Principal Investigator: Margie White, Ph.D., Research Specialist Senior
Research Assistant: Deeda Williams-Joseph, B.A.

Abstract:

The purpose of this national project is to gain a better understanding of the relationship between consumer satisfaction for rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated American Indians living on and off reservations and the consequences of their rehabilitation closures, including employment outcomes (work options, length of work, wages, relationships at work, attitudes and support from supervisors) and barriers to successful rehabilitation.  While most long-established rehabilitation service programs administer a consumer satisfaction interiew at successful caseload closures, the use for such an activity is not clearly defined or well reported.  There has been little investigation in the format of such interviews, their usage, their effect on service administration, employment outcomes and on the communities in which individuals with disabilities live.  Little evidence has also been established to show how rehabilitated American Indians living on and off reservation are affected by rehabilitation services differently from the non-rehabilitated ones.  More importantly, little has been documented to identify the factors of satisfaction for successfully rehabilitated and unsuccessfully rehabilitated consumers.

Purpose:

To analyze existing consumer satisfaction surveys from state and tribal VR programs and the WIA's, in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between consumer satisfaction for rehabilitated and non-rehabilitated American Indians living on and off reservations and the consequences of their rehabilitation closures, including employment outcomes (work options, length of work, wages, relationships at work, attitudes and support from supervisors) and barriers to successful rehabilitation.

Progress to Date:

1.0: Conduct of PAC meetings continues on a regular basis. 2.0: Data collection is finished; Analysis of existing consumer satisfaction surveys is finished. 3.0: The first draft of the final report is complete and in the process of further editing. Drafting is in progress for the Best Practices Handbook. 4.0: Follow-up activities are contingent upon the completion of Activity 3.0.

Note: This Project has been endorsed by the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR).

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