Development and Preliminary Efficacy Trial of DIVERSE: A Curriculum for Job Coaches,Employers,and Family Members Supporting Autistic Individuals and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Workplace

Abstract

Background : Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), including autistic individuals, face challenges in securing and maintaining competitive employment. To fill this gap, the research team developed and conducted a pilot prospective cohort trial of a training curriculum for job coaches, employers, and family members to increase their competency in working with individuals with I/DD.

Method : The research team collaborated with 28 community stakeholders to cocreate the DIVERSE (Developing Inclusive Vocational Education and Resources for Success in Employment) curriculum using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. We assessed the preliminary efficacy of DIVERSE by delivering the curriculum to job coaches, family members, and employers and determining the outcome measures before initiation of the curriculum and after completing the curriculum. Participants had up to 6 weeks to complete the curriculum, which consisted of seven modules. This study focused on outcome measures related to the knowledge about I/DD, as well as self-confidence and self-efficacy in working with people with I/DD.

Results : A total of 86 participants enrolled in DIVERSE, with 81 of those (94%) completing all modules of the DIVERSE curriculum within 6 weeks. Seventy-eight (91%) (44 job coaches, 22 family members, 12 employers) responded to at least one post-training survey. DIVERSE resulted in an improvement of objective and subjective knowledge about I/DD in quizzes and self-rated questionnaires, respectively. Furthermore, job coaches who completed DIVERSE demonstrated increased self-efficacy and self-confidence in coaching autistic clients and clients with I/DD. They also demonstrated increased self-rated job coaching competencies 3 months after completing DIVERSE.

Conclusion : The study signals a promising approach to adapt, develop, and test a training curriculum for job coaches and the I/DD community using CBPR and strength-based approaches. It also demonstrated a preliminary signal for improving knowledge, self-efficacy, and confidence in working with people with I/DD. The DIVERSE curriculum has the potential to enhance the abilities of professionals and caregivers in promoting employment success for individuals with I/DD.

Community Brief

Why is this an important issue?

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have a difficult time getting and keeping jobs. I/DD encompasses a range of conditions, including autism with or without intellectual disability and other conditions that begin in childhood. Of all the disability types, autistic people have the hardest time securing and sustaining employment. Job coaches can assist people with I/DD in getting and keeping jobs. Family members of people with I/DD and employers can also support employees with I/DD vocationally. However, job coaches, family members, and employers do not always know how to help people with I/DD. This is because job coaches and employers do not always get a lot of training about I/DD. Also, family members do not always know how job coaches can help. Finally, to effectively improve the employment outcomes of people with I/DD, it is important to know the firsthand perspectives of individuals with I/DD and people in their support networks.

What was the purpose of this study?

The purpose of this study was twofold: first, we wanted to develop a training curriculum for job coaches, family members, and employers, who in turn will support career development for people with I/DD. Second, we wanted to test the curriculum to see if it effectively improved understanding of I/DD among job coaches, employers, and family members.

What did the researchers do?

This study had two main components. The first part involved developing the training curriculum, called DIVERSE, which stands for Developing Inclusive and Vocational Education and Resources for Success in Employment. The researchers collaborated with community stakeholders, including autistic people, people with other forms of I/DD, job coaches, family members, employers, educators, and mental health providers, to form a working group. Collectively, working group members contributed to the development of DIVERSE by reviewing an existing curriculum developed by the research team, discussing targeted topics, sharing personal and professional stories related to the employment of people with I/DD, and providing feedback on the curriculum as it was being developed.

The second part was testing the DIVERSE curriculum to see how well it worked. The research team recruited job coaches, family members, and employers to the training curriculum. The researchers also asked participants to respond to survey questions before and after the training.

What were the results of this study?

For curriculum development, we collaboratively produced seven DIVERSE training videos and the accompanying handouts and quizzes.

In the curriculum assessment part of the study, we found that DIVERSE resulted in the improvement of participants’ knowledge about I/DD across stakeholder groups. Also, job coaches felt more confident and capable of doing job coaching with autistic people and people with intellectual disabilities.

What do the findings add?

Our study introduces a training curriculum designed with community input that shows promise in increasing confidence and knowledge for providers supporting the employment of adults with I/DD.

What are the potential weaknesses?

Potential weaknesses included having a limited number of community meetings, some participants dropping out during the study, and fewer employers being represented in the group.

How will these findings help autistic adults now or in the future?

The research team will work to improve the training and make it accessible to more people. Job coaches, family members, and employers can use the DIVERSE training or a future version of it to help them support autistic adults in the workplace.