Way2Work Maryland Demonstration: Final Implementation Evaluation Report
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Way2Work Maryland Demonstration: Final Implementation Evaluation Report

Published: Jun 30, 2021
Publisher: Mathematica
Health Disability Transition to Adulthood Education College and Career Readiness Special Education Employment Youth Employment Research and Evaluation
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Authors

Frank Martin

Kathleen Feeney

Todd Honeycutt

David Mann

Key Findings
  • Overall, the agency and the University of Maryland implemented the Way2Work Maryland model as designed, and participants received the model services as intended.
  • The essential services offered to Way2Work Maryland participants included an early referral to the vocational rehabilitation agency, a match to a community rehabilitation provider, opportunities for multiple work experiences, and numerous service collaboration activities.
  • Most participants (92 percent) had at least one work experience during their participation in Way2Work Maryland, nearly three-quarters (74 percent) had at least two work experiences with at least one of them paid, and nearly half (44 percent) had at least three experiences with at least one of them paid.

Way2Work Maryland was a demonstration project for students with disabilities that involved evidence-based work-based learning experiences. The U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration awarded a grant to the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (the state vocational rehabilitation agency) to conduct Way2Work Maryland, and the University of Maryland oversaw implementation and provided training and technical assistance. The agency and the University of Maryland staff designed the Way2Work Maryland model to enhance and further customize the education and employment services that the agency and its partners usually offered to high school students with disabilities to improve their college and career readiness. Way2Work Maryland provided students opportunities to identify their interests and build their skills to inform their education and employment plans. This report describes the implementation of Way2Work Maryland and presents findings on participants’ service use. It also summarizes findings on participants’ satisfaction with selected Way2Work Maryland service components, differences in service use across local school systems, and lessons learned from the implementation.

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