Effects of remote audio coaching during workplace conversations for college students with intellectual disability

Abstract

BACKGROUND: College students with intellectual disability (ID) face many challenges while maintaining employment. These challenges encompass both social and behavioral tribulations. Increasing social skills at work is a significant goal for practitioners and educators of adults with ID. Coaching strategies such as Covert Audio Coaching (CAC) and Remote Audio Coaching (RAC) have proven effective in teaching students with ID various employment related skills. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine if RAC would increase on-topic workplace communication skills for college students with ID. METHODS: This study used a multiple probe design to test the effects of RAC on teaching communication skills in the workplace. In this study, college students logged onto a Zoom call to speak with a co-worker about an employment topic while the interventionist used RAC to coach the student through the conversation. RESULTS: The results of this study demonstrated that the RAC intervention was effective in increasing on-topic exchanges between college students with ID and their co-workers. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the workplace to virtual settings for training and work tasks. RAC can be used as an employment support for adults with ID while minimizing in person contact. Limitations and implications of this study were further described at the end of the article.