Maryland Works' Annual Employment Awards Luncheon has become Maryland's premier event to recognize and celebrate the employment and entrepreneurial achievements of people with disabilities. The event also emphasizes the importance of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce.

This year's event will be held on Tuesday, November 22, at the Marriott BWI Airport Hotel. Due to COVID, the event has been on hold for the past two (2) years, so we are extremely excited to be able to celebrate and recognize Marylanders for their successes once again. In 2019 this event was attended by more than 300 people from all over the state.

As we come to what is hopefully the end of the pandemic, it is time that we re-set and re-focus our efforts on being truly inclusive and provide opportunities to all. Marylanders should be proud of the progress made towards increased access and success in employment of individuals with disabilities. Great strides have been achieved in employment and business ownership among people with disabilities, but we still have a long way to go. People with disabilities continue to experience some of the highest levels of discrimination, which leads to unemployment and underemployment.

The Employment Awards Luncheon not only provides an opportunity to celebrate successes achieved through our collective efforts; it also raises awareness to the barriers faced by individuals with a disability and sets the stage for future efforts towards employment and self-sufficiency.