Many programs seek to draw on the natural supports in the client's life such as family members, co-workers, mentors, company employee assistance programs, and so on, to help working consumers to remain employed. Effective support stresses the need for appropriate, individualized job accommodations. Continuity of services has been found to be best for consumers. This requires ongoing programs that do not force shifts of counselors, agency affiliations, or relationships as consumers move within the process. From an employer's point of view, work is not therapy but the successful outcome of a recruitment and hiring process and the means to productivity and profit.
Employers expect to gain returns on their investments.
By viewing work as primarily a therapeutic activity, the rehabilitation community has often limited its own success. Such programs demonstrate to employers that rehabilitation strategies that promote worker success benefit not only clients but also employers. The consensus validation process attempts to close the gap between research and practice by clarifying the state of the art and best practices in particular areas of rehabilitation. However, unlike a typical court model, the audience is encouraged to ask questions, make comments, and provide further evidence. It is anticipated that practices discussed in Consensus Validation Statements will be adopted by practitioners and consumers, as they represent recent research and best practices.