TRAINING QUALITY JOB INTERVIEWS WITH ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES

Supported work models of vocational integration have increased the emp loy-ability of individuals with developmental disabilities. Interview questions most frequently used and corresponding responses considered most beneficial to job applicants were derived from an empirical analy sis of the ''hiring community'' and served as a basis for the developm ent of the verbal job interview skills training package evaluated in t his research. Dependent measures were objective, behavioral indices of the quality of job interview responses. One-to-one training by a dire ct training staff, job coach, and a trained behavior analyst resulted in improved responding by all subjects as indicated in a multiple base -line design across interview questions. Improved quality in respondin g to questions generalized to variations in interview questions, to a novel interviewer and in an in vivo interview situation. Finally, glob al measures of social validity support the value of the quality-of-res ponse training.