Large-scale evaluation of staff training in programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

Behavioral skills training and on-the-job feedback are effective in changing staff behavior as evidenced by years of staff-training research. However, community programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often do not utilize these best-practice training methods. The purpose of the current study was to train four empirically derived practices to staff who work with adults with IDD. We trained the staff to provide positive interactions, provide effective instructions, provide correct responses to problem behavior, and promote consumer engagement with items and activities. We used behavioral skills training and on-the-job feedback to increase staff implementation of these practices on a large scale in a community-based organization despite some barriers such as high staff turnover rates. Overall, results showed that our training procedure was effective in increasing staff implementation of the four practices in many homes and programs.