Making Your Voice Heard

Public comment is a way for people to express their opinions on policy issues. Anyone can provide feedback about Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) services. One way is to participate in public comment periods during public meetings which are listed at the bottom of this page. For a limited time, people can also comment on proposed changes to the regulations that cover what the DOR is responsible to do and provide.

Comment on Proposed Changes to DOR Regulations

Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) covers Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) services. Right now, DOR is proposing updates and changes to some of these regulations. Before any changes are made, the law requires that the public has an opportunity to provide comments. This opportunity is especially important for people with disabilities, because these rules can directly affect us.

Current Proposed Changes:

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Updates

• Deadline for written comment: June 30, 2022
• Public hearing: June 30, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.  
  There will be closed captioning as well as interpreters present for accessibility.

  Click this Link to Join Zoom Meeting.

  Meeting URL: https://dor-ca-gov.zoom.us/
  Meeting ID: 841 0428 4686
  Passcode: ERj0w&X%
  One tap mobile: +14086380968,,84104284686#,,,,*13254055#

  If you have any questions or concerns before the hearing, please contact the Department of Rehabilitation’s Office of Legal Affairs and Regulations at Legal@dor.ca.gov

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal law that was passed in 2014. WIOA governs how states provide certain employment related services to students, job seekers and workers with disabilities. The WIOA made changes to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to further benefit people with disabilities. Some of these changes include greater access to higher education and career advancement; early interventions for middle school and high school students to better prepare them for a future of work; increased access to jobs in the community with competitive wages, also known as “competitive integrated employment” (CIE).

The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) is a state agency that provides employment services to people with disabilities in California. Title 9 of the California Code of Regulations includes many of the state regulations that govern the DOR. The DOR is proposing changes to the California Code of Regulations to make sure that California follows the WIOA.

Click here https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/ProposedRulemakingandRegs to see the proposed changes and the documents that describe the proposed changes.  Words that the DOR wants to take out of the regulations are in strikethrough.  Words that the DOR wants to add are underlined.

Anyone who is interested can send comments by U.S. Mail, email or fax to:

Mail:
Department of Rehabilitation
Office of Legal Affairs and Regulations
Attn: Michele Welz
721 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, California 95814

Email:
legal@dor.ca.gov

Fax:
(916) 558-5806

You must submit comments by 5:00 pm on June 24, 2022, for DOR to consider them.

Click here for a comment letter template.

Public Comment at Meetings

State Rehabilitation Council

Join the State Rehabilitation Council quarterly meetings.

The State Rehabilitation Council is made up of people with disabilities, advocates and other representatives.  They provide oversight and make recommendations for the Department of Rehabilitation.

At the beginning of the meeting and after each agenda item, members of the public can speak for up to 3 minutes.  If you use an interrupter, you will have up to 6 minutes.

Visit https://www.dor.ca.gov/Home/SRC for information on upcoming meetings.