This document was prepared in response to the 1992 Rehabilitation Act Amendments (P.L. 102-569), which provide a legal basis for greater consumer involvement in rehabilitation services. The focus of this document is to: (1) show how persons with disabilities can better participate in their rehabilitation programs; (2) lay the foundation for shifting attitudes about this process; and (3) outline how professionals in research and practice can improve their effectiveness through collaboration with all concerned. After an introductory chapter, the second chapter defines terms used in the study. The third chapter considers the historical and philosophical background of the issue of consumer participation. Next is a review of current systems of rehabilitation research and practice and the relationship of these to consumer involvement. The strengthening of applications from research through the involvement of consumers and practitioners is the focus of the fifth chapter. The sixth chapter proposes a methodology for maximum inclusion of consumers, practitioners, and researchers into the traditional research and development methodology. The following chapter applies this methodology in a case study of "how to devise an equitable approach to counselor performance evaluation." The final chapter presents the 12 recommendations. Appendices include a list of study group members and an illustration of the recommended model. Individual chapters include references. (DB)