1. Can the Department of Rehabilitation help with education and training so I can get a job?

Yes. If you need it to reach your employment goal then the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) can help. This includes training at a community college, four-year university, graduate school, vocational programs and certificate programs.

“Advanced training” can be provided in many different fields including, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (including computer science), medicine, law, or business, and more, to help individuals advance in their careers. Click here to read the regulation about DOR training.

Depending on your employment goal and your personal needs, DOR may be able to fully fund your training through a private school, or an out-of-state school. In general, the DOR will pay for the least expensive training option for your employment goal. See questions 7-12 below for more information on how the DOR determines how much it will pay toward training services, including private and out-of-state training.

2. How does DOR decide the level of training they will pay for?

DOR can provide training services needed to give you the skills and credentials to reach your employment goal.

For example, if the IPE goal is to become a social worker, then training would consist of getting a degree in social work and passing the licensing exam.

3. Can I choose an employment goal that is not entry-level?

Yes. You are NOT limited to choosing “entry-level” jobs (i.e. Jobs that usually require less training and often pay a lower wage than a non-entry level position.).

In the past, DOR only helped with entry level employment, but the law changed in 2014 with the passing of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA). Now DOR should help individuals to advance their employment opportunities, and to be able to achieve high paying and meaningful careers.

4. I cannot find a job with my current employment goal. Can DOR assist me with more training or with an advanced degree?

Yes. If you are a current DOR client you may ask for a change to your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) to include more services like additional training, if you need it to find a job that meets your goal. Or you can ask DOR to change your goal, which could include training for an advanced degree.

If you are not a DOR client, you can open a new case with DOR to request help to reach a specific career goal, which can include training for an advanced degree. DOR may consider your skills, abilities and labor market to help determine if your choice of goal will be a good fit.

5. Can I attend part-time training?

Yes. You can attend training part-time due to your disability or other factors. For example, if you are already working during the day to pay your bills and can only attend training at night part-time, DOR should be able to assist you. You may get less financial aid if you attend part-time training, and so it is important to tell your counselor why part-time training is necessary for you to reach your goal.

6. What services and supports are available to me while I participate in training?

While receiving training services, DOR can provide you with different services and supports. Examples of these supports include, but are not limited to, the following:

• personal assistance services;
• books and other school-related supplies;
• equipment or tools
• transportation, such as a bus pass or gas money;
• vehicle modifications to make a vehicle accessible to you
• Assistive Technology (AT), such as computers, software programs, text readers, calculators, magnifiers, AT training, etc.;
• internet access;
• maintenance costs such as school uniforms, one-time deposits for utilities, and school housing in some circumstances;
• other goods and services that are determined necessary for you to reach your employment goal.

When attending a public college or university, if you need reasonable accommodations, you will need to request them directly from that institution. This includes personal assistance services such as readers, interpreters and note takers. However, if you are not able to get the accommodations you need from the school, you may request that DOR provide them to you if you need them because of your disability.

7. Am I expected to pay for my training services?

The law states training services are exempt from client financial participation, which means you do not have to pay for them. This includes the cost of tuition, books, supplies, tutoring, and training related materials. Click here to read the regulation about client financial participation rules.

Please note that DOR will only pay for the least expensive services that meet your needs. For example, if you choose to attend a 4-year college for your first two years, you may be required to pay the difference in cost of the community college rate, unless you can show why attending a 4-year college for the first two years is necessary to meet your needs. Similarly, if you choose to attend a private school, you may be required to pay the difference in cost of the public-school rate. For more information on funding for private schools and 4-year colleges see questions 9-10 below.

8. Do I need to use my financial aid grants and scholarships toward the cost of my training?

Yes. DOR will not pay for your training services unless you make a “maximum effort” to secure grant assistance to pay for all or part of your training first. Maximum effort means that you must apply for public grants and use these funds towards the cost of your training expenses, before DOR can pay for any remaining costs. Even if you are not eligible for financial aid, you must still apply for it and provide a denial to DOR. There are a few exceptions to this rule, including awards and scholarships based on merit, Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS), and non-government private funds. DOR cannot use these funds towards the cost of your training.

DOR will determine the level of funds they will provide for your training needs by subtracting the total amount of your educational grants and/or awards from the costs of your tuition, books, supplies, maintenance and transportation. The remainder is the amount DOR will pay for. Click here to read the regulation about maximum effort.

An important thing to note is that DOR does not pay for classes until you complete your courses for that semester. Once your training services are approved, the college or university you attend must accept an “authorization/promise to pay” from DOR. The school will then send an invoice to DOR at the close of each semester. It is important that you provide DOR with information as to dates and costs in advance of the semester so that DOR can issue an authorization, which in turn allows you to register with the school or college.

9. Do I have to go to community college before I enroll in a four-year college or university?

The law states that clients receiving college-level training must first attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year state college or university, as that is typically the lower-cost alternative.

However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you can show that attending a four-year college or university will be equal to or less than attending community college for the first two years, then DOR may agree to fund the four-year college. Or, if you can show that attending a community college instead of a 4-year college will cause significant delay in your pursuit of employment because of disability related reasons, DOR may agree to fund a 4-year college. In the alternative, if the cost of a four-year college or university is more than the community college and you are not able to show why the 4-year college is necessary, you would be responsible for the balance of your education-related expenses for the first two years of school.

Click here to read the regulation about college level training funding.

10. Can DOR pay for my training through a private school?

DOR may authorize training at a private university if one or more of the following conditions exist:

1. A private school will better meet your needs; or
2. The cost will be less than a public school; or
3. The training is not available in a public school; or
4. Attendance in a public school would cause a significant delay in reaching the employment goal.

Click here to read the regulation about private school funding.

If you meet one of the exceptions above, DOR will then fund the remaining cost of your attendance including tuition, books, supplies, transportation and maintenance at a private college or university after your financial aid grants and scholarships are applied.

If you do not meet one of the exceptions above, you may still choose to attend a private institution for your training in lieu of a public school. However, if you choose to attend a private institution, and a public school exists that is sufficient to meet your training needs, you will be responsible for any remaining costs beyond the public-school rate.

11. Can DOR pay for my training in a different state?

Yes. DOR may pay for your training out-of-state. If there are no suitable schools or courses available in California, or, if attending a training program in California will impose an undue hardship then DOR can pay the full private school rate. Click here to read the regulation about out-of-state training.

You can also choose to attend an accredited college out-of-state as part of your informed choice. However, if the training you need is available in-state, the DOR can provide funding up to the state rate and you would be responsible for paying the difference.

12. When can DOR stop paying for my training services?

When you finish your training needed for your employment goal, DOR will no longer pay for your training. DOR may also stop training services for lack of progress. If the training program does not meet your needs, you may consider talking with your DOR counselor about changing your program. Click here to read the regulation that explains when DOR can stop training services.

If you disagree with DOR’s decision to stop your training services, you should immediately speak with your DOR counselor and/or supervisor. In the event you are unable to resolve your disagreement, you have the right to request an Administrative Review with the District Administrator, or to request Mediation, and/or a Fair Hearing on the issue.

To request assistance in resolving disputes with DOR related to educational training services or other DOR issues, you may contact the Client Assistance Program at (800) 776-5746.