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Client Assistance Program - CAP

Disability Rights California’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) helps people resolve their issues with the Department of Rehabilitation and other Rehabilitation Act funded programs.

Disability Rights California provides services under the Client Assistance Program (CAP), serving as a vital link between the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the disability community. CAP provides advocacy to persons with disabilities who are seeking or receiving vocational rehabilitation (VR) services from DOR, as well as individuals who are receiving services from independent living centers or other Rehabilitation Act funded programs. CAP advocates are independent advocates for clients and client applicants of DOR and other Rehabilitation Act funded programs.

DRC is committed to providing effective CAP services and believes that having a single contractor ensures consistency of services throughout the state and effective referrals of consumers with other legal issues to our other advocates and attorneys. While the CAP advocate responds to Rehabilitation Act service questions, other issues or concerns are easily directed to staff working in other protection and advocacy programs, thus ensuring that consumers’ questions are addressed at one time, resulting in more effective advocacy for clients.

CAP was established to improve communication and help resolve issues between clients and vocational rehabilitation/DOR staff and other Rehabilitation Act funded program staff. CAP also helps clients understand the rehabilitation process and the benefits available under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. CAP’s role is to provide information about benefits available under the Rehabilitation Act and to assist clients with understanding their rights and responsibilities in relation to receipt of these benefits. Additionally, CAP’s role is to ensure that clients’ rights are protected under the Rehabilitation Act.

The CAP Brochure provides information about the Client Assistance Program and contact information to the CAP project in 10 regional DOR areas. Consumers can reach their CAP advocate by calling DRC’s statewide toll-free number at 1-800-776-5746 or TTY 1-800-719-5798.

If a consumer encounters a problem with DOR or other Rehabilitation Act funded program staff, he or she is encouraged to try to resolve the problem first with his or her counselor and/or the supervisor. A consumer can obtain assistance from CAP at any point from the time he or she applies for services to after receipt of services. If a consumer ever has concerns with our services, he or she may file a grievance. The grievance process may be found on the web at: http://www.disabilityrightsca.org/connect/whom.htm.

Publications

  • Brochure: What is the Client Assistance Program? (pdf) Accessible versions: (html) (pdf) (rtf) (February 2012, 2 pages, English, #5474.01) Also available in Spanish (pdf) (pub #5474.02), Korean (pdf) (pub #5474.03), Chinese (pdf) (pub #5474.04), Vietnamese (pdf) (pub #5474.05), Russian (pdf) (pub #5474.07), Tagalog (pdf) (pub #5474.08), Hmong (pdf) (pub #5474.09), Armenian (pdf) (pub #5474.10) and Japanese (pdf) (pub #5474.15).
  • Where is my CAP Advocate? (pdf) (rtf) (Pub #5508.01, 5 pages, December 2012)
  • Department of Rehabilitation Services (pdf) (rtf) (html) also as an audio MP3 file. (15 pages, English, July 2012, pub #5401.01) Now also available in Spanish (pdf) (Pub #5401.02, 16 pages, February 2013)
  • Disability Discrimination by the California Department of Rehabilitation (pdf) (rtf) (Pub #F076.01, 4 pages, February 2013) Also available in Spanish (pdf) (Pub F076.02, 5 pages, March 2013)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Services Case Closure Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (3 pages, English, February 2013, pub #F074.01) Now also available in Spanish (pdf) (Pub F074.02, 4 pages, February 2013)
  • Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Reimbursement of Expenses Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (3 pages, English, February 2013, pub #F075.01) Now also available in Spanish (pdf) (Pub #F075.02, 3 pages, February 2013)
  • Eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation Services Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (html) (4 pages, English, July 2012, pub #F066.01) Now also available in Spanish (pdf) (rtf) (Pub #F066.02, 5 pages, November 2012)
  • Employment Rights Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (html) or (pdf) (April 2010, 68 pages, English, #5068.01) Spanish pdf (#5068.02), Korean pdf (#5068.03), Chinese pdf (#5068.04), Vietnamese pdf (#5068.05).
  • The Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (html) (3 pages, English, July 2012, pub #F068.01) Now available in Spanish (pdf) Pub #F068.02
  • Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (html) (4 pages, English, July 2012, pub #F067.01) Now available in Spanish (pdf) Pub #F067.02
  • Rehabilitation Services and Comparable Benefits and Services Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (html) (2 pages, English, July 2012, pub #F065.01) Now available in Spanish (pdf) Pub #F065.02, 2 pages, February 2013
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act and Employment Fact Sheet (pdf) (rtf) (html) (3 pages, English, July 2012, pub #F063.01) Now available in Spanish (pdf) Pub #F063.02
  • Consumer Advocate Handbook, January 2010, Pub #5486.01, English (pdf) (rtf) (html) Now available in Spanish (pdf) Pub #5486.02
  • Fact Sheet - The State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program - U.S. Department of Education (html) or (pdf) (April 1999, USDOE, 5 pages, English, #5034.01)
  • Self Employment Fact Sheet (html) or Self Employment Fact Sheet (pdf) (September 2005, 2 pages, #5454.01) Also available in Spanish (pdf) (#5454.02), Chinese (pdf) (#5454.04), Vietnamese (pdf) (#5454.05)

Grievance Forms

Important Links/Documents for DOR clients