Welcome to the Department of Rehabilitation - Employment, Independence, & Equality

Services For The Blind & Visually Impaired

DOR's Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services for blind and visually impaired consumers include:

  • Adjustment to blindness
  • Preparation for work
  • Assistive technology
  • Reader services
  • Occupational training
  • Job placement
  • On the job follow up

Please read the Blind Field Services Brochure in Rich Text ( ... or MS Word) for more information.

DOR operates the:

Although all DOR offices assist all consumers, some of our offices have counselors for the blind. A "(B)" included in an address for our local DOR office listings designates it as a "home" office of counselors for the blind.

Rehabilitation Counselors for the Blind work with individuals who are blind or visually impaired to find educational and employment opportunities and to help them get a job. Youth transition services include a variety of pre-employment and career planning workshops, volunteer and work experiences, and more. Please read the Transition Program brochure in Rich Text ( ... or MS Word) for more information.

Counselor Teachers advise and teach adult blind persons in or near their homes to help them find ways of coping with problems presented by their blindness. They provide a variety of services which include:

  • Daily living skills
  • Home management
  • Orientation and mobility
  • Communication skills
  • Business methods
  • Counseling (personal and/or vocational); and, special services, if needed.

Reader Services

The Reader Service is a special program designated by the Legislature to provide reading services for visually impaired college students that do not qualify as Department consumers. It is a small program supporting approximately 75 to 100 students annually. The service is provided by the rehabilitation specialists for visually impaired. To get more information, contact the DOR district office nearest you.

Orientation Center for the Blind (OCB)

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) operates the Orientation Center for the Blind (OCB), located in Albany, CA, to assist adults in adjusting to vision disabilities by an immersion in a residential environment that is respectful, knowledgeable and empowering. Credentialed teachers and qualified rehabilitation professionals provide a full curriculum of classes and experiences individually tailored to assist each student to reach their full potential for self-sufficiency. Adult students attend classes from 8:00 - 3:00, Monday through Friday and reside in a seven-days a week dorm during the time of their training.

All students are evaluated and provided the following training and services:

  • Independent Travel, to include orientation and mobility
  • Daily Living Skills, to include cooking
  • Communication Skills, to include Braille instruction
  • Computer Access Technology
  • Resource Management, to include assistive technology
  • Pre-Vocational Preparation
  • Health Care, to include physical conditioning
  • Personal Adjustment Counseling

Length of training is individualized to meet students' needs, and averages six to nine months. Residential facilities are available for up to 36 students at any given time, and there is no cost to students to attend. Any DOR client who is blind or severely visually impaired may be referred and considered for participation.

The OCB Handbook in RTF (or OCB Handbook in MS Word) contains comprehensive information regarding the Center's programs, policies and practices.

To contact OCB, send an e-mail to ocbinfo@dor.ca.gov.

Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) Program

This program provides services to visually impaired individuals age 55 and older to assist them to live independently in California. The program seeks to stimulate independent living, empowerment and full inclusion of older individuals who are blind. Provide training and skill building for professionals and consumers serving the older blind population. It also seeks to reaching out to expand and enhance services in rural and other un-served and underserved areas

You may use the Reporting Documents (attachments), as indicated on the letters sent out (see letters above), if your agency is able to provide cash or in-kind match for the OIB grants to provide services to Californians who are blind or visually impaired and 55 years of age or older. For any questions regarding this information, please contact Catharine Bailes, District Administrator, at cbailes(at)dor.ca.gov or by calling Blind Field Services at (916) 558-5480.

DOR Blind Services Grants (includes OIB Grants)

The Visionary

Recently, DOR began publishing The Visionary, a quarterly newsletter describing the activities of DOR's Blind Services units. Below are links to the most recent editions in Rich Text Format (RTF).

Learn how to apply for DOR services

Find the DOR office nearest you

To ask a question about Blind Services, e-mail them at blindinfo@dor.ca.gov