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Article
Teaching Conversation Skills to Adults With Developmental Disabilities Using a Video-Based Intervention Package
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Ryan O. Kellems, Brigham Young University
  • Kaitlyn Osborne, Brigham Young University
  • Dawn Rowe, East Tennessee State University
  • Terisa Gabrielsen, Brigham Young University
  • Blake Hansen, Brigham Young University
  • Christian Sabey, Brigham Young University
  • Brynn Frazier, Brigham Young University
  • Kalee Simons, Brigham Young University
  • Mikaela Jensen, Brigham Young University
  • Mai Zaru, Brigham Young University
  • Maggie Clive, Lehigh University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Description

BACKGROUND: Social skills deficits may hinder learning, terminate relationships, and impede employment. Many individuals with autism and intellectual disability experience difficulties in social judgement, emotional regulation, and interpersonal relationships, all of which can lead to disruptive and aggressive behaviors. Explicit instruction, video modeling, and video feedback are research-based practices that have been used to teach conversation skills to individuals with developmental disabilities and social impairments. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of explicit instruction combined with video modeling and video feedback in teaching conversation-initiation skills to six adults ages 18-20 with autism and intellectual disability in a post-high school transition program. METHODS: A multiple baseline across dyads design was used, with number of correct initiation responses as the independent variable. The independent variable was an intervention package including explicit verbal instruction with interspersed video modeling clips, followed by video feedback. RESULTS: All six participants acquired the skills and were able to initiate a conversation; five of them maintained these skills over time, demonstrating them without the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Data supported a evidence functional relation between the intervention package and the participants' social initiation skills. Social validity responses indicated that participants enjoyed watching the videos of models and especially enjoyed watching the videos of themselves.

Citation Information
Ryan O. Kellems, Kaitlyn Osborne, Dawn Rowe, Terisa Gabrielsen, et al.. "Teaching Conversation Skills to Adults With Developmental Disabilities Using a Video-Based Intervention Package" Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation Vol. 53 Iss. 1 (2020) p. 119 - 130 ISSN: 1052-2263
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dawn-rowe/175/