The importance of employment in society is unmistakable, but for many people sustained employment remains elusive. The unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is staggering, and the consequences of being unemployed affects those individuals, their families, and society. The effects of performance feedback delivered via covert audio coaching on the job performance of supported employees were examined in this investigation. A multiple baseline design across employees and work tasks was used to evaluate the effects of the intervention on work performance. Supported employees made substantial improvements on their work performance, and the improvements maintained for 4 to 5 weeks following the removal of the intervention. The results have implications for the use of covert audio coaching in employment and other settings.
Baum, D.D., & Lane, J.R. ( 1976). An application of the "bug-in-the-ear" communication system for training psychometrists. Counselor Education and Supervision, 15, 309-310.
2.
Berger, E.D. ( 2006). "Aging" identities: Degradation and negotiation in the search for employment. Journal of Aging Studies, 20, 303-316.
3.
Binder, C. ( 1996). Behavioral fluency: Evolution of a new paradigm. Behavior Analyst, 19, 163-197.
4.
Brady, M.P., & Rosenberg, H. ( 2002). Job Observation and Behavior Scale: A supported employment assessment instrument. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 37, 427-433.
5.
Brady, M.P., Shores, R.E., McEvoy, M.A., Ellis, D., & Fox, J.J. ( 1987). Increasing the social interactions of severely handicapped autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders , 17, 375-390.
6.
Brown, L., Shiraga, B., & Kessler, K. ( 2006). The quest for ordinary lives: The integrated post-school vocational functioning of 50 workers with significant disabilities. Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities, 31, 93-121.
7.
Bucholz, J.L., Brady, M.P., Duffy, M.L., Scott, J., & Kontosh, L. ( 2008). Using literacy-based behavioral interventions and social stories to improve work behavior in employees with developmental disabilities . Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 43, 486-501.
8.
Bullis, M., Nishioka-Evans, V., Fredericks, H.D.B., & Davis, C. ( 1993). Identifying and assessing the job-related social skills of adolescents and young adults with emotional and behavioral disorders. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 1, 236-250.
9.
Cimera, R.E., Rusch, F.R., & Heal, L.W. ( 1998). Supported employee independence from the presence of job coaches at worksites. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation , 10, 51-63.
10.
Crimmins, D.B., Bradlyn, A.S., Lawrence, J.S., & Kelly, J.A. ( 1984). A training technique for improving the parent-child interaction skills of an abusive-neglectful mother. Child Abuse and Neglect , 8, 533-539.
11.
Davis, C., Brady, M.P., Hamilton, R., McEvoy, M., & Williams, R. ( 1994). Effects of high-probability requests on the social interactions of young children with severe disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 619-637.
12.
Giebelhaus, C.R. ( 1994). The mechanical third ear device: A student teaching supervision alternative. Journal of Teacher Education, 45, 365-373.
13.
Goodman, J., Brady, M.P., Duffy, M.L., & Scott, J. ( 2008). The effects of "bug-in-ear" supervision on special education teachers’ delivery of learn units. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 23, 207-216.
14.
Hillier, A., Campbell, H., Mastriani, K., Vreeburg-Izzo, M., Kool-Tucker, A.K., Cherry, L., & Beversdorf, D.O. (2007). Two-year evaluation of a vocational support program for adults on the autism spectrum. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 30, 35-47.
15.
Hunt, D.D. ( 1980). "Bug-in-ear" technique for teaching interviewing skills . Journal of Medical Education, 55, 964-966.
16.
Johnson, D.R. ( 2004). Supported employment trends: Implications for transition-aged youth. Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities , 29, 243-247.
17.
Kazdin, A.E. ( 1982). Single-case research designs: Methods for clinical and applied settings. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
18.
Keel, J.H., Mesibov, G.B., & Woods, A.V. ( 1997). TEACCHsupported employment program. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 3-9.
19.
Kennedy, R.B., & Harris, N.K. ( 2003). Employing people with severe disabilities: The challenge remains. Journal of Employment Counseling, 40, 80-86.
20.
Korner, I.N., & Brown, W.H. ( 1952). The mechanical third ear. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 16(1), 81-84.
21.
Lasater, M., & Brady, M.P. ( 1995). Effects of video self-modeling and feedback on task fluency: A home based intervention. Education and Treatment of Children , 18, 389-407.
22.
Lattimore, L.P., Parsons, M.B., & Reid, D.H. ( 2006). Enhancing job-site training of supported workers with autism: A reemphasis on simulation. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39, 91-103.
23.
Lindell, M.L. ( 2001). Audiocuing teacher clarity skills: The effects on preservice teachers during student teaching experiences. Dissertation Abstracts International, 62(5-A), 1801.
24.
Martella, R.C., Agran, M., & Marchand-Martella, N.E. (1992). Problem solving to prevent work injuries in supported employment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 637-645.
25.
Mawhood, L., & Howlin, P. ( 1999). The outcome of a supported employment scheme for high functioning adults with autism or Asperger syndrome. Autism , 3, 229-254.
26.
Oliver, P., & Brady, M.P. ( 2010). Effects of covert audio coaching on parents’ interactions with their children with autism. Manuscript submitted for publication.
27.
Parsons, M.B., Reid, D.H., Green, C.W., & Browning, L.B. (1999). Reducing individualized job coach assistance provided to persons with multiple severe disabilities in supported work. Journal of the Association for Persons With Severe Handicaps, 24, 292-297.
28.
Parsons, M.B., Reid, D.H., Green, C.W., & Browning, L.B. (2001). Reducing job coach assistance for supported workers with severe multiple disabilities: An alternative off-site/on-site model. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21, 151-164.
29.
Price, A.T., Martella, R.C., Marchand-Martella, N.E., & Clenthous, C.C. (2002). A comparison of immediate feedback delivered via a FM headset versus delayed feedback on the inappropriate verbalizations of a student with ADHD. Education and Treatment of Children, 25, 159-171.
30.
Reid, D.H., Green, C.W., & Parsons, M.B. ( 2003). An outcome management program for extending advances in choice research into choice opportunities for supported workers with severe multiple disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis , 36, 575-578.
31.
Ringeisen, H.L. ( 1999). Compliance and attention training in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Dissertation Abstracts International, 60(7-B), 3577.
32.
Rogan, P., Banks, B., & Howard, M. ( 2000). Workplace supports in practice: As little as possible, as much as necessary. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 15, 2-11.
33.
Rogan, P., Luecking, R., & Grossi, T. ( 2007). Preparing for meaningful adult lives through school and transitions experiences. In P. M. Walker & P. Rogan (Eds.), Make the day matter! Promoting typical lifestyles for adults with significant disabilities (pp. 15-34). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
34.
Rosenberg, H., & Brady, M.P. ( 2000). JOBS: Job Observation and Behavior Scale: A work performance evaluation for supported and entry level employees. Wood Dale, IL: Stoelting.
35.
Rusch, F.R., & Hughes, C. ( 1989). Overview of supported employment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 22, 351-363.
36.
Scheeler, M.C., Bruno, K., Grubb, E., & Seavey, T.L. ( 2008, December). Generalizing teaching techniques from university to K-12 classrooms: Teaching pre-service teachers to use what they learn. Paper presented at the 33rd annual TASH conference, Nashville, TN.
37.
Scheeler, M.C., & Lee, D.L. ( 2002). Using technology to deliver immediate corrective feedback to preservice teachers. Journal of Behavioral Education, 11, 231-241.
38.
Smith, S.W., Daunic, A.P., & Taylor, G.G. ( 2007). Treatment fidelity in applied educational research: Expanding the adoption and application of measures to ensure evidenced-based practice . Education and Treatment of Children, 30, 121-134.
39.
Targett, P.S. ( 2006). Finding jobs for young people with disabilities. In P. Wehman (Ed.), Life beyond the classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities (pp. 255-283). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
40.
Wehman, P. ( 2006). Integrated employment: If not now, when? If not us, who?Research and Practice for Persons With Severe Disabilities , 31, 122-126.
41.
Wehman, P., Brooke, V., & West, M.D. ( 2006). Toward inclusive employment. In P. Wehman (Ed.), Life beyond the classroom: Transition strategies for young people with disabilities (pp. 309-353). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
42.
Wehman, P., Sale, P. , & Parent, W. (Eds.). ( 1992). Supported employment: Strategies for integration of workers with disabilities. Stoneham, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann.
