Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

The Participant’s Informed Choice in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program*

Participants have the right to make decisions about their vocational rehabilitation program and the services that will help them to go to work. The Department of Services for the Blind (DSB) believes in gathering information that will allow participants to make informed decisions about their vocational rehabilitation and employment. Participants can count on DSB to respect their opinions and to assist them as they learn to make important decisions about getting a job or retaining a current job.

Informed choice is a decision-making process that is based upon realistic options. Participants use informed choice to:

1. Carefully review information about the decision.
2. Consider the benefits and possible risks of each option.
3. Make choices that match their strengths, capabilities, and interests, and assist them in reaching their employment goals.

Participants make informed choices during the rehabilitation process with the assistance of DSB staff. These choices include:

1. What type of job they want
2. What steps they need to take to prepare them for the job or retain their current job
3. What services they need to go to work and to stay employed
4. Where to find services and service providers

Informed choice does not mean unlimited or unreasonable choice. Participants own decisions and share responsibility for outcomes. They learn that each option or choice has a different impact, meaning and result, and should be weighed carefully. They learn that being an active partner means that to reach a goal, they have to be part of making it happen. The counselors’ role is to provide information, tools, and resources to teach decision making skills, to facilitate the decision making process, and to support decision implementation.

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