Todd Honeycutt, MA, Program for Disability Research, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 303 George Street, Suite 405, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, 732.932.4167, toddchoneycutt@earthlink.net and David Dean, PhD, Robins School of Business, University of Richmond, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173.

Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is a partnership between federal and state governments to provide employment and health-related rehabilitation for persons with a wide range of disabilities. The second largest category of conditions for VR consumers is mental illness, with one of every five applicants having a mental or emotional disorder. The recent release of data from the Longitudinal Survey of Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program (LSVRSP) provides a unique opportunity to examine vocational rehabilitation clients during and after their experiences with the program, including the long-term outcomes of their involvement. The LSVRSP is a nationally representative survey of more than 8,800 applicants and participants in VR with up to three years of data involving administrative records, participant self-report data, and surveys of VR staff and administrators. In this analysis, we will identify the characteristics of VR consumers with mental illness, the reasons they apply for services, the intended outcome goals for VR participation, the types and costs of services received, employment outcomes, and overall satisfaction with VR services. Consumers with mental illness will be contrasted with other types of VR consumers, and characteristics of successful and unsuccessful rehabilitation will be identified.

Learning Objectives: