Improving the Socio-Vocational Skills of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Using Video Modeling: A Pilot Study

In today’s job market, effective social communication is crucial for employment success. We investigated “Cog ‘n’ Role”, a novel video modeling (VM) intervention that integrates video self-modeling (VSM) and social problem-solving therapy (SPST) to enhance socio-vocational skills in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). The intervention is delivered via “PowerMod”, an application featuring ready-to-use VM scenarios and enhanced accessibility options; our aim was to examine (a) the app’s social validity and (b) the effectiveness of the intervention in improving job-related social skills. Thirty-four adults with IDD used “PowerMod” to view video clips of common workplace scenarios and rated their experiences through questionnaires. Subsequently, seventeen adults who have social difficulties at work participated in four weekly therapy sessions featuring the “Cog ‘n’ Role” intervention via the PowerMod app. Socio-vocational skills were measured through questionnaires filled out by their counselors; participants found the adapted video clips to be significantly more comprehensible and relevant compared to non-adapted video clips. Additionally, the intervention group showed significant improvements in socio-vocational behaviors and a significant transition to jobs that required higher levels of independence. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the impact of this innovative intervention in enhancing socio-vocational skills among individuals with mild to moderate IDD.