Maryland DORS Transition Services: Pre-ETS, Student Employment, and How to Apply

What DORS Is

The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) is Maryland's vocational rehabilitation agency, operating under the Maryland State Department of Education. For students with disabilities ages 14–21, DORS runs two distinct employment preparation tracks: Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Student Employment Services. These programs help students develop work readiness, explore careers, and transition from school to competitive employment.

DORS services are particularly important during the DDA waiting list period. While a young adult may wait years for funded DDA waiver services, DORS can provide employment support immediately — and participation in DORS can also serve as a protective factor if SSI benefits are denied at the age-18 redetermination (Section 301 allows benefit continuation while in an approved VR program).

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

Pre-ETS is available to all students with disabilities ages 14–21 who have a documented disability — whether through an IEP, a 504 plan, or clinical documentation. There is no formal eligibility determination required. The student does not need to apply to DORS or undergo an intake evaluation.

The five core Pre-ETS services are:

1. Job Exploration Counseling — career interest assessments, labor market information, industry tours
2. Work-Based Learning Experiences — internships, job shadowing, volunteer opportunities in real workplaces
3. Workplace Readiness Training — soft skills instruction covering punctuality, communication, appropriate workplace behavior, and task completion
4. Self-Advocacy Instruction — training on disability rights, how to request accommodations, and how to communicate needs to employers
5. Post-Secondary Education Counseling — guidance on college programs, vocational training, and continuing education options

Pre-ETS is delivered through group workshops, individual sessions, and community-based activities. It is not a full vocational rehabilitation plan — it is a preparatory set of experiences designed to build foundational employment skills before the student enters the workforce or a formal VR program.

Student Employment Services

Student Employment Services is the more intensive DORS track. It provides individualized, long-term vocational rehabilitation with a broader range of services:

• Comprehensive vocational assessment
• Job coaching and supported employment placement
• Assistive technology evaluations and equipment
• Transportation assistance
• On-the-job training coordination with employers
• Customized employment development

Unlike Pre-ETS, Student Employment Services does require a formal eligibility determination. The student must apply to DORS and be found eligible for vocational rehabilitation services based on:

• Documentation of a physical, mental, or sensory disability that creates a barrier to employment
• A determination that the student requires VR services to prepare for, secure, retain, or advance in employment
• A presumption that the student can benefit from VR services

DORS recommends starting the Student Employment Services referral at least two years before high school graduation to allow time for the intake process, eligibility determination, and development of an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE).

How to Request Services

For Pre-ETS, submit a request through the DORS website at dors.maryland.gov or contact the DORS transition team directly. School transition coordinators can also initiate the referral. No formal application is needed — just documentation of the student's disability and age.

For Student Employment Services, the process starts with a formal referral to DORS:

1. Submit the "Request DORS Services" form (available online at dors.maryland.gov)
2. DORS assigns a vocational rehabilitation counselor
3. The counselor conducts an intake interview and reviews disability documentation
4. DORS makes an eligibility determination
5. If eligible, the counselor and student develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)

The IPE outlines specific employment goals, the services DORS will provide, and the timeline. It is a binding agreement — DORS commits to providing the identified services, and the student commits to participating.

DORS and the IEP Connection

DORS services should be coordinated with the student's IEP transition plan. Under IDEA and COMAR 13A.05.01.11, Maryland IEPs must include transition goals and activities starting at age 14. The IEP team should invite DORS representatives to transition planning meetings — especially starting at age 16, when COMAR 13A.05.01.11B requires a coordinated set of activities linking to adult service providers.

In practice, the IEP team and DORS often operate independently unless the family actively pushes for coordination. Requesting that the IEP team include DORS in the meeting invitation is a simple step that can align school-based transition planning with the employment services DORS will provide after graduation.

What Happens After Age 21

DORS services for students end when the individual exits the school system (typically at age 21 for students pursuing a Certificate of Completion). After that, DORS continues to offer adult vocational rehabilitation services — but under a different program track that requires re-evaluation of eligibility and a new IPE.

For students on the DDA waiting list, DORS is often the primary source of employment support during the gap between school exit and funded DDA waiver services. The Governor's Transitioning Youth Initiative (GTYI) provides dedicated DDA funding for day and employment services during the first year after school exit, creating a bridge between DORS and waiver-funded employment supports.

For the full sequencing of DORS alongside SSI, Medicaid, DDA, and school transition deadlines, the Maryland SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide coordinates every agency's timeline in one place.

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