Services for Persons with Disabilities

The Maine CareerCenter system welcomes all customers and provides reasonable accommodations to ensure that its buildings, programs and services are accessible.

Persons with disabilities needing accommodations to participate in any CareerCenter program or service should make a request directly to their local CareerCenter. Information on accessibility equipment in Maine's CareerCenters may be found below. Many CareerCenter services are considered to be self-directed, meaning that they can be completed without staff assistance. However, staff in the information center are always available to help answer your questions.

New Welcome Video

A welcome video is available to provide information on how customers who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing can access services at Maine CareerCenter locations.

Support for Employers

The Maine CareerCenter system welcomes Maine businesses seeking to recruit workers for a diverse workforce, including workers who have disabilities. "Despite the current labor surplus, shortages are expected to occur in the future as the population grows slowly and older. To meet the challenges of long-term labor needs, Maine employers and policy makers will need to pursue innovative ways to grow the labor force. This offers an opportunity to engage populations underrepresented in the work force, including those with some form of disability." (Center for Workforce Research and Information 2009 publication The Maine Labor Market: Trends and Issues)

For assistance in attracting and retaining a diverse workforce – including workers with disabilities, contact the CareerCenter nearest you.

Disability Resource Coordinators

The Disability Program Navigator (DPN) Initiative was launched in August of 2007, by the Maine Department of Labor in an effort to promote systems change in the employment of people with disabilities by increasing accessibility to programs and services at Maine’s CareerCenters. The DPN Initiative realized many accomplishments in its three years of grant funding. 

In June of 2010, the U.S.  DOL provided supplemental funding to continue the Initiative, now the Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC) Program, statewide for one year.  These additional funds enable the DRC Program to build on the successes of the DPN Initiative and continue to promote and implement identified promising practices, such as statewide expansion of  CareerCenter Employment Networks under Ticket to Work,  the use of the Integrated Resource Team (IRT) model, training in assistive technology and other disability related issues.  Statewide staffing for  the Disability Resource Coordinator (DRC) Program includes one full-time and one part-time Resource Coordinator.  While physically located in Portland and Bangor, they are available to field questions, provide limited statewide support and continue to work in Maine CareerCenters with other CareerCenter staff and partners. 

Additionally, DRCs provide information to employers about the benefits of hiring individuals with disabilities, promote CareerCenter programs and services to community agencies of which they, and the individuals they serve, may not be aware.

Ticket to Work

Are you receiving SSI or SSDI benefits and interested in going to work? The Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services is now an approved Employment Network under the Social Security Administration's Ticket to Work program. Currently, CareerCenters in Bangor, Presque Isle, and Machias are able to accept Tickets.

Visit Maine's Ticket to Work website for more resources.

How your benefits will be impacted by going back to work

If you receive SSI/SSDI benefits and are thinking about going back to work, you might be concerned about how your earnings will affect your benefits. By attending a WISE (Work Incentive Seminar Event) event, you may be able to get some of your questions answered. These events are held in various locations around the state and can be accessed online.

To find out more information on events in your area, contact your local Community Work Incentive Coordinator (CWIC).

Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) works to bring about full access to employment, independence and community integration for people with disabilities.

Working with its partners in the Maine CareerCenter and the rehabilitation community, BRS works with persons with disabilities through its three primary service provision units:

• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
• Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI)
• Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing & Late Deafened (DoD)

CareerCenter Accessibility Equipment List

All CareerCenters are equipped to serve those with disabilities. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request.

• Video Magnifier (aka CCTV)
  Device for magnifying printed material
• Sorenson Video Phone
  Allows ASL users to communicate with other ASL users or hearing persons
• Jaws (a screen reader) 
  Program for speaking text displayed on the computer screen
• ZoomText (a screen magnifier)
  Program for magnifying text displayed on the computer screen
• Complete Reading System
  An optical character recognition program
• Interpretype/ITY
  An interactive communication system that provides a means of communicating without using speech
• Pocketalker Pro
  Device for amplifying speech for individuals communicating in a one-on-one situation
• FM System
  Device for amplifying speech in a group setting
• Infinity Table
  A motorized table that may be height adjusted
• Turbo Trackball
  Computer mouse alternative
• GoldTouch/Keyboard/Pad
  Alternative keyboard
• SmartNAV AT  
  Hands free computer operation
• TextHelp! Read & Write Gold
  Computer program to assist with writing and reading

The Maine Department of Labor provides Equal Opportunity in employment and programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request.