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.
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
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.
Warren Thompson (1963-1966) Initiated the publication of the Rehabilitation Review to report DOR activities. Department qualified for additional federal funds. Engaged with other state departments that served individuals with disabilities.
Robert E. Howard (1967-1972) Initiated a program to enable more people with significant disabilities to be hired in Social Security Administration offices throughout the State. Reorganized the Department to serve all disability groups—which resulted in three administrative divisions and corresponding deputy directors.
Alan C. Nelson (1972-1975) Established a new Mobility Barriers Section. Instituted a new hiring program for people with severe disabilities at the University of California, Berkeley. Developed the first Operational Plan for the Department. Appointed Dr. Carolyn Vash as Chief Deputy Director. Dr. Vash was the first person with a severe disability and the first female to hold a top-level position in the Department.
Edward V. Roberts (1975-1982) Served as a disability rights advocate from Berkeley. Established an Office of Consumer Affairs. Published the first handbook about consumers’ rights. Involved the Department to assist in resolving conflict over the regulations for Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Developed independent living centers through the Department of Rehabilitation, which led to the addition of a new section to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Dr. P. Cecie Fontanoza (1983-1990) Broadened the Department's services to include: Supported Employment, Workability, the Transition Partnership Project, the Mental Health Initiative, the Hi-Tech Resource Center, and the Cooperative Transportation Grant Program. Instituted several award programs including: Annual Department Awards, Building a Better Future Awards, and the Governor's Hall of Fame. Developed annual conferences: Beyond Disability and Supported Employment.