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Published on: April 23, 2014
Mixed methods implementation evaluation of virtual interview training for transition-age autistic youth in
Kari Sherwood1,2, Matthew J Smith1, Brittany Ross1
1School of Social Work, University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI.
Background:
Autistic transition-age youth are employed at rates far lower than their non-disabled peers as well as youth with other disabilities. Meanwhile, very few studies have evaluated the implementation of job interviewing practices within pre-employment transition services.
Objective:
We conducted an initial implementation evaluation as part of a Type I hybrid randomized controlled effectiveness-implementation trial where we trained teachers to deliver Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth (VIT-TAY) within five pre-employment transition services programs.
Methods:
We used mixed methods to evaluate leader (n=5), teacher (n=15) and autistic transition age youth (n=48) perceptions of VIT-TAY. We used descriptive statistics and thematic network analysis to evaluate survey data. Mixed methods integration was then performed to make comparisons between quantitative and qualitative results.
Results:
Quantitative survey data revealed that leaders and teachers found VIT-TAY to be highly acceptable and appropriate for pre-employment transition services; findings which were confirmed via thematic network analysis of qualitative interview data. Autistic students reported via quantitative surveys that VIT-TAY was acceptable and usable, which was confirmed via thematic network analysis of open-ended survey data.
Conclusions:
This initial implementation evaluation can be used to inform a larger scale implementation evaluation of VIT-TAY in schools.
