Virtual Reality Job Interview Training in Transition Services: Results of a Single-Arm, Noncontrolled...

Area of Science:

• Special Education
• Rehabilitation Technology
• Vocational Training

Background:

• Pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) aim to improve employment outcomes for youth with disabilities.
• Virtual reality job-interview training (VR-JIT) offers a novel approach to skill development in a simulated environment.
• Evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of VR-JIT within existing educational frameworks is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and implementation feasibility of VR-JIT in special education Pre-ETS.
• To assess student and teacher acceptance of VR-JIT.
• To determine the impact of VR-JIT engagement on employment rates among transition-age youth.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm, Type 3 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial was conducted.
• VR-JIT was delivered across five Pre-ETS programs in 15 schools, involving 279 youth (ages 16-21).
• Fidelity, feasibility, acceptance, and employment outcomes at six-month follow-up were measured.

Main Results:

• High fidelity, implementation feasibility, and acceptance of VR-JIT by teachers and students were reported.
• Youth using VR-JIT demonstrated higher employment rates compared to national averages for youth with disabilities.
• VR-JIT engagement was significantly associated with increased employment rates at six-month follow-up (OR=1.63, p=0.002).

Conclusions:

• VR-JIT can be feasibly implemented with high fidelity in special education Pre-ETS.
• VR-JIT shows potential for enhancing employment outcomes for transition-age youth receiving special education services.
• This technology-based intervention offers a promising avenue for improving vocational readiness and employment success.