Education Commons^™

This study is a follow-up to a study which previously appeared in Education and Training in Mental Retardation conducted by Wheeler, Bates, Marshall, and Miller (1988). The Wheeler et al., (1988) study examined the use of a self-monitoring procedure to remediate the social skills behaviors of a young man with Down syndrome (i.e., Phil) in a supported competitive employment setting. The present study, which was conducted six-months later demonstrates the efficacy of the follow-along component of the supported employment model and also demonstrates the use of a criterion-referenced assessment and treatment package to re-train technical job skills.

This study validated the efficacy of the supported employment model in maintaining the employment of a young man with Down Syndrome identified as moderately mentally retarded. In this study, social skills training and self-monitoring were used to remediate socially inappropriate behaviors which were jeopardizing his continued employment. Results of this investigation indicate that appropriate social behaviors were improved and maintained over the 38-week period with the level of trainer support also being systematically faded over time. The conclusions of this study provide guidelines for on-the-job training and follow-up procedures which have been found to be necessary in assisting persons with …