L. Perry Lattimore, Marsha B. Parsons, & Dennis H. Reid. (2006)
Enhancing job-site training of supported workers with autism: a reemphasis on simulation.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
39, 91-102.
Currently recommended practice in supported work emphasizes training job
skills to workers with severe disabilities while on the job. Early behavioral
research indicated that skills needed in natural environments could also be
trained in simulated settings. We compared job-site plus simulation training
for teaching job skills to supported workers with autism to provision of
training exclusively on the job. Job-site training occurred in a small publishing
company during the regular work routine, and simulation training occurred in an
adult education site for people with severe disabilities. Two pairs of workers
received training on two job skills; one skill was trained at the job site and
the other was trained using job-site plus simulation training. Results indicated
that for 3 of the 4 comparisons, job-site plus simulation training resulted in a
higher level of skill or more rapid skill acquisition than did job-site-only
training. Results suggested that job-site training, the assumed best practice
for teaching vocational skills, is likely to be more effective if supplemented
with simulation training. Directions for future research include expanding
applications of behavioral technologies to other aspects of the current support
paradigm.
DESCRIPTORS: supported work, simulation training, autism