Vocational report writing is a powerful form of communication and can influence the degree of success for the individual for whom it is written. I love to communicate through the written word and have written many, many, many reports! I’ve written lots of blog posts too!
My Attorney Reader, I’m here to help critique and/or rebut a report that has crossed your desk that you have difficulty deciphering.
Love reading or writing reports? The writing process is a challenge!
Do you understand the report? Does the person it was written for understand it? Is it possible the report can be defended? Or should the report be ripped apart, piece by piece to get to its’ nuts and bolts?
Rebut No Matter What!
Grandpa Yearington’s Bull. Cliff knew a lot about Bulls & Bulls*** too.
Loosen, take apart and re-assemble that poorly prepared report. Let it fall apart. A poor report stresses difficulties and does not offer much information about recommendations let alone any solutions. A poor report leads with weaknesses rather than strengths; deficits and negatives rather than pluses and positives. It seeks to make threats rather than suggest changes. It uses multiple words, unclear statistics, and a slick method to confuse rather than clarify. 
Simply, it’s not helpful to write a report about how bad off a person is and not include any recommendation about how to help make a positive impact on the individual’s life. A simple report would make sense!
I comb through reports and try to figure out (forensics!!) what the contents say to the reader. A well written report needs to tell a story, flow, describe details, and make valid and reasonable conclusions.
Here’s one run on sentence commonly found in a report written by a vocational person I’ve come across over the years:
“It is important to note that the purpose of all vocational testing done and reported here is to compare an individual’s current performance with their past performance as documented by their education, training, experience, and the standard worker trait factors associated with that history.”
Say what? How does the individual’s past performance have anything to do with the specific testing administered? Did this person take these same tests throughout their work history?
The writer I’m referring to continues his paragraph…”It is NOT correct to confuse an individual’s current test performance with performance in work prior to injury, as current performance is likely affected by the sequelae of disability.
Now, who is confused? The test taker? The person administering the test? I’ll tell you who…the reader!Confusion of my results goes nowhere!
Results of testing are beneficial to make recommendations to assist a person for valid reasons. I was trained to be ethically sound, administer testing only with a direct and relative reason to do so.
I question why specific testing instruments were administered to a specific person unless the writer offers a clear explanation of what the results may indicate.
If results are used to portray deficits and exclude vocational activities point blank, then testing is not even close to being slightly helpful. The underlying use of testing results to try to prove a person is permanently and totally disabled raises many ethical questions in my mind.
I’ve written about my opinion on ethics and use of testing in vocational evaluations. Please contact me for a copy of my report. If you are my contact on LinkedIn, a copy is available for now.
From the evaluee’s internal point of view: A series of tests that I was forced to take, and I didn’t understand…those results determine my fate?
Would you like to take 10 tests in a single sitting? No!
This voc person I am referring to writes “without testing, evaluation is merely speculative”
That is not true. I’ve helped to place literally hundreds of people without administering testing! I have a lot of evaluative expertise and simply understand the person’s skills and abilities and match those with job openings in the local labor market.
I do not rely on only the use of test results for evaluation purposes! I do use standardized tests and offer self-assessments when appropriate for reasons directly related to the person’s vocational goals.
Back to report writing which is a very specialized skill and I continuously study, practice, and strive to improve. A professional writer never stops training! One reason I like to blog (as opposed to heavy thinking report writing) is I’m not critiqued and can write for fun!
I gained natural writing talent from my Grandpa Jack, a distinguished journalist!
When I’m writing, I get very absorbed! My office cat will testify to that!
Again, do you need a critique or a rebuttal? I’m Your Person to Help!
If your opinion on a case doesn’t mesh at all with the report on your desk, please contact me to help sort out the discrepancies. Keep in mind, I know opinions are just that, opinions. And reports are meant to answer questions, not raise more!
I also want you to keep in mind that if you believe in the truth, there’s a way to show it. Contact me for expert testimony and witness services, too! I also can rebut a life care plan especially if it doesn’t make a lot of sense to you!
Contact me at amyebotkin@lcpresourcesplus.com or 515-778-0634 to discuss your case and how I can help! I’m here to help attorneys help their clients.
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My professional consulting practice focuses on helping attorneys help their clients with civil litigation matters.
I do not like to write reports but it is something that has to be done correctly. The cow is one of my most prized possession. I thought Mollie was your most important office mate. It is very important to keep a focus when writing a report or a Work Discrepancy Analysis.
Great Article.
Randall Botkin (I love you)