Rehabilitation Needs Assessment for Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies. Volume II. Needs Assessment Topics Identified in the Rehabilitation Act: Issues and Resources.

This guide was developed to help Wisconsin agency assessment, evaluation, and planning personnel to develop a perspective on how needs assessment fits into their state's vocational rehabilitation program planning. Volume II provides state agency personnel with tools for conducting rehabilitation needs assessment. The first three chapters consider the requirements and meaning of the legislative mandates for services at both the state and federal levels; a definition of the target population or program; the vocational rehabilitation program structure in relation to the total state service delivery system; past management decisions for resource allocation relevant to program delivery; availability and quality of current information on needs; and the agency's purpose, intended use, and resources for conducting a needs assessment effort. Chapters 4-18 discuss the following topics: needs assessment, for special populations (individuals with severe handicaps, chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, specific learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, blindness and visual impairments, deafness, youth in transition, minorities, Native Americans, women); and for designated services in rehabilitation facilities, supported employment, independent living, and rehabilitation engineering. Appendixes include a 174-item bibliography with a list of selected technical references, a suggested format for a needs assessment report, and the addresses and locations of clearinghouses and secondary data sources, names and telephone numbers for contact persons, and selected agencies. (KC)