/5 - Entrepreneurship for Individuals with a Disability: MD DORS R.I.S.E. Program and MD Works Employment Works Program

 Entrepreneurship for Individuals with a Disability:

MD DORS R.I.S.E. Program and MD Works Employment Works Program

March 5, 2024 

2 PM - 3 PM 

Virtual

Member: Free     Non-member: Free

Topics Covered:

• DORS Reaching Independence through Self-Employment (RISE) Program
• Maryland Works Employment Works and Individual-with-a-Disability-Owned Business (IDOB) Opportunities

DORS Reaching Independence Through Self-Employment (RISE) Program

​Rehabilitation services may be provided to job seekers with a vocational goal involving development and management of their own businesses. Self-employment services are provided through RISE, which is designed to promote and facilitate self-employment for individuals for whom it is appropriate. RISE Program staff provide technical assistance to support the consumer in exploring market information, business funding resources, developing a business proposal and business plan, and other pertinent information.

Maryland Works Employment Works Program (EWP) 

The EWP strives to create quality employment opportunities for people with disabilities, while providing the State of Maryland with high quality services and commodities.

Benefits of being a Maryland Works EWP Vendor Business Partner/IDOB

• Coordination and facilitation of fair market pricing for contract approval. Pricing for each service requires cost comparisons, marketing analyses, and review and approval at multiple levels before the vendor business partner receives certification by the Pricing and Selection Committee
• Monitoring of contract renewal timelines
• Coordinate and facilitate in regular Quality Assurance meetings to ensure the administration of quality services
• Liaise with the state agencies and vendors to initiate and facilitate Improvement Plans for contract performance issues 
• Provide recruitment assistance with staffing contracts (networking within CSP’s, job boards, job fair coordination, social media, etc.)
• Provide mentorship within CSP’s to support high level service administration
• Provide vendor business partners with support through the procurement process
• As a benefit, state customers can negotiate directly with the EWP outside of the standard competitive solicitation process, saving state employees valuable time and money
• EWP ensures services are high quality, competitively priced, and delivered timely
• The EWP provides technical assistance, as needed, to the vendor business partners