Project SEARCH Staff Perspectives on Using Virtual Reality to Support Workplace Conversations: A Brief Report

While efforts to enhance employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have increased, research has primarily focused on job attainment rather than long-term employment sustainability (e.g., 12 months or more). Few studies have explored whether staff using evidence-based employment models (e.g., Project SEARCH) express an interest in virtual reality support tools to enhance employment sustainability. This study sought to examine whether Project SEARCH staff expressed interest in using virtual reality as a potential method to support employment sustainability for transition-age youth with IDD.

Project SEARCH staff (N = 234) completed a brief descriptive survey about their experiences with students with IDD and the role that practicing workplace conversations via virtual reality has in their students' ability to sustain employment.

The majority of Project SEARCH staff report that over 75% of the youth they served were able to obtain employment with low rates of job loss. Additionally, 91.9% of Project SEARCH staff perceived virtual reality as a helpful means to support workplace conversations among transition-age students with IDD.

Project SEARCH staff expressed an interest in virtual reality tools to help students practice workplace conversations. Future efforts should consider technologies that incorporate soft skills in the workplace to enhance employment sustainability.