Research Study 6

Research Study #6: Effects of Trained Personnel Providing Employment Supports in Higher Education on the Employment Experiences of College Students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability:
A Quasi-Experimental Study

Research by Virginia Commonwealth University

Purpose

This Intervention Development study examines the effects of the implementation of an online course, coupled with technical assistance for trained personnel providing employment supports to students with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disability (I/DD) in higher education.

Overview

An online, nationwide course will be offered to train college-level personnel who directly provide employment supports to students with I/DD or will train others to do so. Intensive technical assistance (TA) will be offered to those who complete the course. Regardless of accepting the TA, the intent is for participants to help students find paid work experiences and/or paid internships. The proposed study will use a Quasi-Experimental study design within an Implementation Science model. The study will be a Quasi-Experimental design because we propose to offer TA while giving participants the option to decline the TA; therefore, the groups will not be randomized.