From 1993 to 1999 the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) funded seven demonstration designed to expand choice of goals, services, and providers for consumers with disabilities. Three providers were state VR agencies; four were private organizations. Each established unique rules for selecting and purchasing services. The projects served over 1,500 people with disabilities. In most projects, some overall services budget was established as part of the service model.
As part of the national evaluation, purchasing records for a sample of 221 clients were collected and analyzed. Projects spent an average of $2,500/person on purchased services. Most service purchases were made from employment service providers, commercial retail, educational institutions or community rehabilitation facilities, but projects vary in terms of providers used and in the discretion available to the consumers. Results show that purchases were strongly influenced by the service model available to the consumer. In some projects, consumers shopped in the open market, purchasing computers, vehicles, and other merchandise identified in their rehabilitation plans. However, other providers encouraged or required purchase of more traditional rehabilitation services. For consumers, choice is often determined by available supply.
Because the state-Federal vocational rehabilitation system spends over $1.5 billion dollars on purchased services, expansion of one or more of these approaches could have very wide-spread impact. Participants will learn promising approaches, and pitfalls, in the expansion of informed choice for people with disabilities, and how to evaluate alternative proposed approaches to expanding service options and consumer purchasing power.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to: 1. describe the VR choice demonstration process 2. describe alternative methods for expanding informed choice for people with disabilities 3. recognize the elements of choice in vocational rehabilitation services 4. evaluate plans for expanding choice for people with disabilities
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.