Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) received a $231,552.45 Project Grant from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services under the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program (CFDA 84.129B) for the period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award supports the Advancing Rehabilitation Counseling initiative, which provides academic training in vocational rehabilitation counseling to address critical personnel shortages in the rehabilitation services field. The grant funds the development and delivery of comprehensive training programs designed to prepare rehabilitation counseling professionals to serve individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with RLTT program requirements, UMES must allocate at least 65 percent of project funds as scholarships to RSA (Rehabilitation Services Administration) scholars enrolled in the vocational rehabilitation counseling training program. The funded initiative emphasizes evidence-based rehabilitation counseling practices and emerging service delivery approaches to help individuals with various disabilities achieve competitive integrated employment and independent living outcomes. UMES, a historically Black 1890 land-grant institution, is well-positioned as a minority-serving institution to deliver this specialized training and contribute to building a diverse workforce in rehabilitation services across the nation.