Department of Rehabilitation				      Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor
Employment, Independence & Equality					      State of California
								     Health and Human Services Agency

WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION’S OPEN HOUSE
February 27, 2008

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) administers the largest vocational rehabilitation program in the country.  DOR has 85 field offices and serves approximately 115,000 consumers each year.

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.

721 Capitol Mall

DOR moved its Central Office to 721 Capitol Mall in October of 2007.  Built in the early 1950s, it is one of the oldest buildings located on this part of Capitol Mall.  For 31 years, it served as the headquarters for the California Department of Education.  

A DOR work group played a major role in designing the building renovation with the goal of exceeding minimum accessibility requirements, within building and resource constraints, as mandated by federal and state regulations.  The building includes many original, historic features as well as refurbished offices, innovative workspaces and accessibility items including:

•	Doors that open automatically by push buttons for individuals with mobility impairments;
•	Accessible ramps for the employee entrance at 7th Street by the light rail station;
•	Room signs that are numbered in print and tactile formats
for individuals who are blind and visually impaired;
•	Signs that feature a high contrast between symbols and backgrounds for individuals who are visually impaired;
•	“Talking” or audible signs that work with a mobile receiver for individuals who are blind;
•	Conference and training rooms that are wired with assistive listening systems for those who are hard-of-hearing;
•	Elevators that have audible and Braille/tactile signage for individuals who are blind and visually impaired, as well as controls at a reach range for individuals in wheelchairs;
•	Wider pathways to more readily accommodate individuals in wheelchairs; and
•	Modular furniture that provides improved ergonomics and more knee/clearance space.

DOR is the first renovated state building to be awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council for its sustainable building and “green” design features that include:
•	Indirect and high-efficiency lighting;
•	Recycled materials used in rubber flooring and 
carpet tiles;
•	Water-saving features including low-flow plumbing fixtures that decrease water usage by 21% compared to the previous design; 
•	Use of window shades and low-emissivity film on window glass to reduce energy consumption; and
•	Carbon dioxide monitoring.

Approximately 380 DOR employees work at 721 Capitol Mall.  The Department’s Northern Sierra District Office is also located in the building, which provides administrative support to district branch offices as well as housing counselors, who provide one-on-one services to consumers in the greater Sacramento area.