Employment

All people have the right to meaningful work of their choosing.

Work should be competitive, integrated, and free from discrimination. There are laws that protect people with disabilities at work. These include:

DRM attorneys represent qualified individuals with disabilities who have been discriminated in employment. Discrimination includes:

Denial of reasonable accommodations in the workplace.
Discriminatory hiring practices or other terms or conditions of employment.
Unlawful termination due to disability.
Hostile work environment.
Retaliation.

In addition to legal representation, Disability Rights Maine provides advocacy, training, and public policy reform in employment. DRM employment advocates provide work incentive assistance to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries who need vocational rehabilitation, employment services, and other supports to secure or regain employment.

Employment First in Maine

In 2013, Maine passed the Employment First Maine Act . This law requires that employment be the first and preferred outcome for any person with a disability receiving state funded services. The goal of this law is to increase the employment rate for people with disabilities in competitive and integrated workplaces.

In 2020, Maine also eliminated subminimum wage for people with disabilities. This landmark legislation means that people with disabilities in Maine must be paid a fair rate of pay.

Know Your Rights: Assistive Technology
Client Assistance Program – learn how DRM can help with vocational rehabilitation!
Employment Rights Guide (PDF) | (DOC)
Informational videos about work and Social Security in ASL
Template Reasonable Accommodation Letter for Work (DOC)
PABSS Rack Card (PDF)

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
JAN’s A-Z on Disabilities & Accommodations
ABLE National Resource Center
Maine ABLE Benefits Checking
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services
- You can apply for services for VR online , by mail, or by fax
Benefits Counseling – a free service provided by Maine Medical Center’s Vocational Services team for Social Security beneficiaries who are planning for work, currently working, or considering new employment opportunities
Social Security:
Maine Department of Labor
U.S. Department of Labor
Family and Medical Leave Act

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Filing a Complaint

Maine Human Rights Commission

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Systemic Initiatives

NDEAM: Job Opportunities with Maine Sea Grant

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! Looking for a new opportunity and interested in working in Maine's fisheries industry? Check out two employment opportunities with Maine Sea Grant. Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator The Lobster...

Social Security Makes Key Policy Changes to Reduce Burdens on Beneficiaries

In recent months, the Social Security Administration announced a series of policy improvements, listed below, that aim to improve payment processing and reduce hardships on beneficiaries. Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley acknowledges that, “For 88...

New and Innovative Employment Options Called for in 2022

In the wake of the series of massive and ubiquitous changes which the global COVID-19 pandemic has wrought to nearly every area of life, an opportunity for people with disabilities to enforce their right to work has emerged. The United States is facing an historic...

How Can We Help?

Contact us anytime. DRM wants to hear from you. Whether you’re looking for advocacy, have a question, or just want to connect, please reach out.

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