Community-based rehabilitation programs' resources and recommendations for the University of Wisconsin-Stout Research and Training Center

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide information to the University of Wisconsin-Stout Research and Training Center so it can better assist community-based rehabilitation programs as they provide vocational services to individuals with disabilities. Twenty-one community-based rehabilitation programs from the Chicago metropolitan area participated in the study. Each site was asked to complete a set of preliminary questions and then participate in a telephone interview in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The data were transcribed, entered on the computer, categorized into five areas, and reported in themes and summaries. The five categories that were created for summarizing data were: general information on the sites, sites’ familiarity with the Research and Training Center, Research and Training Center resources, general information on resources, and research recommendations. It was found that sites primarily served white or black individuals with a mental illness, developmental disability, or a combination of both. Along with providing vocational services to consumers most sites also offered residential and psychosocial services. Sixty percent of the sites were familiar with the Research and Training Center. Most of the participants had learned about the Center by receiving information from it, through co-workers, or at conferences or workshops. The six sites that were very familiar with the center were supportive of it and its work. Sites were most familiar with the Center’s newsletters, websites, and conferences. The most useful resources were instrumentations, special publications, websites, and technical assistance. Sites suggested providing more training in their geographical area and desired information focused on the types of consumers they each served. When asked about resources in general: 15 sites indicated they attended conferences, seminars, and workshops for training; at least 50 percent used modules or workbooks as a part of their internal training; and most sites received newsletters, journals, and other publications from a number of organizations. Data were also collected on the different methods used to circulate resources among staff and what medium or format they preferred to receive information. It was also found that community-based rehabilitation programs needed information on vocational services, mental illnesses, legislation, developmental disabilities, disabilities in general, management information, traumatic brain injuries, dual diagnosis, networking with other programs, and cultural issues. The collected information was able to lead to conclusions about consumers that community-based rehabilitation programs serve, limitations that these organizations face, the ways staff had become familiar with the Research and Training Center, how the Center’s familiarity among community-based rehabilitation programs could be enlarged, and the usefulness of the Center’s resources. As a result, recommendations could be provided to the Research and Training Center. Recommendations included enhancing the Center’s mailing list, improving their resources, increasing the dissemination of information, and examining research topics and methods. Even with the prestigious reputation the Research and Training Center maintains, to continue to be a leader in the field of rehabilitation, continuous improvements must be made within the organization.