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Department of Disabilities

Office of Disability Employment & Advancement Policy (ODEAP)

Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy and Maryland as a Model Employer Initiative House Bill 502

History/Background


In the fall of 2023 Maryland was selected, through a competitive process, to send a team to participate in the National Governor’s Association’s (NGA) Disability Employment Summit. Led by Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD), the team included representatives from the Lt. Governor’s Office, Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Rehabilitative Services (DORS), and Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

In January 2024, Maryland was again selected by NGA to participate in a Disability Inclusive Workforce
Policy Learning Collaborative to receive more intensive support and technical assistance to develop an action plan that led to creation of House Bill 502/Senate Bill 433.

HB 502 was the first bill signed into law by Governor Moore at end of the 2025 legislative session. The bill
creates an Office of Disability Employment Advancement and Policy at MDOD, as well as a Maryland Model Employer Initiative to start in July 2026.
Purpose of ODEA:

  • Development and implementation of strategies regarding to the employment, training, and career–readiness of individuals with disabilities;
  • Performing duties in support of statewide policies and standards relating to employment, training, and
    career–readiness of individuals with disabilities;
  • Collecting information and data from units of state government relating to the employment, training, and
    career–readiness of individuals with disabilities; and 
  • Implementing Maryland as a model employer initiative

Implementation

Key staff met monthly November 2025-June 2026 to review current policies/practices, examine other
states’ efforts, and identify barriers and develop recommendations. Agency leadership met twice (in February and June) to review and provide feedback regarding the
recommendations.

For more information contact Jade Gingerich, Executive Director, Office of Disability Employment
Advancement and Policy, Maryland Department of Disabilities at [email protected] or 410-767-3651.