All About College Exploration (ACE)

ACE helps college-bound students who are blind or have a significant vision loss to explore career options and learn more about college life.

During this two-week summer program, students visit local colleges, meet with college Disability Support Services staff, and learn about assistive technologies, college classes, dorm living, and campus social activities. Through ACE, students can increase their self-advocacy skills, participate in independent living skills training, and learn to ask the right questions when selecting a college.

ACE meets at the DORS Workforce & Technology Center (WTC). Students may commute daily or stay in the WTC dorm during the week.

To be eligible for the ACE program, a student must be eligible for DORS services, have a significant vision impairment, plan to attend college and have a high school record to support this goal. For more information, contact your DORS counselor or apply for services at your nearest DORS Office.
A woman and teenage boy paddling a canoe.

A DORS Counselor and ACE participant get ready to row their canoe during an ACE field trip to Eden Mills Nature Center.

Two women, one using a white cane, walk down a hallway near a sign reading: Batimore City Community College.

ACE participants explore several local college campuses and tour on-campus dorms, libraries, dining hall, and other facilities to get a sense of the accessibility of each campus.



The Vocational Rehabilitation program receives 78.7% of its funding through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
For the Federal fiscal year 2024, the total amount of grant funds awarded was $51,933,066.
The remaining 21.3% of the costs ($14,055,582) were funded by State appropriations.