Research
Our Product
Research-Based
Developed through a grant from the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities
(TCDD), the Virtual Job Coach is the most effective research-based, research-validated program on the market. We tested the product over a four-year period in a variety of settings: with individuals using the product on their own or with parent help, in K-12 classrooms, and with service providers working with small groups of self-advocates.
The Virtual Job Coach was designed using best-practice research, including incremental instruction, video modeling, audio-visual support, graphic organizers, and a clutter-free, consistent workspace. Its development was guided by a comprehensive needs assessment of hundreds of self-advocates, parents, and service providers. Its effectiveness was validated through multiple pre- and post-development pilot tests featuring:
- Learners representing diversity in gender, age, ethnicity, disability, employment background, socioeconomic status, and English
language proficiency; - Diverse settings, including small groups with a job coach, a high school transition classroom, independent use by self-advocates, and use with limited parent support; and
- Outcomes gathered over a four-year period including improvement in employment status, self-confidence, knowledge and skill level, and job search behaviors.