IPE : SETTING A GOAL
The most common goal for people in vocational rehabilitation is competitive employment. A job for minimum wage or higher is the outcome for 80% of people who successfully complete VR, that is, in federal-speak, who have a closure status of 'rehabilitated'. We expect this will be the most common outcome for people in your program as well. The other possible goals are; housewife, unpaid family worker, sheltered workshops or self-employed. Less than 4% of individuals who successfully complete VR become self-employed, although some tribal programs report an average of 13% of their clients end in self-employment. The actual figures for self-employment are much less because not all clients are successes.
The General Accounting Office Report found that 37% of state VR clients were 'rehabilitated' and only 8% of Veterans Administration VR clients were working. This doesn't mean the VR does a bad job, in our opinion. Many of the Veterans Administration clients were in higher education.
On previous pages, we have heard from experienced counselors who emphasize getting to know your client as a whole person. Section 121 tribal programs are often more effective at this task, as they tend to have smaller case loads than the state program.
There are a lot of factors to consider in setting a goal. For a discussion of some of the more common important factors, see the next page.
Next page, factors to consider in setting IPE goals