A Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation Service Program. Second Interim Report: Characteristics and Perspectives of VR Consumers.

This report contains selected preliminary findings from the Longitudinal Study of the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Service Program. The study, initiated in fall 1992, will produce a series of interim reports that address key policy questions. This second interim report presents data collected from VR consumers and their VR case files in 37 local VR offices in 30 different states. Findings include: (1) 71% of VR consumers have acquired disabilities and 75% have severe disabilities; (2) 48% of consumers received some form of financial assistance during their VR experience; (3) three-fourths of consumers reported they had enough choice in the selection of their vocational goal; (4) three-fourths of consumers were satisfied with the frequency of personal and telephone interactions with their VR counselor; (5) approximately 60% of consumers believed that their services had met all or most of their needs; (6) 53% of consumers reported that VR matched or exceeded their expectations; (7) and 61% of those consumers who had left VR at the time of the interview reported that their services had helped them get a job, and 63% of consumers employed following VR services obtained the type of job they wanted as a result of VR services. (CR)