Differing Priorities of Counselors and Customers to a Consumer Choice Model in Rehabilitation

Abstract

This consumer choice project demonstrated a model for achieving employment outcomes based upon the customer's informed choice and control of funding. Responses concerning service options of 36 customers and 22 counselors who participated in a vocational rehabilitation consumer choice project were obtained. Results demonstrated that consumers rated project activities which were most time intensive and customer focused as paramount to their rehabilitation. Counselors rated activities that had been identified as the least time consuming most vital. This discrepancy has significant implications for rehabilitation counselors and related professionals as consumer choice components increasingly become used in their practices.