title: Evaluation of a shared-work program for reducing assistance provided to supported workers with severe multiple disabilities.
abstract: Concern has been expressed recently regarding the need to enhance the performance of individuals with highly significant disabilities in community-based, supported jobs. We evaluated a shared-work program for reducing job coach assistance provided to three workers with severe multiple disabilities in a publishing company. Following systematic observations of the assistance provided as each worker worked on entire job tasks, steps comprising the tasks were then re-assigned across workers. The re-assignment involved assigning each worker only those task steps for which the respective worker received the least amount of assistance (e.g., re-assigning steps that a worker could not complete due to physical disabilities), and ensuring the entire tasks were still completed by combining steps performed by all three workers. The shared-work program was accompanied by reductions in job coach assistance provided to each worker. Work productivity of the supported workers initially decreased but then increased to a level equivalent to the higher ranges of baseline productivity. These results suggested that the shared-work program appears to represent a viable means of enhancing supported work performance of people with severe multiple disabilities in some types of community jobs. Future research needs discussed focus on evaluating shared-work approaches with other jobs, and developing additional community work models specifically for people with highly significant disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Carolina Behavior Analysis and Support Center, Ltd., Morganton, NC 28680, USA. marsha.parsons@westerncarolinacenter.org
authors.forename: Marsha B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Parsons
authors.forename: Dennis H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Carolyn W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: Leah B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hensley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004526:Efficiency; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D016832:Employment, Supported; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011643:Publishing; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014830:Vocational Guidance; D014941:Work Simplification