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Rehabilitation Glossary
A
Accessible
Easy to approach, enter, operate, participate in, or use safely, independently and with dignity by a person with a disability (i.e., site, facility, work environment, service or program).

Accommodations
Also known as “Reasonable Accommodations.” Changes in a work environment that allow a person with a disability to apply for, or perform the duties of, a job. These adjustments, frequently inexpensive, allow a person with a disability to have the same access to and benefits of employment as a person without a disability.

Alternate Formats
Other ways of presenting information so that it can be used by people with various disabilities. These may include, but are not limited to, Braille, ASCII text, large print and recorded audio.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
A 1992 civil rights law that makes it unlawful to discriminate against individuals with a disability in public and private sector employment (for businesses with 15 or more employees), state and local government services, public accommodations, transportation or telecommunication.

Assistive Technology
Any item, piece of equipment or system that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Includes items such as communication devices, adapted appliances for accessible living, environmental control devices, modified housing, adapted computers and specialized software. These devices can be bought commercially or modified and customized to suit an individual.

Assistive Technology Device
An item, piece of equipment or product that is used to improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Auxiliary Aids and Services
Devices or services that can be used by a person with a communication-related disability. They include interpreters and communication devices for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. People who are blind or visually impaired may use readers, taped texts, Braille, etc.

C
Career Assessment Services (CAS)
Provides academic and aptitude testing, interest inventories and work samples to help individuals with disabilities make good choices about a career.

Centers for Independent Living, sometimes called “CIL”
Community-based, non-residential, private non-profit agencies that offer a wide range of services to help people with disabilities live independently. They are operated by and for individuals with significant disabilities.

Client Assistance Program (CAP)
The Client Assistance Program (CAP) helps individuals who have concerns or difficulties when applying for or receiving rehabilitation services funded under the Rehabilitation Act.

Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs)
Private, non-profit programs that provide rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities. In order to provide high quality services throughout the state, DORS frequently purchases services from these sites, including career assessment services, work adjustment training, job placement services and supported employment.

Competitive Employment
Work in the general labor market that is performed on a full-time or part-time basis, alongside people who may not have a disability and with compensation at or above the minimum wage.

D
Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA)
A Maryland State agency whose mission is to assure the full participation of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in all aspects of community life. The DDA can provide funds for the continuation of supported employment after provision of time-limited services by DORS and closure of the record of services.

E
Extended Services (Supported Employment)
Ongoing services that maintain an individual with a most significant disability in supported employment after time-limited services have been provided by DORS.

I
Independent Living Services
Programs that enhance the ability of an individual with significant disabilities to live independently and function within the family and community. These services can also help a person get and keep employment.

Integrated Setting
A place in which individuals with disabilities work or receive services to the same extent that non-disabled individuals do.

J
Job Coach
Person hired by a rehabilitation agency or program who assists an employee with a disability in learning and performing a job and adjusting to the work environment.

P
Personal Assistance Services
Services designed to assist an individual with a disability to perform daily living activities on or off the job. These may include dressing, meal preparation and transportation.

R
Reasonable Accommodation
Changes in a work environment that allow a person with a disability to more easily apply for, or perform the duties of, a job. These adjustments, frequently inexpensive, allow a person with a disability to have the same benefits of employment as a person without a disability.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Federal legislation that set up grant programs for vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, independent living and client assistance. The Rehabilitative Services Administration in the Department of Education oversees programs created by the Act.

Rehabilitation Technology
Services that use principles of engineering, computer technology, and science to build or modify equipment so that people with disabilities can take part in physical rehabilitation, education, employment, transportation and independent living.

S
Section 508
Section of the amended Rehabilitation Act requiring all federal agencies to make their electronic and information technologies available to people with disabilities.

Service Provider
An agency or private practice professional offering services for purchase by DORS or other agencies. These may include counseling, assistive technology, career assessment services or job placement.

SSI/SSDI
Acronyms for Social Security disability benefits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides cash benefits to insured workers who meet the definition of disability. It also provides for their eligible dependents. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly cash benefits to children and adults who meet income and resource guidelines and are disabled. To find out more about qualifying for these benefit programs, contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) or visit www.ssa.gov.

Supported Employment
Supports that help people with severe disabilities (e.g., psychiatric, mental retardation, significant learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury) find competitive work in an integrated setting where they might not otherwise be able to do so. The supports can include job coaches, transportation, assistive technology, specialized job training and individually tailored supervision.A treatment and rehabilitation model that combines employment services and recovery for individuals with chronic mental illness is called "evidence-based supported employment" since its effectiveness has been well-documented in studies.

T
Ticket-to-Work
Social Security Administration (SSA) program designed to help individuals with disabilities who are receiving SSA benefits find and maintain employment.

Transitioning
The term widely used in vocational rehabilitation to describe the process of students with disabilities moving from high school into post-secondary life activities.

V
Vocational Rehabilitation, sometimes called “VR”
Programs designed to help individuals with disabilities enter or reenter gainful employment.

W
Work Adjustment Training
Programs that help people with disabilities learn the basic skills needed to maintain employment. These may include attendance, appropriate dress, social skills and how to get along with supervisors.

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