Abstract
Social inclusion comes when people with mental illness go to work which decreases the negative effects of stigmas associated with mental illness. Stigma, defined by Erving Goffman (1986) is “an attribute that is deeply discrediting, leaving one who is stigmatized reduced in society's mind from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one” (p. 15). Research evidence confirms that competitive employment in today's market helps to reduce social isolation resulting from stigma. The lack of a viable tool developed with information addressing specific avenues to diminish the effects of stigma, led to the development of this planning document. This project focuses on proven techniques that help to reduce stigma. The primary research sources for this project included peer-review journals and articles, Masters’ Projects from graduates of the Vocational Rehabilitation program, education websites, books, one workbook, one booklet, and personal interviews with Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor-Qualified Rehabilitation Professional (SVRC-QRP), and staff in the mental illness field. The resulting planning document lays the foundational groundwork to produce a DVD in order to improve the efforts of consumers with mental illness seeking vocational rehabilitation services in Sacramento, CA.