Teaching Appropriate Social Behaviors to a Young Man with Moderate Mental Retardation in a Supported Competitive Employment Setting

Abstract

This study validated the efficacy of the supported employment model in maintaining the employment of a young man with Down Syndrome identified as moderately mentally retarded. In this study, social skills training and self-monitoring were used to remediate socially inappropriate behaviors which were jeopardizing his continued employment. Results of this investigation indicate that appropriate social behaviors were improved and maintained over the 38-week period with the level of trainer support also being systematically faded over time. The conclusions of this study provide guidelines for on-the-job training and follow-up procedures which have been found to be necessary in assisting persons with moderate and severe disabilities to function effectively in meaningful employment settings.