Online Work Chat Program for Autism

Overseen By Matthew J Smith, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether a program called Work Chat can be effectively delivered online to help adults with autism spectrum disorder improve workplace communication skills. Participants in the experimental group will engage in virtual role-play conversations with characters acting as coworkers, customers, and supervisors to simulate real workplace interactions. The trial seeks adults with autism who are either currently employed or actively seeking employment and who have internet access on a computer or tablet (not just a smartphone).

As an unphased trial, this study offers participants a unique opportunity to enhance their communication skills in a supportive, innovative environment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this program is safe for adults with autism spectrum disorder?

Research shows that Work Chat, a virtual tool for the workday, is being tested to improve workplace communication for people with autism. So far, studies have examined how well this tool aids job skills and have not identified any serious safety issues. The main focus has been on the tool's effectiveness and participants' perceptions of its usefulness.

Work Chat uses virtual characters to mimic workplace conversations, such as talking to a coworker or a boss. This method is generally considered safe because it doesn't involve medication or physical treatments. Instead, it provides a practice space for social interactions.

Since this trial does not test a new drug or medical device, the risk of serious side effects is low. Participants mainly interact with a computer program, which is unlikely to cause harm. Overall, Work Chat appears to be a well-accepted tool for enhancing communication skills in the workplace for adults with autism. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Work Chat program for autism because it offers a unique, interactive training experience that current treatments don't provide. Unlike traditional therapies that might involve face-to-face role-playing or social skills training, Work Chat uses virtual characters to simulate workplace interactions. This digital approach allows participants to practice conversations with coworkers, customers, and supervisors in a controlled, repeatable environment. By providing a safe space to develop these essential skills, Work Chat can help individuals with autism prepare for real-world workplace challenges more effectively.

What evidence suggests that the Work Chat program is effective for adults with autism?

Research shows that Work Chat, a virtual tool for the workday, helps people with autism improve their communication skills at work. Studies have found that role-playing activities, like those in Work Chat, effectively support social skills in autistic individuals. In this trial, some participants will receive immediate access to Work Chat, while others will gain access after data collection is complete. Early results suggest that Work Chat can enhance job-related skills, making it easier for autistic young people to start working. The program uses virtual characters to mimic real-life work conversations with coworkers, customers, and supervisors. This method aims to build confidence and social skills, which are important for fitting in at work. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matthew J Smith, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder who are employed, have at least a 4th-grade reading level, and can access the internet with a camera-equipped computer or tablet (not a smartphone).

Inclusion Criteria

Has a 4th grade or higher reading level

Employed or Unemployed and searching for employment within the next 3 months

Has access to a computer, laptop, or tablet that has connection to the internet and a camera (not including smartphone)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in the Work Chat simulation training using virtual characters to role-play conversations

6 weeks

Online sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social competence, theory of mind, managing emotions, and emotion recognition ability

9 months

Online surveys at 3, 6, and 9 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Work Chat

Trial Overview The study is testing 'Work Chat,' an intervention designed to be delivered online to see if it's practical and helpful for adults on the autism spectrum.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Work Chat Now Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Behavioral: Work Chat: An Interactive Virtual Workday Work Chat will be a simulation training using virtual characters to role-play conversations. It will contain conversations with a coworker, a customer, and a supervisor within a workplace setting.

Group II: Work Chat Later Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will not receive Work Chat during the study, but will receive Work Chat access after data collection is complete.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,891

Recruited

6,458,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

SIMmersion, LLC

Industry Sponsor

Trials

8

Recruited

1,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Remote interventions like the SPAN program can significantly enhance motivation and engagement in autistic adolescents and young adults during intervention processes.

Feedback from 15 stakeholders helped shape adaptations of SPAN for autistic AYA, leading to the development of a new SPAN-ASD website and intervention manual, with plans for future usability testing and pilot studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social Participation and Navigation: Formative Evaluation of a Remote Intervention for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults. Lamash, L., Gal, E., Bedell, G.[2023]

Kaien's approach to job training for individuals with autism spectrum disorders emphasizes hands-on experience in work environments, allowing participants to discover their occupational fit through trial sessions rather than just counseling.

The organization highlights the importance of frequent, real-time feedback from trainers and the potential for non-experts to effectively support individuals with autism in the workplace, suggesting that a broader range of people can contribute to their success.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Vocational Training and Job Placement for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Business Sector]. Suzuki, K.[2015]

The web-based adverse event tracking system (eAETS) has effectively supported 175 clinical protocols over four years, capturing 2,440 adverse event reports, including minor symptoms that could indicate serious issues.

Out of the reported AEs, 1,053 did not align with the initial risk profiles, leading to corrective recommendations in 13% of the protocols, highlighting the system's role in enhancing subject safety by identifying unanticipated patterns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of minor adverse event tracking on subject safety: a web-based system. Shenvi, NV., Gebhart, SS.[2009]

The study involved 40 children aged 9 to 15 with autism spectrum disorder, comparing a communication app to the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) for facilitating dentist-patient interactions.

The app significantly reduced the number of attempts needed to communicate effectively and decreased the number of dental appointments required for preventive care compared to PECS, indicating its greater efficacy in this context.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Communication Application for Use During the First Dental Visit for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Zink, AG., Molina, EC., Diniz, MB., et al.[2019]

Out of 150 studies on non-medication interventions for young autistic children, only 11 reported any adverse events, highlighting a significant gap in safety reporting in this area of research.

Among the studies that did report on participant withdrawal, 10 identified reasons that could be classified as adverse events, suggesting that researchers need to improve their methods for tracking and reporting these occurrences to better inform families and professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse event reporting in intervention research for young autistic children. Bottema-Beutel, K., Crowley, S., Sandbank, M., et al.[2023]

The Footsteps app was developed to improve data collection practices among one-to-one aides working with children with autism, addressing challenges like labor-intensive methods and lack of supervisor feedback.

In testing with 10 aides and supervisors, 90% rated the app's usability as good or excellent, indicating strong potential for enhancing data collection and monitoring client progress in behavioral interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Making Progress Monitoring Easier and More Motivating: Developing a Client Data Collection App Incorporating User-Centered Design and Behavioral Economics Insights. Nuske, HJ., Buck, J., Ramesh, B., et al.[2023]

The interdisciplinary review team (IRT) model for monitoring psychotropic medications in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) emphasizes a collaborative approach involving medical professionals, behavior analysts, and parents, which aims to standardize treatment effectiveness evaluations.

Case studies showed that this model can lead to successful medication reduction or elimination, highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making and administrative support in improving treatment outcomes for children with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Psychotropic Medication Monitoring in a Human Services Organization for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Description and Evaluation of Interdisciplinary Team Review. Bird, F., Harper, JM., Luiselli, JK., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10338963/

Enhancing pre-employment transition services: A type 1 ... A type 1 hybrid randomized controlled trial protocol for evaluating WorkChat: A Virtual Workday among autistic transition-age youth.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05565482?term=autistic+disorder

NCT05565482 | Work Chat: An Interactive Virtual Workday The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure.

3. centerwatch.com centerwatch.com/clinical-trials/listings/NCT05565482/work-chat-an-interactive-virtual-workday

Work Chat: An Interactive Virtual Workday The investigators propose to develop and test the effectiveness of Social Cognitive and Affective Learning for Work (Work Chat: An Interactive ...

4. worksupport.com worksupport.com/research/documents/pdf/mcdonaldhurfordetal2025embracingthefutureartificialintelligenceintheprovisionofpreemploymenttransition.pdf

Artificial intelligence in the provision of pre- employment ... (2023) set out to develop WorkChat: A Virtual. Workday, a program that aims to enhance role-play training to support social abilities in Autistic transition- ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-autistic-disorder-9-2022-ce295

Interactive Virtual Workday Training for Autism Trial Overview The 'Work Chat: An Interactive Virtual Workday' tool is being tested to improve workplace communication skills in individuals with ASD. It ...

6. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/371391695_Enhancing_pre-employment_transition_services_A_type_1_hybrid_randomized_controlled_trial_protocol_for_evaluating_WorkChat_A_virtual_workday_among_autistic_transition-age_youth

Enhancing pre-employment transition services: A type 1 ... In an effort to help enhance conversational abilities in the workplace, our collaborative team partnered to develop WorkChat: A Virtual Workday.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4167908/

Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in Adults with Autism ... The feasibility and efficacy of Virtual Reality Job Interview Training (VR-JIT) was assessed in a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

8. digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1517&context=faculty-research-papers

Virtual Reality at Workplace for Autistic Employees We report on the perceived satisfaction of these integrated systems based on 14 technological criteria and preliminary results of the ...