The State Rehabilitation Council works with state and federal legislative representatives to promote the public vocational rehabilitation program as a sound investment in the workforce and our citizens.
The demand for public vocational rehabilitation (VR) services – services that enable people with disabilities to find jobs and go to work – has increased dramatically over the last four years; conversely, Federal funding has not. Since June 2004, DORS had seen a nearly 40% increase in the number of people with disabilities who want to work. However, the agency's Federal funding has risen just 6% over the last nine years while inflation alone has risen more than 23%. The Maryland State Rehabilitation Council will be working closely with elected officials, DORS consumers and staff and other stakeholders in the coming year to try to resolve these funding issues so that DORS can continue to offer that path to all Marylanders with disabilities who want to go to work.