Agency Programs & Services

ROIworks—for adults with developmental and physical disabilities.

To help them achieve as much independence and self confidence as possible, ROI services include counseling, job training, productive employment, transportation to and from supervised worksites, and a paycheck every week.

ROI operates two well equipped, safe and comfortable Supervised Worksites. One is in Lanham, Prince George’s County, Maryland – the other in Germantown, Montgomery County, Maryland. At the worksites approximately two hundred developmentally and physically disabled individuals receive counseling, participate in personal development programs, and engage in vocational training and employment opportunities.

An ROI Counselor develops an Individual Plan (IP) based on the participant’s skills, abilities, needs, and goals. IPs are reviewed regularly with the individual, family members and other parties of interest participating. In addition, with the help of the ROI Floor Supervisors, individuals work at hands-on print finishing such as binding, gluing, collating, poster rolling, stapling, shrink wrapping.

The Small Group Project is a program designed by ROI for participants who can benefit from small, closely supervised work settings. As they learn appropriate workplace expectations, teamwork, proper behavior and new vocational skills, they move into the larger ROI production groups.

A safe, reliable Transportation Program is provided by ROI. The developmental and physical disabilities of ROI participants prevent them from using public transportation and few of them would be able to reach the ROI worksites by private means. A fleet of twenty-six vans and buses run door-to-door pickup and drop-off routes for ROI participants. Drivers receive defensive driving instruction, are certified in basic First Aid and CPR and are equipped with cellular phones in the event of bad weather, traffic delays, or emergencies.

The Family Links Program (FLP) is a service ROI has provided the community since 1999, with no fees. It grew out of the need to assist parents, families and caregivers as they frequently experienced frustration, isolation and helplessness in their efforts to support family members with developmental and physical disabilities. FLP provides information, counseling and individual casework to families about the availability of services such as residential, educational, recreational and social opportunities; how to qualify, enroll, and access these programs; and how to be effective advocates for the rights of their family members to be as independent and confident as possible.

(For more information about FLP, the Resource Center, Newsletter, updates on issues stemming from changes in the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) or other agencies, complete this form, or call the Director of Programs at 301-731-4242.)

Since 1991 ROI has managed a Supported Employment Program (SEP). Through SEP more than fifty persons are employed in the community-at-large. ROI SEP Job Coaches are dedicated to assisting disabled persons find and maintain employment in the community workforce. When an ROI participant is qualified their Job Coach searches for openings and assists in the preparation of job applications, resumes and interviews. Working with employers, the Job Coach will train, coach and support the ROI participant as he/she undertakes a new job.

ROIworks—with DDA (Maryland Developmental Disabilities Administration)

As a private agency licensed and funded by DDA, ROI works with families and other agencies to make the DDA system accessible to as many individuals as possible. [See Family Links Program]

ROIworks—with Public Schools and Special Education Programs

ROI visits high schools to tell students about adult services available to them as they “age out” of the public school system. ROI invites students with developmental disabilities to experience real work and the expectations of employers by visiting one of the ROI Supervised Worksites.

ROIworks— withResourceConnections (DDA funded case management services)