Consumer-directed personal assistance services: independent living, community integration and the vocational rehabilitation process

Issue title: Spinal Cord Injury

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Adams, Martha^; | Beatty, Phil

Affiliations: Personal Assistance and Nursing Home Outreach Services, Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, 8004 Franklin Farms Drive, Richmond, VA 23288, USA | National Rehabilitation Hospital Research Center, 102 Irving St NW, Washington, DC 20010-2949, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. Tel.: + 1 804 6627599; Fax: + 1 804 6627696.

Abstract: People experiencing functional loss related to spinal cord injuries frequently require help with activities of daily living, often referred to as attendant care or personal assistance services. There are several public policy issues related to how those services are developed and structured that impact community living and employment. Nationally and in many states, people with spinal cord injuries are advocating for services that they personally control, known as consumer-directed services. This article discusses problems with the traditional, medically-based services, consumer-directed personal assistance services in Virginia and related research findings on recipient outcomes.

Keywords: Independent living, Personal assistance, Attendant care

DOI: 10.3233/JVR-1998-10203

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 93-101, 1998