California Department of Rehabilitation

Last updated
California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)
DOR 50Year Logo.png
Agency overview
FormedOctober 1, 1963
Jurisdiction California
Headquarters Sacramento, California
Employees1,884
Annual budget$421.3 million FY2012/13
Agency executive
  • Joe Xavier, Director
Parent agency California Health and Human Services Agency
Website dor.ca.gov

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) is a California state department which administers vocational rehabilitation services. It provides vocational rehabilitation services and advocacy from over 100 locations throughout California seeking employment, independence, and equality for individuals with disabilities. The DOR was established on October 1, 1963.

Contents

Overview

The DOR assists eligible Californians with significant disabilities to obtain and retain employment and maximize their ability to live independently in their communities.

The annual budget for the 2012/2013 Fiscal Year is $418.6 million. There are 1,823 authorized staff positions statewide, and approximately 145,000 consumers receiving services annually. The Rehabilitation Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, provides grant funds and oversight to DOR for rehabilitative services and independent living.

History

A 1964 educational film on vocational rehabilitation and Orientation and Mobility for a newly blind man, made with assistance from the California Department of Rehabilitation.

Historically, the California government developed various agencies and services to aid and rehabilitate people with physical, mental, visual, and hearing disabilities. The federal Rehabilitation Act established the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation within the Department of Education in California as early as 1921. The Department of Education administered the Division of Special Schools and Services. Established in 1946, the Division included such services as the California School for the Blind, Training Centers for the Adult Blind, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Schools for the Cerebral-Palsied Children. The Department of Social Welfare, established in 1942, administered the Bureau of Aid to the Needy Blind. Legislation enacted in 1963 consolidated the relevant services of these agencies into one Department of Rehabilitation.

In 1961, Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, Sr. established the Health and Welfare Agency as part of his plan for the reorganization of state government. Designed to reduce government costs and improve efficiency, Governor Brown's reorganization plan created eight super agencies within the executive branch of California government (Chapter 2038, Statutes of 1961). As originally organized, the Health and Welfare Agency consisted of the departments of Social Welfare, Mental Hygiene, and Public Health.

In 1963, the Edmund G. Brown administration added the Department of Rehabilitation to the departmental divisions of the Health and Welfare Agency (Chapter 1747, Statutes of 1963).

List of directors

In the past 50 years the DOR has had 9 Directors. [1]

Warren Thompson (1963-1966)

Robert E. Howard (1967-1972)

Alan C. Nelson (1972-1975)

Edward V. Roberts (1975-1982)

Dr. P. Cecie Fontanoza (1983-1990)

Bill Tainter (1991-1993)

Brenda Premo (1994-1998)

Catherine T. Campisi, Ph.D. (1999-2006)

Anthony “Tony” P. Sauer (2007-2014)

No.PortraitNameTook officeLeft office Governor
Appointed by
Governor
Reappointed by
1 Warren Thompson.png Warren Thompson19631966 Edmund G Brown
2Robert E Howard19671972 Ronald Reagan
3 Alan C Nelson.png Alan C. Nelson 19721975 Ronald Reagan
4 Edward V Roberts.png Edward V Roberts 19751982 Edmund G Brown Jr
5 Dr P Cecie Fontanoza.png Dr. P. Cecie Fontanoza 19831990 George Deukmejian
6 Bill Tainter.png Bill Tainter 19911993 Pete Wilson
7 Brenda Premo.png Brenda Premo 19941998 Pete Wilson
8 Catherine T Campisi PhD.png Cathrine T Campisi PH.D. 19992006 Pete Wilson
9 Anthony Tony P Sauer.png Anthony "Tony" P Sauer 20072014 Arnold Schwarzenegger Edmund G Brown Jr

Programs

The major divisions of the Department of Rehabilitation are the Office of the Director, Administrative Services Division, Specialized Services Division, which includes the Business Enterprises Program, Blind and Visually Impaired and Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Vocational Rehabilitation Policy and Resources Division, Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Division, and the Community Access Division.

Vocational rehabilitation program

The Department administers the largest VR program in the country. Employment services are provided annually to approximately 115,000 individuals with significant physical and mental disabilities to assist them prepare for and obtain competitive employment in integrated work settings. Approximately 1,300 vocational rehabilitation staff in over 85 offices throughout California provide direct services to individuals requiring multiple services over an extended period of time. The purpose of the program is to assist individuals with disabilities in preparing for entering into, and retaining competitive employment in integrated work settings. The department provides services such as consumer assessment, counseling and guidance, purchase of individualized rehabilitation services and job placement. The program provides services to individuals with a full range of physical and mental disabilities, pursuant to federal law.

Individualized vocational rehabilitation is the major service provided by the Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Division (VRED), the largest organizational unit in the department, and the Specialized Services Blind & Visually Impaired and Deaf & Hard of Hearing Division (SSD). The Department delivers its principal service, vocational rehabilitation, through qualified rehabilitation professionals located in statewide district and branch offices. A vocational rehabilitation team works with job seekers to provide services and resources necessary to prepare for, find, and retain employment. DOR vocational rehabilitation services may include career assessment and counseling, job search and interview skills, education and training, and assistive technology.

See also

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References

  1. "DOR DIRECTOR'S GALLERY". California Department of Rehabilitation. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.