Training and Assistance for Employment Outcomes in Developmental Disabilities

Overseen By Jennifer McDonough

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Pregnant, Prisoners, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the effectiveness of an online training course, the VCU-RRTC Online Course, for those assisting individuals with developmental disabilities in finding jobs. It examines whether adding technical assistance to the course enhances outcomes for these employment specialists. Participants will either take the online course alone or with additional support to determine which approach is more effective. Those who currently provide or plan to provide job services to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities and have not completed ACRe training may be suitable for this study. As a Phase 1 trial, this research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to experience this innovative approach.

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 training method is safe?

Research has shown that the VCU-RRTC Online Course has been available for over ten years and trains individuals in providing job services. This course teaches participants how to support individuals with disabilities in finding employment. The Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators has approved it, indicating that it meets specific educational standards.

Specific safety data for the Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions is not available. However, using Zoom for training and meetings is common and generally considered safe. It is widely used in professional settings without reports of safety issues.

As this is a Phase 1 trial, the primary goal is to assess safety. At this stage, treatments are generally considered safe enough to study, but there may be limited information on how well participants tolerate them. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it combines the traditional VCU-RRTC online course for job coaches with additional Technical Assistance (TA). Unlike the standard online course alone, which has been the norm for over a decade, this new approach integrates TA to potentially enhance learning and application of skills. By offering personalized support and guidance, this method aims to improve employment outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities. Researchers hope to find out if this added layer of assistance makes a significant difference in preparing job coaches to better support their clients.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving employment outcomes in developmental disabilities?

Research has shown that the VCU-RRTC Online Course, included in the control group of this trial, enhances the skills and knowledge of job specialists. Studies have found that this training helps participants develop essential skills for employment services. This trial will also evaluate the VCU-RRTC course with additional Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions, part of the experimental group. Early results suggest that this extra support offers more personalized assistance, improving job outcomes for people with disabilities. The course aims to better equip participants to help individuals with developmental disabilities find jobs. ^{3 4 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Whitney Ham

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 in the U.S. who provide or will provide employment services to individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and have not completed ACRE training. It's not open to those under 18, unable to consent, pregnant women, or prisoners.

Inclusion Criteria

Use the VCU RRTC listserv

Residing or working in the United States

Have not participated in ACRe training

Exclusion Criteria

I am unable to give consent by myself.

Pregnant women

Prisoners

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Participants undergo a 40-hour training presented in six modules over twelve weeks, covering topics such as Employment First, Customer Profile and Discovery, Marketing and Job Development, Customized Employment, Job Site Supports, and Social Security.

12 weeks

Technical Assistance

Participants in the experimental group receive additional technical assistance to enhance the impact of the training on skills and knowledge.

Concurrent with training

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the impact of the training and technical assistance on employment outcomes and skills development.

9 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• VCU-RRTC Online Course
• Zoom Technical Assistance Sessions

Trial Overview The study tests if an online course and Zoom technical assistance sessions improve the skills of Employment Specialists working with people with developmental/intellectual disabilities. There are no set national standards for this training currently.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

The VCU-RRTC course plus TA (Technical Assistance). Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, accrediting body that has developed competencies for job coaches and that approved the online curriculum that has been provided through the VCU-RRTC for over a decade.

Group II: Control Group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

The current VCU-RRTC online course. Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators, accrediting body that has developed competencies for job coaches and that approved the online curriculum that has been provided through the VCU-RRTC for over a decade.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Collaborator

Trials

83

Recruited

10,500+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) are becoming increasingly important for determining the structures of small molecules, thanks to advancements in alignment media and measurement techniques.

Despite these improvements, the authors emphasize the need for further standardization to make RDC analysis a routine method in structural elucidation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Perspectives in the application of residual dipolar couplings in the structure elucidation of weakly aligned small molecules. Schmidts, V.[2018]

A new algorithm has been developed to analyze unassigned Residual Dipolar Coupling (RDC) data from multiple alignment media, allowing for simultaneous extraction of relative order tensor matrices and reconstruction of spatial interacting vectors, which simplifies structural analysis.

This method can enhance protein structure determination, aiding in applications like verifying the novelty of unknown proteins and validating protein models for drug design, thus bridging experimental and computational approaches in structural biology.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Estimation of relative order tensors, and reconstruction of vectors in space using unassigned RDC data and its application. Miao, X., Mukhopadhyay, R., Valafar, H.[2021]

Training direct care staff using picture programs significantly improved their ability to transfer nonambulatory, severely mentally retarded men between beds and wheelchairs, as evidenced by marked performance improvements from pretest to posttest.

Incorporating study guide questions into the training enhanced the effectiveness of the picture programs, likely by promoting better observation and understanding of the transfer techniques.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The use of picture programs in teaching direct care staff. Stoddard, LT., McIlvane, WJ., McDonagh, EC., et al.[2019]

Residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) are a powerful tool in NMR studies of biological macromolecules, providing precise information for applications like structure validation, measuring molecular motions, and determining domain orientations.

Recent advancements in RDC measurement techniques allow for accurate analysis in larger biological systems, shifting the focus of NMR spectroscopy from just structure determination to understanding how molecular flexibility influences protein function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Advances in NMR Spectroscopy of Weakly Aligned Biomolecular Systems. Chiliveri, SC., Robertson, AJ., Shen, Y., et al.[2022]

A new method using unassigned 15N1H residual dipolar coupling (RDC) data and probability density profile analysis (PDPA) allows for efficient identification of the best structural model for proteins with unknown structures, demonstrated with the protein PF2048.1.

This approach significantly reduces the cost and time of data acquisition, is robust against missing data, and can enhance the resolution of protein structures by serving as a foundation for further NMR data integration.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rapid classification of protein structure models using unassigned backbone RDCs and probability density profile analysis (PDPA). Bansal, S., Miao, X., Adams, MW., et al.[2021]

A systematic review of 8601 studies identified only 32 relevant studies on pre-graduate training for healthcare professionals regarding intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), highlighting a significant gap in formal education for this population.

Most training interventions utilized a mix of teaching methods, with 63% including clinical experiences, but there is a lack of longitudinal learning opportunities and integration into formal curricula, indicating a need for improved educational strategies in IDD training.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of intellectual and developmental disability curriculum in international pre-graduate health professional education. Vi, L., Jiwa, MI., Lunsky, Y., et al.[2023]

Online training for Direct Care Staff (DCS) significantly improved their knowledge and ability to identify nonadherence to diet orders in individuals with developmental disabilities, as shown in a follow-up study with 64 participants.

The addition of supervisor feedback did not lead to significant differences in outcomes compared to training alone, suggesting that online training itself may be an effective method for enhancing safe eating and drinking practices among DCS.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of Online Training and Supervisor Feedback on Safe Eating and Drinking Practices for Individuals With Developmental Disabilities. McCulloch, E., Cuckler, A., Valdes, E., et al.[2020]

A virtual training program for medical students effectively increased their ability to implement behavior-analytic procedures during wellness examinations for patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities, as demonstrated in roleplay scenarios.

The skills learned through this training were maintained at high levels even two weeks after the training, indicating that virtual behavioral skills training is a practical and efficient method for preparing healthcare professionals to better support patients with disabilities.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Virtual Training of Medical Students to Promote the Comfort and Cooperation of Patients with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. Hoang, AQ., Lerman, DC., Nguyen, JT.[2023]

The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services has announced a new priority for research focused on improving employment outcomes for individuals with psychiatric disabilities, highlighting a significant national need.

This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation services and support for individuals facing psychiatric challenges in the workforce.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Final priority; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers. Final priority. [2014]

The study successfully measured proton-proton dipolar couplings in highly deuterated proteins, specifically in 57 out of 70 methyl-containing residues of a 167-residue protein, which is crucial for understanding the structure of high molecular weight systems using NMR.

The methyl residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) provided valuable information on the orientation of methyl groups and allowed for the determination of chi(1) torsion angles in valine residues, demonstrating their effectiveness in complementing other NMR techniques for structural analysis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Side chain orientation from methyl 1H-1H residual dipolar couplings measured in highly deuterated proteins. Sibille, N., Bersch, B., Covès, J., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. vcurrtc.org vcurrtc.org/resources/viewContent.cfm/2459

Toward Higher Education for all Youth with Disabilities The goal of this study is to test an online training and technical assistance model to encourage paid internships and employment opportunities ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06586827

Impact of Competency-Based Training and Technical ... Identify if VCU ACRE Online Course plus technical assistance impact skills and knowledge of employment profession. The 40-hour training is presented in six ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/training-and-assistance-for-employment-outcomes-in-developmental-disabilities-c7edf

Training and Assistance for Employment Outcomes in ... The VCU-RRTC Online Course is unique because it focuses on training and assistance for employment outcomes specifically for individuals with developmental ...

4. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/impact-of-competency-based-training-and-technical-assistance-employment-outcomes-of-individuals-with

Impact of Competency-Based Training and Technical ... Impact of Competency-Based Training and Technical Assistance Employment Outcomes of Individuals With ID/DD ... The current VCU-RRTC online course.

5. idd.vcurrtc.org idd.vcurrtc.org/research/study6.cfm

Study 6 - VCU-RRTC on Employment of Persons with ... Research Study #6. The Impact of Competency-based Training and TA on the Competitive Integrated Employment Outcomes of Individuals with IDD:

6. vcurrtc.org vcurrtc.org/training/courses.cfm

Training > Courses Online Courses ; Details, Curriculum Framework, Self-paced ; Details, Customized Employment for Previously Incarcerated Individuals with Disabilities, Self-paced.

7. vcurrtc.org vcurrtc.org/resources/listContent.cfm/2/0

Resources Inclusion of Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Postsecondary Outcomes: A Systematic Literature Review, Plain Language Summaries ...

8. vcurrtc.org vcurrtc.org/resources/listFormatContent.cfm/2

Resources: Fact Sheets and Briefs Expectations of Families with Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for Postsecondary Education. (2014). Transition to College, 2014.