A 12-Week Electronic Mentoring Employment Preparation Intervention for Youth With Physical Disabilities: Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

Sally Lindsay,Jennifer Stinson,Elaine Cagliostro,Joanne Leck

doi:10.2196/12088

Abstract

BackgroundYouth with disabilities are at high risk of unemployment compared with youth without disabilities. They often encounter challenges in accessing vocational programs that meet their needs. One promising approach that could help to address barriers that youth encounter while also enhancing social support is through electronic mentoring (e-mentoring). Although there is an increase in e-mentoring for youth with disabilities, little is known about its impact for youth with physical disabilities.ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the acceptability and initial impact of a Web-based peer electronic mentor employment intervention for youth with physical disabilities.MethodsThe Empowering Youth Towards Employment intervention was evaluated using a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). Youth, aged 15-21 years, with physical disabilities were randomly assigned to an intervention (ie, mentored) or control (ie, not mentored) group. Trained mentors (ie, near peers) with a physical disability led the online discussion forums and provided peer support and resources for 12 modules (1 topic per week over 12 weeks). Primary outcomes focused on self-determination, career maturity, and social support. We also explored program adherence and dosage, participant satisfaction, and areas for improvement.ResultsA total of 13 youth (mean age 17.3 years, SD 1.88; 54%, 7/13 female) completed the RCT. In the intervention group (n=9), 56% (5/9) of the youth were females, and in the control group (n=4), 50% (2/4) of the youth were female. Participants reported satisfaction with the program and that it was feasible and acceptable. Participants’ mean engagement level with the program was 5.22 (SD 2.48) for the intervention group and 5.40 (SD 4.56) for controls. Participants in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in self-determination (t12=2.49; P<.04) compared with the control group. No adverse events were reported.ConclusionsThe Empowering Youth Towards Employment is a promising intervention that enhances self-determination among youth with physical disabilities.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02522507; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02522507 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6uD58Pvjc)International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.2196/resprot.8034

Highlights

Background many young people with disabilities are willing and capable of working, they encounter many personal, environmental, and socio-contextual challenges in finding and maintaining meaningful employment [1]
Youth with disabilities could benefit from employment training programs, they are often not tailored to meet the needs of youth with disabilities
Our main objective was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and initial efficacy of an electronic mentor (e-mentor) employment preparation intervention for youth with physical disabilities for improving self-determination, career maturity, and social support compared with controls

Summary

Introduction

Many young people with disabilities are willing and capable of working, they encounter many personal, environmental, and socio-contextual challenges (eg, inaccessible jobs and discrimination) in finding and maintaining meaningful employment [1]. Their persistently low employment rates are about half or less compared with youth without disabilities [2,3,4]. Focusing on youth with physical disabilities is important because they arguably have different needs regarding developmental tasks, social development, and role functioning [7,8] This period of emerging adulthood is an optimal time to help youth develop critical job and independence skills [9]. There is an increase in e-mentoring for youth with disabilities, little is known about its impact for youth with physical disabilities

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Conclusion