Asking for Help: Employment-Related Soft Skills Training for Persons With Disabilities

Abstract

Soft skills in the workplace are critical factors to consider when seeking and maintaining employment. Soft skills that can be beneficial in the workplace include making a request for help, problem-solving, and responding to criticism. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a small group intervention using the Direct Skills Teaching (DST) approach to teach help-seeking skills for use in a work setting to persons with disabilities. A four-session group intervention using the “Asking for Help” curriculum based on the DST approach was delivered to 52 participants with various disabilities in nine groups by graduate counseling students. Participants reported an increase in confidence in asking for help from potential or current employers. Also, participants reported an overall high satisfaction with the intervention. This feasibility study provided data on the positive outcomes of soft skill interventions, and supported its use as a potentially useful tool to teach help-seeking skills in a group setting with a preplanned curriculum.