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Rick Abbruzzese
Office:  410-974-2316
Cell:  443-336-1556

Christine Hansen
Office:  410-974-2316
Cell:  443-336-5270 
 
MARTIN O’MALLEY
GOVERNOR
STATE HOUSE
100 STATE CIRCLE
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND 21401-1925
(410) 974-3901
(TOLL FREE) 1-800-811-8336
TTY USERS CALL VIA MD RELAY

MARYLAND SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN STATE LEADERS INNOVATION INSTITUTE

Program to Improve Employment for Adults with Disabilities
 
Annapolis, MD  (April 25, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley today announced that Maryland has been selected to participate in the first State Leaders Innovation Institute, a program sponsored by the National Technical Assistance and Research Leadership Center to Promote Employment and Economic Independence for Adults with Disabilities (NTAR Leadership Center).  The State Leaders Innovation Institute is part of the NTAR Leadership Center's national efforts to improve employment for adults with disabilities by connecting state workforce policies to state and local economic growth and development goals. 
 
“We are extremely pleased that Maryland was chosen for the State Leaders Innovation Institute,” said Governor O’Malley. “Guided by the principle that there is no such thing as a spare Marylander, I have made workforce creation a priority of this Administration. Maryland’s selection for this program reinforces our commitment to ensure that economic and workforce development activities include opportunities for individuals with disabilities.”
 
Through participation in the 15-month State Leaders Innovation Institute, teams of high level state policy makers and employers from Maryland – representing economic development, workforce development, and disability employment – will receive specialized technical assistance, leadership support and other resources as they work to pioneer innovative approaches to improve employment for adults with disabilities. Thomas Perez, Secretary, Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and Catherine Raggio, Secretary, Maryland Department of Disabilities will serve as team leaders for the program. Representatives from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services; the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board; as well as local community colleges, local economic development staff and community disability organizations will also participate in the program.
 
"We are excited to work closely with such progressive leaders as they look to break new ground in ensuring that their state economic and workforce development activities include enhanced opportunities for adults with disabilities," said Kathy Krepcio, Director of the NTAR Leadership Center. "Maryland has pulled together an outstanding team of government officials, private employers, educational institutions and community organizations. I commend Governor O'Malley for stepping up to the challenge to lead the nation."
 
According to the NTAR Leadership Center, Maryland is already seen as leading the nation in workforce participation for adults with disabilities. Through participation in the State Leaders Innovation Institute, the State will work to further improve economic and employment opportunities through the development of sustainable partnerships among the states' workforce development, economic development, disability programs and employers in key state industries.
 
Maryland's team will develop strategic actions that result in stronger coordination with the state's economic development, workforce development and disability employment systems to better integrate training and preparation programs for adults with disabilities. The state will focus on identifying and linking job seekers with disabilities to anticipated job growth in and around Prince George's, Harford and Anne Arundel counties as a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) military base expansion plans. 
 
Several demographic and workforce trends - including the aging of the workforce - reinforce the need for states and employers to develop stronger partnerships that result in making employment available to adults with disabilities in states’ high growth industries. Despite multiple government efforts and compelling reasons for hiring people with disabilities, they remain disproportionately out of the workforce. According to Census Bureau data, only 38 percent of Americans with disabilities aged 21-64 were employed in 2005, compared to 78 percent of Americans without disabilities. In Maryland approximately 42 percent of people with disabilities aged 21-64 were employed in 2005.
 
For more information about the NTAR Leadership Center and the State Leaders Innovation Institute, please visit www.ntarcenter.org.

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