DHS - Informed Choice

Informed Choice

Agency: Workforce Programs

Informed choice, considered to be a cornerstone of the 1998 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, is both a philosophy and a practice in Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS).

The goal of informed choice within the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system is to support self-determination in the achievement of employment. MRS believes its customers have the right to make choices about:

The rehabilitation technology they need to fully access vocational rehabilitation services
The types of assessments they will need to determine their job goal
A job goal that will allow them to reach their chosen level of independence
The services needed to reach their goal
The professional or non-professional providers who can best meet their service needs
How the services will be arranged
Satisfaction with the services they have received

The philosophy behind informed choice is that people with disabilities should have control over the processes and services that affect their lives---and that those who have control over their own vocational rehabilitation planning will experience greater job satisfaction than those who do not.

Informed choice is practiced when rehabilitation counselors give customers (1) tools to learn how to make choices, and (2) the information they need to make their own choices.

Individuals need enough information to identify questions and issues before they can make informed choices. Options and techniques for choice-making are being integrated into MRS's regular service delivery system. Practice and real-life experiences are essential to effective choice-making.

MRS's introduction of informed choice in its offices throughout the state is consistent with the federal legislative trend toward expanding informed choice options and self-determination for people with disabilities.