Consumer empowerment in rehabilitation counseling has been conceptualized as a function of informed choice and self-determination and has been linked to the concepts of self-efficacy and locus of control, among other variables. Self-understanding in relation to environmental opportunities represents an important underlying component of such…

Rasch analysis offers researchers an innovative method for developing and validating rehabilitation instruments. Despite the increased use of Rasch analysis by allied health researchers, this method continues to be underutilized by rehabilitation counseling professionals. In the rehabilitation counseling profession, vocational evaluators use…

Examined closed state Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation cases (n=185) to determine relationship between provision of vocational evaluation and other services and rehabilitation outcomes. Found counselors rarely requested vocational evaluation; approximately one-half of unsuccessful closures had not received formal evaluation; no relationship…

Examined perceptions of professionals employed in rehabilitation and rehabilitation-related human service programs serving consumers with severe disabilities and complex special needs regarding their training priorities. Findings suggest that vocational tasks related to community integration were perceived differently across rehabilitation…

Highlights three advantages of the multiple-baseline design for evaluating work performance in vocational training programs: (1) allowing the trainer to determine the success of a vocational program without withdrawing training; (2) ruling out effects of history; and (3) providing a versatile evaluation procedure. (BH)

Examined vocational evaluation's impact on rehabilitation client self-estimated aptitudes and interests. Results of study of 73 clients at comprehensive rehabilitation facility indicated that clients tended to overestimate aptitudes and interests in comparison to their tested levels and process of vocational evaluation had little effect on…

Compared special education and vocational rehabilitation guidelines for serving individuals with specific learning disabilities from survey of 50 state departments of vocational rehabilitation. Found considerably more agreement within each field than between fields. Found agency definitions shared important elements but differed in how specific…

Discusses relationship between social skill deficits and vocational problems for learning-disabled workers. Identifies social skill deficits of learning-disabled worker that can be a major factor in job failure and reviews efforts to develop more positive job-related social behaviors. Presents issues and recommendations to professionals serving…

Reviews approaches for identification and diagnosis of specific learning disabilities and assessment strategies for elucidating functional and vocational deficits associated with specific learning disabilities. Discusses recommendations for provision of comprehensive assessment services. (Author/CM)

Documents research in rehabilitation. Using the strategy employed by Leahy, Habeck, and Fabiano (1988), 763 doctoral dissertations in rehabilitation completed during the years 1992 and 1993 were identified and reviewed. Comparison of trends in research is made and dissertation citations are presented in categories based on research content.…