Consumer control is the belief and process of controlling your decision making so that you can set, achieve, and maintain your goals. Occasionally we think that it is not possible to control our lives. Sometimes we think that people are always telling us that we can't do something, that the right opportunities aren't available, that there isn't enough money, and so on. These problems are experienced by everyone at some time in life.
Any individual can become frustrated by problems. But some individuals overcome their problems and achieve their goals when others do not. These individuals have consumer control.
To have consumer control, you must have two key skills. One is decision command skill. This skill involves being able to control decisions, take responsibility for your decisions, and influence others who make decisions that affect you. When you have decision command, you do not let others tell you what to do. You believe that you can make decisions that affect your life and you make them.
When told you can't make decisions, asset that you will make your own decisions. Even when others have all of the authority for decisions that concern your future, you can find ways to influence others. Once you make decisions, you take responsibility for them and act in a timely manner.
The second skill is goal achievement. This involves being able to set goals, to secure options to meet goals, and to take action. To set goals, you must explore your life and identify areas where you would like to make changes. Then you must set goals for the future to make changes. Analyze where you are and where you want to be. Your goals and decision making provide direction for your life. Spend time thinking about your goals and how to achieve them.
To secure options, work hard to find or even make acceptable options to help you achieve your goals. Know how to find information about options that you can use to achieve your goals. When options are not available, know that you can make options. You use strategies to develop new options.
When taking action, focus, achieve, evaluate, and maintain your life goals. Never give up. You continually work to achieve your goals. However, be flexible about changing things that do not work. Evaluate progress toward your goals and make changes when necessary. You even change your goals so that they are in line with your current beliefs and needs.
During the time that you are achieving your goals, always control decisions and influence others when they have decision-making authority.
You can develop consumer control by gaining new knowledge and skills. It is not difficult. You just need to learn and practice them everyday.
For more information, contact the Research and Training Center on Independent Living, 4089 Dole, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Lawrence, KS (785) 864-4095, rtcil@ku.edu, Website .
This research was supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the U.S. Department of Education. #1981
Budde, J., Feighny, K., White, G., Altus, D., & Snyder, J. A. (1990). Introduction. Consumer control: How to command decisions and achieve personal goals (pp.1-6). Lawrence, KS: The. Lawrence, KS: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Independent Living, The University of Kansas.
Keyword: Empowerment
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