RSA-227 for FY-2025: Submission #13

State name California

Report through date 09/30/2025

General Information

Designated Agency Identification

Name Disability Rights California

Address 1831 K Street

Address Line 2

City Sacramento

State CA

Zip Code 95811

E-mail Address joann.parayno@disabilityrightsca.org

Website Address http://www.disabilityrightsca.org

Phone 916-504-5800

TTY 800-719-5798

Toll-free Phone 800-776-5746

Toll-free TTY 800-719-5798

Fax 916-504-5802

Operating Agency (if different from Designated Agency)

Name

Address

Address Line 2

City

Zip Code

State

E-mail Address

Website Address

Phone

TTY

Toll-free Phone

Toll-free TTY

Fax

Additional Information

Name of CAP Director/Coordinator Connie Chu

Person to contact regarding report JoAnn Parayno

Contact Person Phone (510) 267-1232

Contact Person E-mail Address joann.parayno@disabilityrightsca.org

Part I. Non-case Services

A. Information and Referral Services (I&R)

1. Information regarding the vocational rehabilitation (VR) program 549

2. Information regarding independent living programs 0

3. Information regarding American Indian VR Service projects 0

4. Information regarding Title I of the ADA 5

5. Other information provided 2

6. Information regarding CAP 1078

7. Total I&R services provided (Lines A1 through A6) 1,634

B. Training Activities

1. Number of training sessions presented to community groups and public agencies. 13

2. Number of individuals who attended these training sessions. 427

3. Describe training presented by the staff. Include the following information: In fiscal year 2025, Disability Rights California (DRC) utilized Client Assistance Program (CAP) funds for training throughout California to serve and support people with disabilities. In training programs, DRC provided 13 statewide trainings to 427 individuals.

On November 19, 2024, DRC provided a presentation to 60 UC Berkeley staff and students that included low-income students and disabled students on topics such as available services from the DOR to assist with education, tuition, tools, books, and supplies, employment goals and Higher education. This event was the last of University of California Berkeley’s disabled student services broader Making Disability Work series. It will be an online panel presentation to students with disabilities. The presentation was well received and DRC was invited to present again.

On April 7, 2025, DRC provided a presentation to a parent support group called Hope on the Hard Road, regarding the Client Assistance Program (CAP) and Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) services. This parent support group is comprised of parents of children and young adults with disabilities, most who are clients of San Diego Regional Center. There were 12 attendees and all stated that they were somewhat familiar with DOR services, and some shared they had never heard of DOR or CAP before. Some of the topics covered during the presentation were how to apply for DOR services, overview of DOR services and the DOR process, and an overview of CAP. The attendees stated they were more informed about DOR and CAP after the presentation and were happy to know they could contact DRC for assistance related to DOR and employment services.

On May 15, 2025, DRC provided CAP training to 45 new Department of Rehabilitation counselors and service coordinators during their onboarding training. The presentation covered the importance of providing effective customer service and encouraged collaboration between CAP and DOR staff.

On August 2, 2025, DRC participated in a training with Poder y Movimiento Latino, a chapter of the National Federation of the Blind serving the Hispanic/Latino blind/low-vision community in Southern California. The audience included 20 individuals with disabilities. Participants were eager to learn about DRC including CAP services, Department of Rehabilitation (DOR), and information about reasonable accommodations.

On September 17, 2025, DRC provided a webinar to 80 members of the public on housing maintenance services through the DOR. This training included information about services for costs that a person incurs as normal living expenses during Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services. The audience was current, former, or prospective DOR clients. The training audience included people with various disabilities as well as the general public.

C. Agency Outreach

Describe the agency's outreach efforts to previously un-served or underserved individuals including minority communities. DRC continued its ongoing outreach to unserved and underserved mono-lingual, limited English proficient, and marginalized groups including indigenous communities. In fiscal year 2025, CAP staff participated in 14 outreach events, reaching 1,445 people both virtually and in person.
On October 23, 2024, DRC participated in a Disability Resource and Transition Fair at Pioneer Valley High School for students who are graduating. We provided information and resources to 30 with disabilities, parents, and other participants regarding DRC services, transition resources, Department of Rehabilitation services as well as Social Security benefits and work. Also in October 2024, DRC participated in a transition fair held at Frostig School, a non-public/independent school for 25 students with learning differences including autism, ADHD and learning disabilities. Along with a variety of transition programs, post-secondary programs, government agencies, and work programs, DRC staffed a table to share information and resources to both students and their families attending the event. DRC staff shared information about what DRC does, as well as services that may be of assistance to transition youth such as DOR services.
On March 1, 2025 DRC participated in an outreach at Elks Orange County Region Veteran Stand Down for unhoused veterans and military families. We shared information about DRC services to 150 individuals that included information about employment services through the Department of Rehabilitation, CAP services, and other DRC services for people with disabilities. We engaged with people with disabilities, individuals who are unhoused, service providers and public officials.
DRC participated in Thompson Policy Institute on Disability’s 10th Annual Summit on Disability and Opportunities for All on August 8, 2025. DRC advocates provided information to 100 people about how to access Department of Rehabilitation services and how to address employment-related barriers. Advocates shared about DRC’s resources and how to contact us, and shared online resources and publications. DRC advocates provided outreach publications to students with disabilities, families of people with disabilities, veterans with disabilities, college faculty, and organizations that provide services for people with disabilities.

D. Information Disseminated To The Public By Your Agency

1. Agency Staff Interviewed or Featured on Radio and TV 0

2. Articles about CAP Featured in Newspaper/Magazine/Journals 0

3. PSAs/Videos Aired about the CAP Agency 0

4. Publications/Booklets/Brochures Disseminated by the Agency 28815

5. Number of Times CAP Exhibited at Conferences, Community Fairs, etc. 27

6. Other 0

Please explain below N/A

E. Information Disseminated About Your Agency By External Media Coverage

Describe the various sources and information disseminated about your agency by an external source. N/A

Part II. Individual Case Services

A. Individuals served

1. Individuals who are still being served as of October 1 (carryover from prior year) 91

2. Additional individuals who were served during the year 373

3. Total individuals served (Lines A1+A2) 464

4. Individuals (from Line A3) who had multiple case files opened/closed this year. 43

5. Individual still being served as of September 30 (Carryover to next year. This total may not exceed Line A3.) 78

B. Problem areas

1. Individual requests information 4

2. Communication problems between individual and VR counselor 91

3. Conflict about VR services to be provided 347

4. Related to VR application/eligibility process 45

5. Related to assignment to order of selection priority category 0

6. Related to IPE development/implementation 20

7. Related to independent living services 0

8. Other Rehabilitation Act-related problems 4

C. Intervention Strategies for closed cases

1. Short Term Technical Assistance 394

2. Investigation/Monitoring 21

3. Negotiation 22

4. Mediation and other methods of Alternative Dispute Resolution 0

5. Administrative / Informal Review 0

6. Formal appeal / Fair Hearing 1

7. Legal remedy / Litigation 0

8. Total 438

D. Reasons for closing individuals' case files

1. All issues resolved in individual's favor 172

2. Some issues resolved in individual's favor 193

3. CAP determines VR agency position/decision was appropriate for the individual 6

4. Individual's case lacks legal merit 6

5. Individual chose alternative representation 5

6. Individual withdrew complaint 20

7. Issue not resolved in clients favor 4

8. CAP services not needed due to individual's death, relocation, etc. 1

9. Individual not responsive/cooperative with CAP 29

10. CAP unable to take case due to lack of resources 1

11. Conflict of interest 1

12. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

E. Results achieved for individuals

1. Controlling law/policy explained to individual 322

2. Application for services completed 5

3. Eligibility determination expedited 0

4. Individual participated in evaluation 1

5. IPE developed/implemented/Services Provided 12

6. Communication re-established between individual and other party 81

7. Individual assigned to new counselor/office 4

8. Alternative resources identified for individual 12

9. ADA/504/EEO/OCR complaint made 1

10. Other 0

(Please explain below) N/A

Part III. Program Data

A. Age

1. Up to 18 22

2. 19 - 24 51

3. 25 - 40 168

4. 41 - 64 194

5. 65 and over 29

6. Total (Sum of Lines A1 through A5. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 464

B. Gender

1. Females 251

2. Males 208

3. Nonbinary or Another Gender 0

4. Unknown 5

5. Total (Lines B1+B2+B3+B4. Total must equal Part II Line A3.) 464

C. Race/ethnicity of Individuals Served

1. Hispanic/Latino of any race 111

2. American Indian or Alaskan Native 7

3. Asian 31

4. Black or African American 79

5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 2

6. White 174

7. Two or more races 25

8. Race/ethnicity unknown 35

D. Primary disabling condition of individuals served

1. Acquired Brain Injury 1

2. ADD/ADHD 49

3. AIDS/HIV 1

4. Amputations or Absence of Extremities 0

5. Arthritis or Rheumatism 5

6. Anxiety Disorder 31

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder 51

8. Autoimmune or Immune Deficiencies 9

10. Other visual impairments 14

11. Cancer 5

12. Cerebral Palsy 8

13. Deafness 12

14. Hard of Hearing/Hearing Impaired 9

16. Diabetes 1

17. Digestive disorders 1

18. Epilepsy 5

19. Heart and other circulatory conditions 1

20. Intellectual Disability 5

21. Mental illness 113

22. Multiple Sclerosis 1

23. Muscular Dystrophy 2

24. Muscular/Skeletal Impairment 1

25. Neurological Disorders/Impairment 3

26. Orthopedic impairments 55

27. Personality Disorders 1

28. Respiratory Disorders/Impairment 2

29. Skin Conditions 0

30. Specific learning disabilities (SLD) 31

31. Speech Impairments 2

32. Spina Bifida 2

33. Substance abuse 2

34. Other disability 20

35. Total (Sum of Lines D1through D34. Total must equal Part II, Line A3.) 464

E. Types of Individuals Served

1. Applicant of VR 56

2. Individual eligible for VR services currently on a wait list 0

3. Individual eligible for VR services not currently on a wait list 446

4. Applicant or individual eligible for Independent Living 6

5. Transition student/High school student 5

6. All other applicants or individuals eligible for other programs or projects funded unther Rehabilitation Act 3

Part IV. Systemic Activities and Litigation

A. Non-Litigation Systemic Activities

1. Number of non-litigation systemic activities not involving individual representation that resulted in the change of one or more policy or practice of an agency. 0

2. Describe the systemic activities conducted by CAP during the fiscal year and its impact on other agency's policies or practices. In addition to assisting CAP-eligible individuals through direct assistance, outreach and training, DRC continued significant systemic advocacy to promote competitive integrated employment (CIE) instead of sub-minimum wage and work in segregated settings. During the reporting period, DRC participated in a coalition of community partners advocating for improved access to employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities. As a result of proposals, and meetings with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) staff, DDS is now moving to adopt some of the recommended strategies for helping to improve access to services for individuals who are pursuing vocational rehabilitation supports from both a regional center and the Department of Rehabilitation.

Other systemic work is also done through another CAP attorney’s participation in the California Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (CCEPD), which advances employment for people with disabilities by making policy recommendations to the Secretaries of Labor and Workforce Development and Health and Human Services Agencies. During the reporting period, this committee began drafting standards for job coaches in California to enable the various entities who employ and train job coaches and the employers who have job coaches at their sites working with their employees to work under a shared understanding of the job coach’s role. Job coaching has been identified as having a crucial role in the ability of persons on social security disability programs to be able to successfully transition to employment.

DRC also continues to serve on the advisory committee for the Tarjan Center, the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) at the University of California, Los Angeles. The Tarjan Center assists individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve greater independence, have more choices and be more fully included in community settings. Its priority areas include employment and post-secondary education.

DRC works to change DOR policies and practices by working directly with DOR in a variety of ways. The State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) is a group of stakeholders that meet quarterly to discuss Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) services, programs, and policies, and provides feedback to the DOR to help improve their overall performance. Disability Rights California’s Client Assistance Program (CAP) is listed as a mandatory council member for the SRC, and a Senior Advocate Specialist, currently serves as the SRC’s CAP representative. The DRC advocate served as the chair of the SRC for the majority of 2025, however, he reached his full term as chair and is now serving as the “Immediate Past Chair.” As chair, the DRC advocate led the council’s meetings and discussions and worked closely with the council members to draft several recommendations that were submitted to the DOR for their consideration.

Some of those recommendations included the following:
-Expanding the pool of DOR staff to include more ASL interpreters.
-Increasing outreach to groups of individuals who face the most significant challenges to employment.
-Leveraging partnerships with other organizations to help with DOR’s staffing shortage.
-Prioritizing vendor development and expansion.
-Prioritizing staff training so that services and policies are implemented consistently throughout the state.

In addition to the quarterly council meetings, the DRC advocate was also an active member of the SRC’s policy and State Plan subcommittees. In these subcommittees, CAP provided extensive feedback and suggestions regarding DOR’s State Plan’s goals and objectives, consumer satisfaction surveys, and their statewide “comprehensive needs assessment.” All of CAP’s recommendations and feedback was based on CAP’s firsthand experience in working with DOR clients and staff, which the SRC and DOR greatly appreciated and respected. CAP looks forward to its continued role on the SRC to help DOR with improving its services and programs.

The CAP management team also continues to meet with DOR executive team members quarterly. During these meetings, we raised systemic issues we have seen, such as difficulties with clients reaching their assigned DOR staff, and delays in services. CAP staff also meet regularly with local DOR district management teams to share patterns of concerns, discuss ways to collaborate, and to help them to understand the role of CAP and how we assist clients.

In an effort to reach more disabled veterans to educate and advocate for their rights to receive disability services, two DRC advocates worked on a Veterans Advocate program, a targeted project focused on specific veterans' group to increase veterans’ awareness of the supports and services available to them. This project engaged in many outreach and training activities throughout the state and throughout the year.

In Northern California, the project partnered with several American Legion Halls and Volunteers of America to engage U.S. veterans and participated in the Placer County Veteran Stand Down. In Southern California, DRC staff collaborated with veteran service organizations, county veteran service offices, social clubs, and military bases to raise awareness about DRC services. DRC took part in the Elks Orange County Veteran Stand Down and supported Elks Newport Beach’s pontoon ride in the harbor for blind and visually impaired veterans.

This year, DRC joined CalBar’s Veteran Round Table on Veteran Services in San Francisco and worked with the VA to deliver training on serving veterans for the Coalition of Employment for Californians with Disabilities. Additionally, we began developing a statewide referral list of resources for veterans and military families across California.

B. Litigation

a. Number of cases requiring litigation involving individual representation filed during fiscal year. 0

b. Number of on-going cases pending at start of fiscal year (carryover from prior fiscal year). 0

c. Number of cases resolved through litigation during fiscal year. 0

2. Describe the agency's on-going and completed systemic litigation activities involving individual representation. CAP did not engage in any class action litigation during the fiscal year 2025 reporting period using CAP funding.

Part V. Agency Information

A. Designated Agency

1. Agency Type (select only one option): External-Protection and Advocacy agency

2. Name of designate agency: Disability Rights California

3. Is the designated agency contracting CAP services? No

4. If yes, name of contracting agency: N/A

B. Staff Employed

1. Provide a description of all CAP positions CAP services were provided by professional staff of 11.23 PTE with 14 years and clerical staff of 2.3 PTE with 3 years.

Part VI. Case Examples

Case Examples

Provide some examples of some interesting cases during the past fiscal year. Case Example 1:
DRC Advocacy Resolves Barriers in DOR Case Transfer and Services

A college student with dyslexia and anxiety experienced significant barriers during the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) process. Despite multiple email requests, her counselor and team manager failed to respond. The counselor also refused to include the client’s mother in communications, per the client’s request, even after receiving signed consent. The student requested specialized tutoring based on her high school IEP evaluations, but the DOR stated that further assessment was needed without what information was needed to support the request. Additionally, DOR did not provide information about tuition assistance, books, or supplies, leaving the family uncertain about financial support. After DRC’s advocacy, all issues were resolved in the client’s favor. DOR approved a case transfer, granted accommodations including a parking permit, mileage reimbursement, C-Pen, printer, and authorization of a private tutor for specialized educational services.

Case Example 2:
DRC Supports Client’s Pursuit of HR Graduate Program

A client with 12 years of experience in Human Resources sought DOR support to pursue a career as a Human Resources manager. To support this goal, he requested that DOR fund an Master's Degree in Human Resources

Although the DOR agreed to draft an IPE with a goal of Human Resources Manager, the DOR would not agree to pay for a master’s degree, arguing that his job goal did not require that level of education. DRC advocated on behalf of the client, arguing that based on job descriptions of HR manager positions, and his past experience unsuccessfully applying for those positions despite years of relevant experience, the master’s degree was necessary to make him a competitive candidate. DOR agreed to fully fund his master’s degree program.

Case Example 3:
DRC Secures Training for Animation Career

A client with a Bachelor of Arts in Animation sought to change her DOR employment goal from secondary teacher to professor of animation and requested funding for an MFA program at UCLA to meet her career objective of teaching game design and animation at the college level. Despite submitting detailed documentation explaining why UCLA’s industry-focused program was essential, DOR delayed responses and insisted on funding at the California State University rate. The client and her parents repeatedly attempted to resolve the issue without success.

After contacting DRC, advocacy efforts included negotiating with DOR to approve the employment goal change and funding at the UC rate, including application fees for UCLA and a private school. DOR ultimately agreed to support the client’s training at the UC rate. The client expressed excitement about pursuing her dream of teaching animation in higher education.

Case Example 4:
DOR Agrees to Support Client With Self Employment

Client sought DRC assistance because she experienced difficulties in obtaining supports to pursue self-employment. Despite the client having done significant research and presenting the DOR with a thoughtfully drafted business plan, the DOR questioned the viability of her mediation business, without thoroughly reviewing the information she provided.

Through DRC’s advocacy, the DOR agreed to support her self-employment goal, to provide her with the necessary services and supplies for her business and update her Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) accordingly.

Case Example 5:
DRC Supports Communication and Access to Assistive Technology

A client with an employment goal of becoming a teacher sought support after experiencing communication breakdowns with her new DOR counselor and delays in services. She was completing computer skills training and had requested an assistive technology (AT) assessment with a different vendor, but DOR stated only one assessor was available. DRC represented the client in a meeting with DOR to establish a communication strategy for self-advocacy and minimize service delays. DRC also assisted her in exploring options for a female AT trainer and assessor and requesting a list of tutoring resources for her computer courses. The client expressed gratitude for the guidance and plans to use the communication strategies developed to move her case forward.

Case Example 6:
DOR Agrees to Provide Educational Training and Assessment for Self-Employment Services

Client applied for DOR services, excited and motivated to move forward on her journey to developing her educational counseling business. Client requested that DOR fund educational training and certificate programs so that she could gain the skills needed to develop her business. She also requested that they help her with preparing for self-employment. She experienced challenges in developing an Individualized Plan for Employment that included all of the supports and services that she needed because DOR staff incorrectly advised her that they could only help her with educational training first, and would not be able to help her with self-employment until she had completed her training. DRC represented client in meetings with the Department of Rehabilitation and advocated for an assistive technology assessment to identity her needs and tools that would help her with employment. DRC also advocated for DOR to fund her educational training and include steps toward self-employment in her current IPE.

Case Example 7:
DOR Supports Client with Master’s Degree and Internet Services

Client contacted DOR because she wanted to become a community college instructor. She was told that DOR would not pay for graduate school and encouraged her to continue to look for work with her current level of training. DRC advocated for the client with DOR, providing information about why she would need a master’s degree for her employment goal, and showing she has been unsuccessful with finding her desired employment with her current level of education. DOR agreed to fund her application fees, the tuition for the master’s degree program, as well as internet costs so she could complete her training.

Certification

Reports are to be submitted to RSA within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report. Please be reminded that you can enter data directly into the RSA website via the internet. Information on transmittal of the form is found on pages 19 and 20 of the reporting instructions.

Name and Title of Authorized Certifying Official

I agree to submit this form by electronic means. By signing this form electronically, I certify under penalty of perjury that my answers are correct and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that an electronic signature has the same legal meaning and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Full Legal Name of Signer: Andrew Imparato

Certifying Official Title Chief Executive Officer

By checking this box and typing my full legal name above, I am electronically signing this form. Yes

Date Certified (mm/dd/yyyy) 2026-01-27

OMB Notice

OMB Control Number: 1820-0528, approved for use through 07/31/2023

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit (Section 13 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended). Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202-4537 or email ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference the OMB Control Number 1820-0528. Note: Please do not return the completed form to this address.

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