Organization Description The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.
DOR administers the largest vocational rehabilitation and independent living programs in the country. Vocational rehabilitation services are designed to help job seekers with disabilities obtain competitive employment in integrated work settings. Independent living services may include peer support, skill development, systems advocacy, referrals, assistive technology services, transition services, housing assistance, and personal assistance services.
We believe in the talent and potential of individuals with disabilities. We invest in the future through creativity, ingenuity, and innovation. We ensure our decisions and actions are informed by interested individuals and groups. We pursue excellence through continuous improvement. We preserve the public’s trust through compassionate and responsible provision of services.
Program Information General Description of what students will be doing at this Site:
Interns will have the opportunity to learn about the philosophy of the DOR and how it provides services to help individuals living with disabilities prepare for employment. On site activities will include performing office functions for some staff, interacting with various staff member positions and assisting with some client interactions. There will be projects that require on-site and remote support.
Student will learn general aspect of helping individuals living with disabilities to learn how to prepare for employment. Student will be exposed to the different policies and procedures used by the DOR to find individuals eligible for services, how Individual Plans for Employment are written and the various services that are used to help the consumer prepare for employment. Student will experience how cases are managed, how consumers are assisted in job club/soft skills workshops and how the DOR collaborates with partners to advocate for and assist consumers in preparing for employment.
Key Responsibilities: Student responsibilities will include shadowing various aspects of counselor/consumer interactions, will assist the Business Specialist with some aspects of employment preparation; student will help with the gathering of data for the DOR information collection system; student will help with various aspects of counselor paperwork and will learn how to employment preparation process vary based on specific population needs.
Desired Intern Characteristics: Intern must be ready learn, have the ability to grasp concepts, understand policies and procedures and interact well with team members and consumers. Intern needs to be flexible, able to help with changing priorities and needs to have good customer service skills. Intern needs to be able to balance the desire to help others with need to keep professional boundaries with consumers. Must have good communications skills.
Interprofessional opportunities available for the student: Student will have the opportunity to develop skills that can lead to non-master's degree employment opportunities with the DOR in the San Jose district.
the following CHHS Major Learning Outcomes (MLOs) that the student will be exposed to:
- Collaboration
- Cross Cultural Competency
- Information Management
- Leadership
- Personal & Professional Communication
- Professional Development
Student will be exposed to various trainings along with other staff including aspects of student services and vocational rehabilitation case management related to individuals living with disabilities who are preparing for employment.