A Limited Cost–Benefit Analysis of Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth With Disabilities in Pre-Employment Transition Services

Abstract

Transition-age youth (TAY) with disabilities experience disproportionately higher rates of unemployment compared to non-disabled peers. To address this disparity, states fund schools and agencies to implement pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) such as job interview training. Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth (VIT-TAY) is a web-based job interview training tool implemented across 10 states, reaching thousands of TAY with disabilities. While previous research supports VIT-TAY’s effectiveness in improving job interview skills and access to competitive employment for TAY with disabilities, the net economic benefit for schools adopting this tool remains unclear. Hence, this study conducted a limited cost–benefit analysis utilizing data from 41 teachers and 314 TAY with disabilities. We found that a one-time investment of $314 per student in VIT-TAY was associated with a $241 increase in mean monthly student income 6 months following initial use of the intervention. The results suggest that implementing VIT-TAY may yield a net positive economic benefit for schools.