Consumer direction in disability policy formulation and rehabilitation service delivery

People with disabilities too often are denied the opportunity to exercise c ontrol over the most basic aspects of daily life. Consumer direction (CD) i s a mechanism by which individuals with disabilities can develop the skills to take control of their lives and their environment, It is a philosophy a nd orientation whereby informed consumers have control over the policies an d practices that directly affect their lives. This article illustrates the significance of CD for disability policy formulation and rehabilitation ser vice delivery. Following an overview of CD, a conceptual framework of CD is presented, and examples and implications of CD are discussed.