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/ Joe Xavier, Director
Director's Message
Happy New Year! January always brings excitement and the hope for positive change in the months ahead. As I gear up for the upcoming opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the quality of life for people with disabilities, I pay homage to the work of my director predecessors, colleagues, stakeholders and others before me who make my challenges more attainable. It has been nearly 100 years since the United States formalized its commitment in legislation to vocational education and rehabilitation and throughout the last century we have no doubt "come a long way baby," but we still have far to go.
We are at a pivotal time in our history. We all feel the daunting weight of the moment and the challenges before us. We must establish ambitious goals, improve existing practices and let go of old ways of doing things to make room for innovation. When I consider the challenges of transitions, I find comfort in the knowledge of the outcomes in the history of the disability movement; such as in 1938 when the Fair Labor Standards Act created an incentive for employers to hire people with disabilities. It wasn't optimal because employers could pay less than minimum wage, but it was an improvement from unemployment. In the 60s, people with disabilities were moved from being warehoused in asylums to living in our communities. The 90s welcomed standards for digital access and the Americans with Disabilities Act, which declared that people with disabilities like me, have the same civil rights afforded all citizens.
In 2016, we made more progress. Among our many accomplishments are those that were the results of collaboration and shared goals. We partnered with the State Independent Living Council, the Independent Living Center directors and our communities on the first State Plan for Independent living under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). We joined with our state partners and stakeholders to develop and submit the first Unified State Plan also under WIOA. And, we partnered with the California Department of Education, the Department of Developmental Services, the Health and Human Services Agency and Disability Rights California in developing a Blueprint for Change through competitive integrated employment, which was informed by stakeholders through public forums.
Last year, we also honored colleagues who transitioned into the next chapter of their lives: retirement. We also mourned the passing of loved ones, family members, friends, co-workers and pioneers, each responsible in some way for our accomplishments and who left the world a better place.
As 2017 settles in, we will not sit back, relax and be complacent in our progress. But rather, we will stand up, lean forward, and take giant leaps ahead, with each step quickening our pace to reach our goal: employment, independence and equality for all Californians with disabilities. Join the journey with me

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Scrabble tiles spell out V-A-L-U-E-S /
Core Values Refresh
An organization's core values are the deeply held beliefs that guide the organization in its work and decision-making. The core values of any organization are dynamic and evolve over time.
A little more than a year ago, we examined our existing core values, requested your feedback for improvement and received an enthusiastic response. From that process, we captured five clear and distinct values, to take the place of our current core values that we must demonstrate in our actions and practices:
1. We believe in the talent and potential of individuals with disabilities.
2. We invest in the future through creativity, ingenuity and innovation.
3. We ensure our decisions and actions are informed by interested individuals and groups.
4. We pursue excellence through continuous improvement.
5. We preserve the public's trust through compassionate and responsible provision of services.
These values should be evident in our conversations with the community, when we are developing new strategies whether for vocational rehabilitation or for information technology, and guide our conduct.
Thank you for contributing to this important accomplishment. As always, we welcome comments about these core values or about our forward leaning efforts at any time at .

DOR Celebrates National Disability Employment Awareness Month

In October 2016, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, DOR staff and consumers celebrated the contributions of workers with disabilities.
Online, DOR provided information on more than 60 NDEAM public events and encouraged all to participate.
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DOR participated in meaningful events such as the Chumash Inter-Tribal Pow-Wow in Santa Barbara, the Disability Advisory Council in Vacaville, the CalTrans Diversity day, the 1st Annual Disability Pride Parade in Downey and the annual Educate, Empower, Employ Recognition Luncheon in Santa Clarita.
Additionally, in coordination with the Statewide Disability Advisory Council (SDAC), the California Highway Patrol held an NDEAM Fair on the Capitol grounds in Sacramento. Several state agencies & community partners participated including: Department of Social Services, DOR, Department of Fish & Wildlife, CalPERS, Department of General Services, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Pride Industries, Canine Companions for Independence, Special Olympics of Northern CA, & NorCal Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The SDAC organized the event to bring focus to the state's efforts to employ Californians with disabilities.
Kudos to staff, stakeholders, and community partners for their continued outreach efforts in pursuit of employment, independence, and equality.

DOR's First Unified State Plan
By: Kate Bjerke, DOR Planning Unit
DOR and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) jointly developed priorities and goals to ensure that Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs are in alignment with WIOA and the California Unified State Plan. Under the new law, programs must include transition services for youth, business engagement, program partnerships, and competitive integrated employment.
On June 24, 2016, the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education
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approved California's Unified State Plan, as required by WIOA. California's Unified State Plan includes a vision and goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce, and a strategy for aligning the core programs to achieve the vision.
The California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) led the development of the Unified State Plan in coordination with the WIOA core partners (DOR, the California Department of Education, and the California Employment Development Department). The Plan covers program years July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020 and is posted on the DOR and CWDB websites.

Fiscal Year Activity Roundup
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Our Services
In 2016, DOR delivered vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to more than 140,000 Californians with disabilities while implementing changes associated with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). This law brings significant opportunity to improve services for individuals with disabilities, especially youth and students with disabilities. Without additional funding, new services to youth will be established including pre-employment transition services, training, and work-based learning experiences.
WIP Services
The Work Incentives Planning (WIP) Services Program at DOR increased the number of job-ready SSI/SSDI consumers earning more competitive wages.
WIP achievements by the numbers:
·  4,638 consumers enrolled.
·  985 (or 74 % of all closed cases) closed successfully.
·  Of the successful case closures, 563 (or 57%) of these consumers found jobs, earning competitive wages above Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) or, in other words, working a job that brings in over a certain dollar amount per month defined by the Social Security Association (SSA).
Social Media
DOR uses social media to make the case for hiring persons with disabilities and position the department as an indispensable resource for job seekers with disabilities in California.DOR maintains a presence on social media websites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. We also feature our consumers on www.NoticeAbilities.com.
CaPromise
The first two years of the CaPROMISE outreach and recruitment
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efforts are now complete. For the fiscal year, total enrollment was 3,273 with 1,627 participants invited to receive typical DOR employment preparation services and 1,646 participants receiving enhanced CaPROMISE services.
To measure effectiveness of the new program, CaPROMISE services group members will receive enhanced employment services, education support, and benefits counseling alongside their assigned PROMISE counselor. Members of the usual service group won't have access to PROMISE services, but will be able to receive other services available in their communities. (learning about yourself and the world of work, identifying and exploring potentially satisfying occupations, developing effective strategies to realize your goals)
To date, a few of the employers providing work experience opportunities to CaPROMISE participants are: Kids-R-Us, PetCo, WSS Shoe Stores, Walgreens, and Smart and Final.
As of June 30, more than 70 CaPROMISE participants learned professional and technical skills through part-time paid work, and more than 500 gained job skills through volunteer opportunities.

California Department of Rehabilitation Awarded $8.5 Million Grant To Prepare Students with Disabilities for College, Employment
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DOR was recently awarded more than $8 million from the U.S. Department of Education to provide on-the-job training to California students with disabilities. Funds will be used to design work-based learning experiences that prepare students for workplace success.
DOR will introduce the project in four California regions and serve approximately 800 students with disabilities. The program will provide paid and volunteer career-focused work experiences to help students with disabilities gain entrance into post-secondary education and/or competitive integrated employment. The program will also include basic life skills training to assist with job readiness, such as computer literacy, and organization and communication skills.
To implement the program, DOR will be working with San Diego State University's Interwork Institute, Vallejo Unified School District, Whittier Unified High School District, Riverside County Office of Education and Health Sciences High & Middle College, as well as numerous community organizations and local businesses.

New Service at DOR | Career Counseling & Information and Referral
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California's priority is to make competitive integrated employment a real choice for people with disabilities. Competitive integrated employment is a job at a workplace among coworkers with and without disabilities. It is full or part-time work at or above minimum wage.
Career Counseling and Information and Referral (CC&IR) services to individuals employed at subminimum wage compliments and supports the overarching intent of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act by ensuring that all individuals with disabilities have the right to receive information and opportunities for competitive integrated employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the modern labor market.
To learn more about this service, or to request DOR CC&IR services at your place of employment, visit our website.

Highlight | Just A Few Recent Strategic Partnerships
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Kelly Hargreaves with award winners at the Santa Barbara annual award ceremony /
And the Winner Is…
The Santa Barbara District hosted an annual award ceremony to honor employers who show how #InclusionWorks! Congratulations San Luis Obispo County employers for earning a 2016 Disability Employment Award!
Winners included:
·  Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Shell Werfell, Self-Employment Award winner
·  Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Outstanding Effort Award winner
·  Morrison Healthcare at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, Employment/Accommodation Award winner
·  Sunset Honda, Employer Collaboration Award winner
Walk and Roll
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/ Inland Empire District Administrator, Robert Loeun in front of DOR booth at the walk and roll event.
The Inland Empire District participated in University of California, Riverside's Walk & Roll 2016. This event included
UCR leadership, representatives from the City of Riverside, DOR and other community partners. Featuring booths with disability resources, and career information positioned along the walking path, the walk and roll began at the flagpole and went throughout the campus.
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Left to right is Kristine Giafaglione, Mark Gould, Laurie Fisher, Gwen House, Paty Reyes and Susan Casil /
Braille Institute Eye Seminar
Working with the Braille Institute (BI), members of BFS Unit 8 "Bridges for Success" located in San Diego joined more than 200 people recruiting potential participants and networking with other attendees.
APIDC Conference
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/ Bottom left to right: Kim Ha, SVRC-QRP, Patty Tso-Lui (Staff Service Manager-1), Trinh Van Erp (Staff Service Manager-1). Top left to right (Trung Le (Staff Services Manager-1), Steve Icamen (Staff Service Manager-1), Candy Williams (Staff Service Manager-1
DOR recently conferenced with the Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California (APIDC). Supporting the effort, DOR employees conducted panel presentations, networked, and provided information on DOR services.

New Leadership at DOR
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Chief Deputy Director Kelly Hargreaves has direct oversight of all divisions and administrative units at DOR.
Fariba Shahmirzadi, new deputy director, Administrative Services Division supports our department, our consumers, and other stakeholders by providing essential, accessible and innovative resources and services.
Jennifer Lim, assistant director of DOR Legislative & External Affairs Office returns to DOR to lead legislative efforts, constituent activities, and external communications.
New regional managers Susan Senior, representing the Los Angeles Coastal Bay Region, and Conan Petrie, regional manager representing the Valley Mountain Region, manage DOR's vocational rehabilitation program and supervise the field staff that help our consumers reach their employment goals.

State Releases Draft Final "California Competitive Integrated Employment Blueprint" for Public Comment

"Real Work for Real Pay in the Real World"
We are pleased to announce the completion of the final draft California Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) Blueprint. The Blueprint is the combined effort of the California Department of Education (CDE), California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), and California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders including Disability Rights California (DRC) with leadership provided by the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) to develop a proactive interagency plan to increase opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) to prepare for and engage in CIE and reduce reliance upon subminimum wage jobs and segregated work settings.
The CDE, DOR, and DDS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further advance the State's "Employment First" Policy and other federal and state laws to address employment in integrated settings, at competitive wages, for individuals with ID/DD.
In February 2015 the three departments formed a CIE Interagency Workgroup to begin development of a path forward. The Blueprint is the plan for departments to use to identify changes in policies, practices, or regulations that support the achievement of CIE outcomes for individuals with ID/DD over a five-year period. A Steering Committee provided oversight to the workgroup to help guide the development of the Blueprint. The Steering Committee includes Director's and other Executive staff from the CHHSA, CDE, DOR, DDS and DRC.